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| report [2014/06/26 18:02] – [7.5 Prototype Implementation] team1 | report [2022/11/03 10:45] (current) – external edit 127.0.0.1 | ||
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| - | [Zhou, Cao, Wang, Tan, The Posture Control and 3-D Locomotion Implementation of Biomimetic Robot Fish, 2006. International Conference on Intelligent Robots and Systems, Proceedings of the 2006 IEEE/RSJ, Beijing, China] | ||
| The comparison reveals that there exist several different methods varying in technical complexity and effectiveness. The selection of a suitable mechanism for the developed robot will be dependent on its feasibility and the available space inside the body. | The comparison reveals that there exist several different methods varying in technical complexity and effectiveness. The selection of a suitable mechanism for the developed robot will be dependent on its feasibility and the available space inside the body. | ||
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| **Figure 29: Example of program and code** | **Figure 29: Example of program and code** | ||
| - | ==== 7.5 Prototype Implementation | + | ==== 7.5 Tests and Results |
| - | At the current state (14th June, 2014) the prototypes implementation has not been completed. In this chapter it we describe in what ways and configurations our prototype will be made. We had a lot of ideas which gave us a lot of configurable parts that influence the way the robot swims, dives and looks. | + | A series |
| - | Body of the prototype requires a lot of additional weight to make it go under water, thus we will experiment with different ways of adding weight. As an example we might use steel bars fixed to the inside of the robot. Other idea is mounting the ballast weight to the outside bottom | + | === 7.5.1 Test of the Tail’s Motion (dry) === |
| - | Next thing to experiment on are shapes of the two pectoral fins and bottom fin. Long pectoral fin put along the hull will work differently than wide and short fin. The case is similar with the bottom fin. | + | * __Test set-up:__ Tail segments and the back fin are put together by bolts and secured by self-securing nuts (Figure 30). The spring steel shaft is led through |
| - | Another addition | + | {{:: |
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| + | **Figure 30: Assembled tail segments with back fin** | ||
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| + | * __Results: | ||
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| + | **Figure 31: Tail with two covers and elastic bands** | ||
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| + | === 7.5.2 Test of Controlling the steering Fins === | ||
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| + | * __Test set-up:__ Both pectoral fins and the bottom fin are put together inside the hull. The servomotors are attached to the control unit and signals are given from the remote control by pressing “up” and “down” buttons for pectoral | ||
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| + | * __Results: | ||
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| + | === 7.5.3 Waterproofing Tests === | ||
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| + | * __Test set-up for connection plastic ring/ plane cover:__ At first, the detachable connection between pipe and plane back cover, as explained in Subsection 7.3.8, was tested. The plastic ring is glued to the inside of the pipe’s end with epoxy resin. The O-ring is put into the groove and the acrylic cover attached to the ring with eight screws. Water is poured into the pipe. | ||
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| + | * __Results for connection plastic ring/ plane cover:__ Water is dripping out at a water column of about 5 cm inside the pipe, as to be seen in Figure 32. | ||
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| + | **Figure 32: Water dripping out of pipe with attached cover** | ||
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| + | * __Conclusion for connection plastic ring/ plane cover:__ The sealing mechanism cannot be applied to the prototype with this combination of materials. Two possible failure causes are assumed: The plastic ring is produced by a 3D printer and thus has an uneven surface. Even after treating the surface with sandpaper there remain small grooves through which water might slip. The second problem might be the high elasticity of the acrylic cover. When tightening the screws, the pressure is not spread evenly on the connection between cover and O-ring, but the cover deforms. This problem could be solved by using a stiffer cover and increasing the number of screws to fix it. | ||
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| + | * __Test set-up for shaft opening:__ A shaft is led through the aluminium shaft opening, as explained in Subsection 7.3.8.. Plastic material of high flexibility is attached around the aluminium piece with waterproof tape so that only the shaft sticks out at the bottom. Water is poured into the created plastic basin. The shaft is rotated manually. | ||
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| + | * __Results for shaft opening:__ Some water is dripping | ||
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| + | * __Test set-up for entire prototype: | ||
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| + | * __Results for entire prototype: | ||
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| + | * __Conclusion for entire prototype: | ||
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| + | === 7.5.4 Test of the Hull’s Immersion === | ||
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| + | * __Test set-up:__ The entire prototype is assembled. According to the buoyancy calculation (7.3.7) weights are added into the pipe: a metal bar of approximately 3 kg and another of 1 kg. The weight’s location is at the pipe’s bottom and as far in the front as the other components inside the hull allow. The hull is sealed (7.5.3), the spherical head is attached with duct tape and the prototype is put into the water. | ||
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| + | * __Results: | ||
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| + | {{:: | ||
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| + | **Figure 33: First immersion test of prototype** | ||
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| + | To balance the prototype around its transverse axis the spherical head is detached | ||
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| + | {{:: | ||
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| + | **Figure 34: Prototype with swimming support** | ||
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| + | * __Conclusion: | ||
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| + | === 7.5.5 Test of Tail’s Propulsion === | ||
