Week 9: March 17, 2012 (Saturday)

Hardware - PIC Controller Board

I went to the office to continue wiring the PIC circuit board. Once finish, I assemble the PIC circuit board on robomouse chassis.

Completed PIC 18F4585 Controller Board

Week 9: March 16, 2012 (Friday)

Hardware - PIC  Controller

Today I try to simulate the program using 18F4585. Initially, the simulation did not work due to error in proteus schematic. The vcc connected to MCLR is not wired properly therefore the MCLR is always reset. After the problem is fixed, the simulation works. Then, I started to test the program on PIC 18F4585 testing circuit. The PIC was programmed by using Galep-5 Universal Programmer. The circuit run successfully. Then I started to construct the PIC circuit on a single hole board.

PIC 18F4585 circuit board in construction

PIC circuit board (back view)

I'm using a ZIF (zero insertion force) socket for ease of programming as I'm using a separate programmer to program the IC. The wiring process to be completed tomorrow.

Week 9: March 15, 2012 (Thursday)

Hardware - PIC controller board

I have received the PIC18F4585 from my supervisor. So I’m thinking of completing my hardware so I can fully concentrate on the development of the software. Therefore, I constructed a PIC 18F4585 test circuit before developing the circuit on a single hole board. Test reset circuit ok. Then, I modify the program from 16F877 to 18F4585 to test the PIC test circuit.

Reset test circuit

Switch is pressed

PIC test circuit

Week 9: March 14, 2012 (Wednesday)

Software

Continue with programming to turn right or left at 90 degree with the chassis stays at the same spot. To turn right the left wheel should move forward while the right wheel should reverse. On the other hand, to turn left, the right wheel should move forward and the left wheel should reverse. So, the program has to be written in such a way that each motor has to be controlled separately. The program is partially completed up to the controlling of the motor separately…To be continued.

Week 9: March 13, 2012 (Tuesday)

Software

Continue on the forward and reverse program. After several adjustment, the simulation works.

Week 9: March 12, 2012 (Monday)

Hardware - Sensor

Today I make a stand for sensor. The stand is made of balsa stick which cut into 5.3 cm size. The sensor is tied to the balsa stick using a cable tie and the balsa stick is attached between base and platform by using screws. Then, I do a little bit of programming of forward and reverse the motor.

 

Sensor attached to the chassis

 

The coupling (between the motor and chasis)

Week 8: March 11, 2012 (Sunday)

Hardware - Chassis

The wheel has been connected with the chassis by using the coupling and it looks good and more stable. However, the overall measurement for chassis gets bigger because the combination of coupling and wheel is already 2.5 cm each and for both wheels, it has a total size of 5 cm. Adding together with the base of the chassis, the total measurement is 14 cm. This is too big for the maze. Therefore, the base size has to be reduced as small as it can be. I decided to reduce the size according to the size of motor. The base was cut to 6.4 cm.