4/29/2019 Week 4 Update

Lecture day 4/22/2019: Since last week, Benedict gained some insight on what the camera setup will look like and what complications need to be kept in mind. He also developed a two stage code for the image tracking:
1) a .mlx Live MATLAB script is run to determine the pixel diameter of the circle through the function "imdistline"
2) divide found diameter by 2 = radius. Use a range of nearest values of 10.

ex. radius = 84 pix.
[center_magnet_tracking,radius_magnet_tracking]=imfindcircles(I_3,[80,90]

Our goals for this week:

Ryan is working on the 3D model of the platform, motor socket and magnet holder. He will design the bottom end of the setup with the base to hold the magnet holder and the motor. We aim to have 3D printed the motor attachment in the plate holder and the magnet holder by the end of the week.

Joe was having difficulties with the motor movement and controlling it to our needs. Joe is still responsible for the motor control and implementation of the code into MATLAB.

Benedict, while still responsible for the Blog Updates, will obtain a Tier 2 safety training on Monday of Week 5, 4/29/2019. This will enable at least one of the team members to have access to scrap wood and wood working tools (Table saw, Drills, Screw gun, etc.) to build any necessary wood parts. Benedict is responsible to have a safety certification by Week 5.


Lab day 4/24/2019: Ryan got to work on the 3D models of the magnet holder and the motor socket with the table attachment. This model will be 3D-printed and tested. Here is the first version of the 3D model:

Fig. 1 - General View of the 3D-models

Fig. 2 - Frontal View of the 3D-models

The socket for the motor output shaft has the dimensions of 3.1mm X 4.1mm X 6 mm. The group decided to keep the center of the Neodymium magnet and the gel magnet both at a height of 2.5 inches (63.5mm). This is done to avoid the magnet exerting force on three planes rather than on two planes. 

Benedict talked to the shop safety manager about the scrap wood pile and was able to obtain 6 pieces of 30 in long 2x4 lumber and 1 lumber 2x4 over 50 in long. This wood will be used to make the camera stand.

4/18/2019 Week 3 Update

This week during lecture, we further discussed the project and assigned tasks for each member for this week (Week 3).

During Lab, we signed out a Logitech HD C525 web-cam to use throughout the project at the innovation studio. As the group got together, we shared the progress on the assigned tasks since lecture.

Joe was able to get the motor to rotate counterclockwise during lab, but was not able to control the speed, duration of turning or the direction yet.

Benedict got the image tracking code to function after asking other groups for their input. After some adjustments of sensitivity and background, a first working circle tracking code was run. Here is a video of it:

During Lab we also obtained the magnets that we had ordered. We decided to work with the DX48 Neodynium magnet because it gave the right size to where the magnet would influence the S2 magnet inside the gel, but was not strong enough to influence our electronics (IN THEORY!); if influence on electronics by the magnet does occur, the electronics will have to be shielded by a sort of insulator that we will have to engineer ourselves. 

Ryan will be in charge of keeping the magnets, Joe will further work on the Arduino code to get the motor movements set to our demands with transplantation of the code into MATLAB. 

Further Weekly Tasks are outlined in "Tasks for Group Members" (see Top Bar).

4/10/19 Lab Update (Week 2)

During Lab in Week 2, we obtained most of the materials that would be provided to us, such as the stepper motor, the array for the motor, the Arduino Uno board and various pin wires for the Arduino. The only parts that are missing is a complete and functioning code, a webcam, the agarose gel and the magnets. 

The group decided that we would follow the design proposed in the lecture slides. The strong Nd-Fe-B magnet will be on the side and a small S2 magnet (from K&J Magnetics) would be inside the gel. We also decided to use MATLAB instead of Python, as all of the group members felt that there would be less future complications if the change was made. 

