[ARCHIVED THREAD] - Space Shuttle 1/7th scale-Student Project-2016-17 Update-5/25 pg52 done and completed. (Page 45 of 52)
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“What I’ve found is the overarching themes of problem-solving, critical thinking, attention to detail, persistence, craftsmanship, personal responsibility — those are things that I’ve found I can teach through art,” Guns762 said. 
This is one Teacher and class where STEM could be STEAM. Your students are far more prepared for life and the real world than they realize because they can work together and actually apply the things they know. We need to write some letters to get the Teacher of the Year thing Nationwide. I've got a template if people here know where to aim it. |
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OUTSTANDING!!
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No problem, that is fine, thanks for posting it. |
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No problem, that is fine, thanks for posting it. Quoted:
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That's a really good write-up Guns, congrats! Quoted:
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 It is very flattering.
She always does a very nice job on stories......she's even a former student. She didn't learn her writing skills from me.  
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Update 3/28
What a day. 
Looks like the code has a flaw in the math. We plugged it in at 8 and at 9:27.....nothing. He discussed it later with his instructor and they figured it out, but the instructor did not like the way his code was written and wants him to rewrite it to be more "elegant". Good news is, that won't take that long. Now the bad news. 
Watching the doors close we both commented that there was more binding than before. 
Fully closed, here is what it looks like. The outside doors hangs up at the unsupported end. With just a bit of push it goes up. 
It actually isn't that bad and I could live with it, but that isn't the really bad news. 
Once we unhooked the doors and looked to see where they were binding we discovered, all four edges have at least some bind. The fuselage has settled a bit and that 1/16th of an inch that I insisted the students try to get as a gap, is not there any longer.  There were a few students none too happy with me.
We ended up cutting all the extra matboard and bonds off of the ends of the doors. We also had to trim up some excess glue on the fuselage walls that was a problem. The doors now have plenty of room, even if the fuselage gives a little more. We will need to bonds up the ends a bit to smooth them out and fill in some voids. We will also have to go back and paint all the ends. @Sixtigers, thanks again for the Dewalt Jigsaw, that puppy was like a light saber skimming just enough material off of the door while still installed on the shuttle. It was an emergency space walk in orbit.
Naked door ends. 
The 747 looking more like a 747. Graphics tomorrow. 
Posters on display. One more to go, and the display box. 
This bear was finally finished today. The cape was very poorly tanned and almost ruined by a professional taxidermist in another town. My MIL told her neighbor we could fix it. it had around 100 holes in the cape when we got it. I can turn freshman loose with steak knives and have them flesh a hide like that with maybe 4-5 holes.
We had to do some hair transplants as this was tumbled poorly and with antelope hair that embedded in the hide and caused the hair to ball and pull out. The right ear was torn, cut, and missing most of its hair. The muzzle had numerous bald spots. The sewing was ridiculous, and I remember now why we don't do rugs. 
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Good deal Guns!!! I remember one particular art teacher I had in 9th grade. She was a throwback hippy, always wore long loose flowing clothes and scarves, she smelled and not in the good way!!!
Anyway, congratulations and I hope your next project will be just as awesome!! I'm wearing my shirt and drinking a beer to you and your kids!!! Attached File |
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Good deal Guns!!! I remember one particular art teacher I had in 9th grade. She was a throwback hippy, always wore long loose flowing clothes and scarves, she smelled and not in the good way!!!
Anyway, congratulations and I hope your next project will be just as awesome!! I'm wearing my shirt and drinking a beer to you and your kids!!! https://www.AR15.Com/media/mediaFiles/175733/IMG-3988-176959.JPG 
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Quoted:
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The 747 looking more like a 747. Graphics tomorrow. https://www.amazon.com/photos/share/8FfmAUd5TAZUMD0eO1QHjsCnB84xFhgN963r3w7t5Jd?tag=vglnk-c102-20 It made 3 loops before finally landing at Dulles in April 2012. 
Looks like you might want one or pair of T-38 chase planes to go with the model. |
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We went and ran some errands today.
Representing at the Arfcom Store in Canton, TX. Attached File |
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NASA TV LIVE SPACE WALK 
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We went and ran some errands today. Representing at the Arfcom Store in Canton, TX. https://www.AR15.Com/media/mediaFiles/202842/20170330-123250-177359.JPG 
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Update 3/30
After some code adjustment this afternoon, we went on a real time test. Here it is opening, on time. Pretty cool, and a happy moment for us.  PHSS Panther Space Shuttle doors closing Unfortunately, later, we had some kind of fault and the doors only opened half way, and before they were supposed to. There is still a bug in the code. He tried to have his instructor look at the code this afternoon, but it didn't hsppen, so tomorrow is another day and more tests.
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Trying to find a Gremlin like that in code isn't easy.
