Final Blog Post

Team SubZero has finally decided to take a break from the project.  We all plan on enjoying our Winter Break with family and friends back home.  The project has been a great experience for all of us and after Winter Break we plan to continue working on the project.

The current state of the project is not as good as it once was.  We tested the ROV in the bathtub a few days ago and although it was buoyant and waterproof, we believe water interfered with the serial port connectivity and messed with our circuits.  When trying to control the ROV above water, some of the motors "stick" and stay powered on uncontrollably.  This could be an issue with the code, but we are not sure.

We plan to prioritize what should be done in a sequential order as we move forward with this project.  A brief idea of what this means is:

     - Ensure the ROV can be used in the pool
     - Redesign the waterproof enclosure
     - Redesign connections and wiring
     - Debug and polish the Arduino code

Each one of us has learned a lot about presentation, prototyping, design, and engineering throughout the process of this project.  We are excited to pick up the project after break, check for updates in a few months.

Here is our test video in the bathtub from earlier this week.

- Team SubZero

Above Ground Housing

On Wednesday evening the group visited the prototyping lab and laser cut the different pieces of the box to enclose the electronics for above the water.  At one point the laser caught on fire.  The laser also omitted two cuts on the clear cover and had to be reset.  The team managed to get the logo raster cut onto the top of the enclosure to make the lid look more official.  Included is a screen capture of the housing for the above ground Arduino and the battery that the power is coming from.

SolidWorks model:

Old Prototype versus the New:

The New Box completed:

A video of the Laser Catching fire:

- JB and ZM

3D Printed Enclosure Clips

Finally the team decided to take the extra time after the Dean's Challenge to 3D print some brackets for the enclosure to easily attach to the ROV.

Using SolidWorks, I was able to design two sets of clips for the enclosure:

Here is the clip designed for the side of the enclosure that does not have the Serial Ports.

Here is the clip designed for the side of the enclosure that has the Serial Ports.

Using SolidWorks I was also able to create an Assembly, which would allow for me to show how the parts would fit together:

Notice there is a gap beneath the Serial Port side of the Enclosure and the Clip.  This is because the bolts to secure the enclosure extend from the bottom plate 0.5 inches.  

The clips can be attached to the enclosure via the bolts used:

Lastly, the enclosure can be securely fastened to the ROV:

- ZM

Proof the Enclosure is Waterproof

The "team" took a trip to the Costello pool to test if the waterproof enclosure is in fact waterproof. Will Kammerer took the plunge to see if the paper towel inside would stay dry. The picture confirms that the water stayed out of the enclosure.

- MM

Testing the Enclosure

Will delves into the Costello Pool to test if the enclosure for our arduino and motor shield is waterproof. The second video shows that the paper towel stayed dry and the enclosure is waterproof.

- MM

The Dean's Prototyping Challenge

Today was the Dean's Prototyping Challenge.  We did not place or win any prize money but it was a great experience for the four of us.  It was also great to pitch our product in front of different audiences (judges, general public, and peers) and look at the other cool projects. Congratulations to the teams that won money and placed.

- JB and ZM

The new subzero logo

With some outside help the group has decided on a subzero logo.  

- JB

All the pictures from the finished project.

Included are some final pictures from the work on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday night as we were finishing up the project before the deadline.  

- JB

Final Touch Ups Before the Competition

The team worked into the morning to make the final touch ups before competition day.  The project has been fun and a great experience for all of us.  We all plan to continue to develop or product as Team SubZero.

We never watched Godzilla...

- ZM

The end is near

Tonight the "little" things were worked on as time crunches down to the due date.

Below is a picture of possible enclosures to protect the motor and propellers from striking the side of a pool, rock, or any harmful object.

Pipe is being cut to size so that the enclosure can be mounted.

Holes were drilled into the frame so that the enclosure can easily be bolted down.

 The bolts are shown from the bottom after securing the enclosure.

Here is a side view showing that the enclosure is securely fastened and that the bolts go through the pipe completely.  

Lastly, a top view to put the project coming together in perspective.

- ZM

Much More Progress

Our team has been working hard trying to get this project ready for presentation on Thursday.

Here is a picture of the motors connected to the motorshield through the serial port. 

This is a picture of the hot glue drying on the motors which was used to waterproof them.

This is the original setup that was used to test the I2C communication between the two Arduinos.

Here is the button set up that was used to experiment with reading a button state and communicating with the slave device to turn on an LED.

You can see that the LED is lit on the slave device when the button is pushed and read on the master device.  

Now we need to finish off the code and find a gasket...

-WK