Bumper Design

Over the weekend, I designed a model for a bumper we can use for the collector shoe. This design allows for the shoe to fit more snug along the conductive rail and elevates it appropriately to touch the copper strip with more stability. The model of the part can be seen below.

Shoe Collector Integration

We are moving on to fit the shoe onto the bogie, We have finalized the fabrication stage and are currently moving into the implementation stage; this involves affixing the appropriate materials we need to replace or retrofit our new design with the leftover rails. Implementation was scheduled to begin later but we will be moving ahead of schedule to assure there is ample time during the testing phase to ensure that our final design will run without failure. If we maintain our lead over the schedule, we plan to add more items to facilitate our integration with the other teams. Our forecast for the deployment phase is positive in that we will very likely reach it on or before the scheduled date

First Spring Presentation

This week alongside testing and fabricating the brackets and conductive rails, the first presentation for the Spring Semester was prepared. An updated Gantt chart for the process of this semester was also ameliorated to forecast our testing phase. Both the presentation and Gantt chart can be accessed below.


Link to Gantt Chart: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1d0HtPsCi0U9ZxB2Q2hPej-22tSz6xKDYct0Mf3qkzeI/edit#gid=0

Finishing brackets and dismantling old conductive rails

3/22/17
The final new brackets were finished and the old conductive rails were brought down. The current shoe collector arrived and will be tested for attachment to the bogey. The current limiter was discussed with other teams and it was suggested that we run a different type of circuitry within the onboard system rather than a current limiter. Voltage regulators may be another option depending on how the power system is connected to the rails. We will further be discussing and collaborating to find an appropriate solution to achieve the power criteria.

Current Limiter

Implementing the current limiter to prevent the connection of 2 collector shoe currents shorting out the onboard circuit is crucial. The simplest form of a current limiter will not suffice due to a significant drop in voltage, therefore a more complex circuit, see below, will be implemented.

This will be the basis of the schematic design for the current limiter we will be implementing, an alternative will be to place a simple limiter along with a regulator to achieve the same results. 

Designing Elevated Brackets

Over this week I designed and created an updated mounting bracket for the electrified rail. The holes from the previous brackets were duplicated and the height of the mount was increased to 13 inches. This extended length allows for the rails to be raised so that the shoe can be attached to the bogie and contact the source of electricity.

50 of these brackets are to be made for the length of the track.

Project Deliverables

This week, we worked on gathering our model designs; sample materials, sketches and drafts of our overall design. The second wave of presentations will be done next week and we will be continuing to plan our designs to shif the bracket. So far the model is finished and we will be able to install it by next semester, the material can be made of wood but preferably 3D printed.