Best suggestion: USB Extension cable feeding down to a notebook under the shuttle. Have program print critical test outputs and variables for every test to the serial console. The notebook scrollback buffer will be the datalogger. Then the problems are pretty obvious, without a ton of output needed, mostly info when opening and closing, and a line per minute for timer debugging. Sample output (I'm making this up, but what I'd look at for "Debugging Level", add or remove information as desired): Timer: 0 Minutes - Current time: 3-30-2017 - 08:05:33 Port Door Switch: Closed Starboard Door Switch: Closed Port Door Motor: Off Starboard Motor: Off Port Motor Current: 0 (Be a number from 0 to 255 due to 8 bit ADC) Starboard Motor Current: 0 Timer: 1 Minutes Timer: 2 Minutes ... ... Timer 86 Minutes Timer 86 Mintues Timer Expired at at 3-30-2017 09:33:33 Doors Currently Closed, Opening Doors Port Door Switch: Closed Starboard Door Switch: Closed Port Door Motor: On Starboard Motor: On Port Motor Current: 118 (Be a number from 0 to 255 due to 8 bit ADC) Starboard Motor Current: 116 Port Door Switch: Closed Starboard Door Switch: Closed Port Door Motor: On Starboard Motor: On Port Motor Current: 118 (Be a number from 0 to 255 due to 8 bit ADC) Starboard Motor Current: 116 Port Door Switch: Open Starboard Door Switch: Open Port Door Motor: On Starboard Motor: On Port Motor Current: 118 (Be a number from 0 to 255 due to 8 bit ADC) Starboard Motor Current: 116 ... .... Door Opening Timer expired, Limit switches hit.. 3-30-2017 09:34:11 Timer: 0 Minutes .... ... Repeat... Anyway, put all that into "print" statements, with the variables, and you'll be able to see exactly what is going wrong and fix all the bugs at once. It's crude and sloppy, but beats staring at code to divine what could be happening, especially if interference messed with it causing it to lock up or something. |
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Trying to find a Gremlin like that in code isn't easy. Best suggestion: USB Extension cable feeding down to a notebook under the shuttle. Have program print critical test outputs and variables for every test to the serial console. The notebook scrollback buffer will be the datalogger. Then the problems are pretty obvious, without a ton of output needed, mostly info when opening and closing, and a line per minute for timer debugging. Sample output (I'm making this up, but what I'd look at for "Debugging Level", add or remove information as desired): Timer: 0 Minutes - Current time: 3-30-2017 - 08:05:33 Port Door Switch: Closed Starboard Door Switch: Closed Port Door Motor: Off Starboard Motor: Off Port Motor Current: 0 (Be a number from 0 to 255 due to 8 bit ADC) Starboard Motor Current: 0 Timer: 1 Minutes Timer: 2 Minutes ... ... Timer 86 Minutes Timer 86 Mintues Timer Expired at at 3-30-2017 09:33:33 Doors Currently Closed, Opening Doors Port Door Switch: Closed Starboard Door Switch: Closed Port Door Motor: On Starboard Motor: On Port Motor Current: 118 (Be a number from 0 to 255 due to 8 bit ADC) Starboard Motor Current: 116 Port Door Switch: Closed Starboard Door Switch: Closed Port Door Motor: On Starboard Motor: On Port Motor Current: 118 (Be a number from 0 to 255 due to 8 bit ADC) Starboard Motor Current: 116 Port Door Switch: Open Starboard Door Switch: Open Port Door Motor: On Starboard Motor: On Port Motor Current: 118 (Be a number from 0 to 255 due to 8 bit ADC) Starboard Motor Current: 116 ... .... Door Opening Timer expired, Limit switches hit.. 3-30-2017 09:34:11 Timer: 0 Minutes .... ... Repeat... Anyway, put all that into "print" statements, with the variables, and you'll be able to see exactly what is going wrong and fix all the bugs at once. It's crude and sloppy, but beats staring at code to divine what could be happening, especially if interference messed with it causing it to lock up or something. He said he'd thought about doing that, but only his laptop has the arduino software on it (not even teachers can add software to any pc). He said he's not leaving his precious mac for 3hrs alone  . I told him we might do it Sat. if he can't figure it out today.
I forgot to add yesterday that the doors closed very smoothly and easily. There was no binding and in the video you can see there is no drooping of the front door edges. The gap at the front is minimal, and what we saw when it was right side up, we may try to add a bit more foam weather stripping to a 18-24" area to try to decrease it even further. We have to wait on that till we can get the doors closed again for proper measurment. |
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Quoted: It made 3 loops before finally landing at Dulles in April 2012.
https://s14.postimg.org/65rhc98xd/IMG_9684.jpg
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Update 3/31
Well, after the instructor reviewed the code, they couldn't find a fault.  His hypothesis was the actuators just slowly fell open because of gravity.