4/8/19 Additional Update (Week 2)

Photograph 1: Group Meeting at the Rush Building

On Monday of Week 2, the group came together in the afternoon hours on a balcony of the Rush building to write the proposal and discuss the project. We brainstormed general ideas about the project and went through the constraints of various setup options. We had decided not to use any references aside from the lecture material, which was officially not published nor licensed; therefore, it was not quoted in our proposal. At that time, we had not decided on a setup design. Our proposal requires an explanation of the specific setup design we are going to be using and will have to be updated accordingly when the final decision has been made.

4/8/19 Lecture Update (Week 2)

During our Week 2 Lecture, it was clarified that liberties should be taken with this project and that each group should think with the idea of creativity. We were also introduced to the idea that Python can be used as a programming language, rather than MATLAB. 

The class was shown of the issues we might be facing by using some of the strongest magnets commercially available: their electronic field and how they will disturb electronics near by. This gave us an issue to consider and another design constraint to incorporate:

Fig. 1 - Concepts of polarity and torque spin on the gel magnet

Not only does the strong magnet have an electronic field, but the small magnet inside the gel does too. The magnetic field of the small magnet may cause it to experience torque from friction and attraction/repulsion:

Fig. 2 - Further explanation of forces and torque spin

We were also introduced to the possibility of using an electric coil to create a magnetic field, rather than a strong permanent magnet (having the benefit of controlling the strength and activity of magnetic/electronic field):

Fig. 3 - Benefits of electric coil versus permanent magnet with dimensions of gel magnet

4/3/19 Lab Day Progress (Week 1)

On April 3rd 2019, the first day of Lab, we were introduced to working with Arduino Uno. We were quickly scrambled onto how a breadboard works and were thrown into making a fading LED circuit with little to none instruction, except for a basic schematic of the circuit:

Fig. 1 - Schematic of fading LEC circuit

After some time of tinkering, we got the LED circuit to function as intended:

Immediately after, we were tasked with a new task: Make a motor spin continuously using the 5 Volt Pin on the Arduino Board. The only given instructions were "go figure it out":

Fig. 2 - Modified Fading LED Circuit with 5V Motor instead of LED + 1k Ohm Resistor 

At the very end of the Lab time, we were tasked to design an attachment for the 5V motor gear would spin around. We were given no dimensions  for the motor gears, no introduction to use any 3D modeling software for the makeup was given, and so little time was left for students to borrow calipers to accurately measure the motor gears.

Overall, the first lab day felt scrambled together and very chaotic with little to nothing learned. That being said, very little could be learned in this rushed schedule and thought-scattered environment.

4/1/19 Lecture Day Progress (Week 1)

On Monday, April 1st 2019, the first day of Lecture class, the group #6 was formed and introduced to the project.

This image shows some notes that we took on the first day.

Fig. 1 - 1st Lecture day notes

Some notes on the first day also included talks on what designs were or were not feasible. We started the "sketching ideas and designing" process with Benedict taking the class notes and drawing a force diagram of the gel magnet and what forces would act on the gel magnet. 

This is where we ran into the first challenge/issue: Since our goal is to keep the magnet in the same place (same coordinates of the x-, y- and z-axis of space) while the gel rotates around it, how are we going to cancel the force of gravity; since the kinetic friction of the gel cancels out the force of the magnet when it is still in space, how do we prevent the magnet from slowly descending down the z-axis (descending towards the earth).

Upon further consultation, it was decided that only the position along the x- and y- axis should be considered for this project. 

Soon after, the group was asked to come up with some general setup ideas for their version of the project and draw them onto a Post-It Note. The group submitted this note:

Fig. 2 - 4 possible combinations of rotation / magnetic attraction type

This note outlines 4 ways of designing the same setup. With m representing the gel magnet and M representing the Neodymium-Iron-Boron Magnet (Nd-Fe-B). It considers whether the magnets are repelling or attracting each other, with each scenario considering the respective charge of each magnet. It also states which way the gel would have to rotate to provide the correct direction of the kinetic friction (correct direction = acting against the force of the M magnet).