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| + | * __Test set-up #1:__ The prototype is entirely assembled and sealed. The tail mechanism is composed as considered appropriate in the end of the preliminary motion tests outside the water (7.5.1) with a short bended shaft and elastic bands (Figure 31). The prototype is put into the water and the shaft rotated by turning the potentiometer on the remote control. | ||
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| + | * __Results of test #1:__ The first three tail segments that are directly actuated by the shaft move as expected. The motion of the last three segments is damped by the water and they almost trail behind without any oscillation. Also, adding more elastic bands and increasing the shaft’s bending and length do not improve the motion. Nevertheless, | ||
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| + | * __Test set-up #2:__ The second last tail segment is removed. The shaft directly activates all segments; there are no elastic bands. The tail segments are attached to the loose back cover and the shaft is rotated manually, first in dry condition and afterwards submerged underwater. | ||
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| + | * __Results | ||
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| + | {{:: | ||
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| + | **Figure 35: (a) Tail activated in air and (b) underwater** | ||
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| + | * __Conclusions: | ||
| - | ==== 7.6 ests and Results ==== | ||
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| In the context of starting to develop an educational toy for children, the target of this chapter was to design a biologically inspired swimming robot that has an easily controllable heading direction in the horizontal and vertical level as well as customizable features, which can teach children about the physics of floating objects. | In the context of starting to develop an educational toy for children, the target of this chapter was to design a biologically inspired swimming robot that has an easily controllable heading direction in the horizontal and vertical level as well as customizable features, which can teach children about the physics of floating objects. | ||
| - | Based on the considered biological principles and assessment of existing fish-like robots, a BCF propulsion-mechanism was adopted for the robot. The robot has along, articulated tail with a fin at its end to generate forward propulsion, a pair of pectoral fins located at the sides of the body to control the swimming depth and one at the bottom to steer left/right. The main achievement of this development is an innovative approach to actuate and change the undulating motion patterns of the robot´s segmented tail, which resembles the undulating motion along fishes´ bodies. | + | Based on the considered biological principles and assessment of existing fish-like robots, a BCF propulsion-mechanism was adopted for the robot. The robot has along, articulated tail with a fin at its end to generate forward propulsion, |
| - | After selecting suitable components | + | After selecting suitable components a prototype |
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| + | As soon as also these tests have been performed successfully, | ||
| ===== 8. Conclusions ===== | ===== 8. Conclusions ===== | ||
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| + | The main purpose of this report was to start developing a construction kit for a swimming robot with biomimetic features in order to arouse children´s curiosity and enthusiasm for technology. The research focused on enabling children to experiment on the physics of floating objects and drawing attention to sustainability problems of the oceans. During the entire development, | ||
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| + | At first, this chapter presents and discusses the main achievements obtained during this project. Finally, an outlook on future developments is going to be provided. | ||
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| ==== 8.1 Discussion ==== | ==== 8.1 Discussion ==== | ||
| - | //Provide here what was achieved (related with the initial objectives) | + | |
| + | In the beginning of this project, detailed knowledge about the research field has been gathered. Analyzing several natural and manmade mechanisms and products served as groundwork for the product development and confirmed the innovative character of the toy in the market. | ||
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| + | Before starting to develop the actual product, several preparations were performed. The team successfully elaborated and applied project management tools to create a positive, effective and efficient working atmosphere that helped to finish deliverables in time. The marketing plan helped to define the final product in detail. It was revealed that the construction kit for children of eight to twelve years has a unique combination of educational values. A market survey was conducted | ||
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| + | Based on this groundwork, a prototype was developed in theory that resembles a fish successfully, | ||
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| + | If the future experimental tests confirm the expected high feasibility and efficiency of the robot with its new propulsion mechanism, this project | ||
| ==== 8.2 Future Development ==== | ==== 8.2 Future Development ==== | ||
| - | //Provide here your recommendations | + | |
| + | Following this project, the proposed modifications to the tail mechanism can be performed. They mainly consist of increasing the dimensions of the spring steel shaft and torque of the DC motor that activate the tail segments. When also the longitudinal balance of the prototype is improved, the remaining functionality tests for steering left/right and submersion can be performed. At this state, the prototype will fulfil the initially proposed requirements. | ||
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| + | In addition, different fin models (varying in shape and size) can be experimentally tested in order to detect their effectiveness of steering and stabilizing the robot´s locomotion. Also, it is important to develop easier and safer waterproofing mechanisms because children are expected to easily loose their enthusiasm if water leaks inside the robot and components break. | ||
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| + | Finally, the other proposed features of the toy, which are to teach mechanics and programming, | ||
| ===== Bibliography ===== | ===== Bibliography ===== | ||
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| ===== Appendices ===== | ===== Appendices ===== | ||
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| + | The following survey was done in the “EscolaSecundária do Agrupamento de Escolas de ÁguasSantas” in Porto, Portugal. The results were displayed in the marketing plan in Chapter 4. | ||
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| + | {{:: | ||