TopMen and I think that is incorrect, as the actuators will hold the doors open with no problem. When closed the 15lbs doors should put much less force on them than when extended. Tomorrow we are going to go in and set up his Mac to record what happens in real time as brass suggested. Since this update sucks..... Here is what we've been working on this last week. The 10' lion puppet for the school play in May. It's supposed to mythological and abstract. We are going off of a couple different versions they found online. The head finally started looking like a lion today. We intend to paint over this, so the brown and green are just the materials we are using. I normally don't help with the play, but I feel like I should be more of a team player, and the reference looked pretty cool. We only have a couple weeks to finish this up. This is made out of pvc, burlap, fake leaves, and a landscape edging material. 
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Quoted:
Update 3/31 Well, after the instructor reviewed the code, they couldn't find a fault. His hypothesis was the actuators just slowly fell open because of gravity.
TopMen and I think that is incorrect, as the actuators will hold the doors open with no problem. When closed the 15lbs doors should put much less force on them than when extended. Tomorrow we are going to go in and set up his Mac to record what happens in real time as brass suggested. Since this update sucks..... Here is what we've been working on this last week. The 10' lion puppet for the school play in May. It's supposed to mythological and abstract. We are going off of a couple different versions they found online. The head finally started looking like a lion today. We intend to paint over this, so the brown and green are just the materials we are using. I normally don't help with the play, but I feel like I should be more of a team player, and the reference looked pretty cool. We only have a couple weeks to finish this up. This is made out of pvc, burlap, fake leaves, and a landscape edging material. https://c1.staticflickr.com/3/2862/33763781315_0ca5d8b293_h.jpg https://c1.staticflickr.com/3/2894/33379062780_c4c997f1a3_h.jpg https://c1.staticflickr.com/3/2831/33634508301_6f23a1a917_h.jpg https://c1.staticflickr.com/3/2926/32920501464_978b00695c_h.jpg https://c1.staticflickr.com/4/3715/33379031410_1302264b0b_h.jpg https://c1.staticflickr.com/4/3734/32920494144_9a5dcd1101_h.jpg 
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Update 3/31 Well, after the instructor reviewed the code, they couldn't find a fault. His hypothesis was the actuators just slowly fell open because of gravity.
TopMen and I think that is incorrect, as the actuators will hold the doors open with no problem. When closed the 15lbs doors should put much less force on them than when extended. Tomorrow we are going to go in and set up his Mac to record what happens in real time as brass suggested. Since this update sucks..... Here is what we've been working on this last week. The 10' lion puppet for the school play in May. It's supposed to mythological and abstract. We are going off of a couple different versions they found online. The head finally started looking like a lion today. We intend to paint over this, so the brown and green are just the materials we are using. I normally don't help with the play, but I feel like I should be more of a team player, and the reference looked pretty cool. We only have a couple weeks to finish this up. This is made out of pvc, burlap, fake leaves, and a landscape edging material. https://c1.staticflickr.com/3/2862/33763781315_0ca5d8b293_h.jpg https://c1.staticflickr.com/3/2894/33379062780_c4c997f1a3_h.jpg https://c1.staticflickr.com/3/2831/33634508301_6f23a1a917_h.jpg https://c1.staticflickr.com/3/2926/32920501464_978b00695c_h.jpg https://c1.staticflickr.com/4/3715/33379031410_1302264b0b_h.jpg https://c1.staticflickr.com/4/3734/32920494144_9a5dcd1101_h.jpg http://i.imgur.com/OqwrQqF.jpg 
That's it!! 
Here ya go..
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Update 4/1 In orbit testing and reprogramming.
We got started late today. I was changing the oil in my DL650 and noticed one of the front fork seals leaking.
We ran it over to the dealership and dropped it off. No riding today for me.
I think may leave him here and tell him he can't come down till it's woking. 
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Well deserved! Congrats!
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Apparently the arduino is trying to become selfaware and is now ignoring commands.
TopMen was trying to rewrite the code, yet again, while waiting to collect data on the previous program in real time, when it just stopped talking to the mac.
He was able to upload a program, then it wouldn't listen anymore. Then it would, then it stopped again. He was pretty pissed, and was muttering about 8 months worth of work that didn't work..... He was very frustrated. 
Looks like we will be waiting till Monday to talk to the robotics teacher again.
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Apparently the arduino is trying to become selfaware and is now ignoring commands.
TopMen was trying to rewrite the code, yet again, while waiting to collect data on the previous program in real time, when it just stopped talking to the mac.
He was able to upload a program, then it wouldn't listen anymore. Then it would, then it stopped again. He was pretty pissed, and was muttering about 8 months worth of work that didn't work..... He was very frustrated.
