VEX Robotic Car
Define a Problem
GOALS:
- Create a functioning car
- Place in the top 3
- Work together efficient
- Contruct a working circuit powered by a hydrogen fuel cell and a solar panel
Generate Concepts
- We decided to modify the default design because it had a light tricycle with lots of room for breadboard. However, we did want to add 2 gear trains, and supply the power to both of the back wheels so, they would be able to push the car instead of being pulled. We did believe that the wheel sizes were efficient for both designs so we kept those the same.
- We also decided to use a series circuit design because we believe it will preform more efficiently then through a parallel circuit, based on data from the 1.3.1 activity
Develop a Solution
Construct and Test Prototype
We rewired our circuit multiple times so wee could use each different power sourc and measure the properties of each. This picture on the left shows the car being wired to run off the battery.
Evaluate Solution
- Through the process of creating our good car we've become more comfortable building with VEX and have also learned how to wire breadboards. After this project I can now use this experience with wiring solar panels, hydrogen cells, and batteries in future projects.
- Our car won first place in our class race, and was the winner of all the other classes. Its a good feeling knowing that our design was efficient and that all our hard work paid off.
- In the beginning we decided to use the default platform but make some slight modifications. We first began by creating a wider base for the components to fit in, and so the front wheel could be in the center of the car. We also decided to add 2 gear trains to each side of the car, powering the back wheels. At first we tried to attach the motor to 1 small gear at the front of the train, but found that this made our car very slow. After realizing that the input gear needed to be larger we moved the motor to the larger gear and flipped it to the outer end of the axle, supported by a bracket.
- The major mistake we made was attaching our motor to a small gear. This decreased our gear ratio, which made our car extremely slow. However, when we corrected our mistake and applied the motor to the large gear our car was extremely fast. Also, I honestly struggled with the circuit but with some help from the teacher we were able to pull it off
- Through the struggles of this project, we have now learned the basics of circuitry and increased our knowledge on VEX Robotics and developed more usefull problem solving skills
Present Solution
Talking Points:
Electrical energy production using renewable energy sources is very efficient for the Earth, but not always the most productive. The solar panels and fuel cells produce energy, but the amount is very little compared to those of non-renewable. Also, for the renewable sources weather would need to be taken into account, because the solar panels uses sunlight to create energy, if it was cloudy it would be very difficult. The renewable sources are also much bigger and harder to design around than the batteries, which are easier to attach in a machine. This proves why we don't use renewable resources as much as non-renewable resources for electricity in the real world. Non-renewable resources are more efficient and reliable in the short term, but in the long run, we will wish that we had used more renewable resources sooner.