DAY 1
Monday, 29/07/24
This was the only day our whole group would be in the lab together this week, due to hall orientation. We began by connecting all 3 ultrasonic sensors to the Arduino for the first time to test if they would work with the code, then moved on to testing the placement of the 3 sensors in the bin.
This was to gauge the length of new wires required to replace the current wires, which we would use in the final bin (wherein one Arduino connects to various electronic appliances per bin & is housed outside of the bin to prevent it from getting dirty).
We also 3D printed the updated chute brackets which had a narrower opening, enabling them to accommodate the thinner corrugated cardboard flaps.
DAYS 2-5
Tuesday-Friday, 30/07/24 – 02/08/24
For the rest of the week, Shane and Josiah replaced all the short wires we had been previously using to connect our appliances to the Arduino with longer wires that came in bundles, reducing the mess and tangling of wires. They also replaced any temporary connections between wires (by terminal blocks etc.) with more permanent connections by soldering wires together and securing the connection using a heat shrink. Additionally, they designed a printed circuit board (PCB) with the help of Jeremy, which could be plugged directly into our Arduino. This way, we could have all electronics (weight sensor, electromagnetic lock, light, ultrasonic sensors) connected to one Arduino simultaneously. Previously, we could only test one appliance at a time using a single Arduino due to the limited number of ports, and using a bread board was rather messy, with looser connections as well.
^ 3D Model of our PCB
Moreover, they attached the chute to the metal frame and designed + 3D printed a holder for our electromagnet, so that it could be mounted to the metal frame.