Looks like we will be waiting till Monday to talk to the robotics teacher again. |
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Well, we are switching to a PC laptop tomorrow to install the newest software code. The Mac seems to not be playing well with the arduino.
TopMen wanted to rewrite the code so if the power goes out the arduino does not just start the program from the beginning, but pick up where it lest off. The teacher helped him figure out how to write the code to do this. We test again tomorrow at 8am. Thursday is the official group photo day for the paper. Students and staff will have their shirts on for the photo. The woodshop is feverishly trying to get the display case done by then. Hopefully they will. |
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Quoted:
Apparently the arduino is trying to become selfaware and is now ignoring commands.
TopMen was trying to rewrite the code, yet again, while waiting to collect data on the previous program in real time, when it just stopped talking to the mac.
He was able to upload a program, then it wouldn't listen anymore. Then it would, then it stopped again. He was pretty pissed, and was muttering about 8 months worth of work that didn't work..... He was very frustrated.
Looks like we will be waiting till Monday to talk to the robotics teacher again.
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Update 4/4
Are we going in circles, cause it sure seems that way.
The program was tested for several hours today. We had one little accident where the limiter switch part of the program got messed up and didn't stop one of the doors. It did minor damage to the inside skin of the door in one spot that we quickly fixed. TopMen spent hours rewriting the code, then testing it. It finally completed all of the tests successfully, so tomorrow we get real time again for tests. Now, when the power goes out, the real time clock will pick up where the program left off and no reset will be necessary. ETA: The arduino was again trying to make decisions for itself. It refused to talk to the PC....ever, even though the PC would talk to another test unit. They updated drivers, all kinds of things but it would never work. The Mac also had teoubles, then it didnt. 
TopMen found this hilarious, as his instructor was giving him shit about his Mac not working. The PC never did work. 
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Update 4/4 Are we going in circles, cause it sure seems that way.
The program was tested for several hours today. We had one little accident where the limiter switch part of the program got messed up and didn't stop one of the doors. It did minor damage to the inside skin of the door in one spot that we quickly fixed. TopMen spent hours rewriting the code, then testing it. It finally completed all of the tests successfully, so tomorrow we get real time again for tests. Now, when the power goes out, the real time clock will pick up where the program left off and no reset will be necessary. ETA: The arduino was again trying to make decisions for itself. It refused to talk to the PC....ever, even though the PC would talk to another test unit. They updated drivers, all kinds of things but it would never work. The Mac also had teoubles, then it didnt.
TopMen found this hilarious, as his instructor was giving him shit about his Mac not working. The PC never did work. |
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Guns...I'm far from a code guy, having only done the minimum required programming classes in engineering school. I was very much a brute for coder and my programs were usually much simple, but much much longer than others in my class that were smarter and more talented.
So with that disclaimer, how does the controller know the doors are "closed" based on how Top Men has it set up today? Is there some positive feedback from actuator position that is interpreted as full open and full closed? Back to our discussion a while ago where I was concerned about the weight of the doors when inverted and having the actuators only on the side closest to the tail, I wonder if some of the door flex may be leading to the inconsistency in position when closed. The magnets are supposed to help with that, but thinking that some of the binding you are talking about is coming from door and frame flex as the entire structure settles after being hung in its final state. The limited experience I have with machines is that when you want to verify something is closed like this, that a limit or proximity switch is usually included to positively confirm closure, and also check with what other parts of the system are saying. So not wanting to add further complexity, but wondering if as it stands, the program is relying 100% on the actuator position to determine the doors are "closed" and some of the variability and flex in the system is giving it periodic fits, to the point of gumming up the coding loop. It may be that I'm a mile off on what is happening, but to my very simple mind it seems to be a plausible explanation. It also might be Occam's Razor here too... |
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The arduino is female isn't it? Quoted:
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Update 4/4 Are we going in circles, cause it sure seems that way.
The program was tested for several hours today. We had one little accident where the limiter switch part of the program got messed up and didn't stop one of the doors. It did minor damage to the inside skin of the door in one spot that we quickly fixed. TopMen spent hours rewriting the code, then testing it. It finally completed all of the tests successfully, so tomorrow we get real time again for tests. Now, when the power goes out, the real time clock will pick up where the program left off and no reset will be necessary. ETA: The arduino was again trying to make decisions for itself. It refused to talk to the PC....ever, even though the PC would talk to another test unit. They updated drivers, all kinds of things but it would never work. The Mac also had teoubles, then it didnt.
TopMen found this hilarious, as his instructor was giving him shit about his Mac not working. The PC never did work. This is probably something that you guys have already tried: switch out the entire Arduin unit? Maybe it's defective with an intermittent fault and Top Men's code wasn't the major problem? |