Amount of funding awarded
$1,945.00
Budget Report
View budget report.
How the program has supported you
PAF funding enabled the purchase of necessary resources for building the Antenna Tracker. The project was built to fulfill the need for a long-distance directional comms link to our UAV. This year, the mechanical design of the Antenna Tracker was selected for a remodel, as the old frame was loose and would vibrate when actuated. The funds were used to purchase microcomputers, electronic components such as motor drivers and wiring, tools such as screwdrivers and a dremel, as well as hardware such as ball bearings and shaft collars. A portion of the funding was used for project-related team upkeep such as safety equipment (bandaids), 3d printing material, logistics and binoculars for range testing. We re-designed the towers, lazy susan bearing mounting and baseplate to improve the reliability and robustness of the electromechanical system.
Outcomes
Our proposed system incorporating Antenna Tracker placed 2nd for the design paper portion of the AEAC Canada-wide competition this year. Throughout the year, we performed range and network speed tests over different terrain as competition neared. We were able to redesign the mechanical side of the project to improve reliability and robustness of the solution. The software was also greatly improved this year as the team started simulating the Antenna Tracker.
Through Antenna Tracker, 7 mechanical, electrical, computer and first year engineering students developed skills related to real-world RF system testing, software simulation, electromechanical system design, programming, soldering and safe LiPo battery handling skills.
Members participating in this project developed skills in a professional team environment, communicating as a team in the field over radios, solving RF range issues in creative ways, debugging computer networks, and team organization. All of these are valuable skills for members in their future careers.
