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Team Status Report 9.28

Design Finalization

This week, our team finalized the design of the smart charging table system, the main change we have are:

  • Gantry System: We have chosen a gantry-based system to move the charging pad. Instead of physically attaching the charging pad to the gantry or a robotic arm, the pad is constantly powered and placed between two layers. The gantry system will employ magnetic forces to move the charging pad to the desired location beneath the device.The main reason we change from robots to gantry system and separate magnetic charging pad is because in this case we do not need to worry about the wiring issue. For robots, since we need to apply power to them, the powering wire would cause many troubles to robots, which would affect the accuracy of it, and our current design would eliminate such problem

CAD Model Development

A major milestone this week was the successful development of the CAD model for the entire system. This included:

  • Detailed CAD of the system: Showing how the whole system works.
  • Layering structure: Visualizing how the charging pad will be placed between the two layers while still enabling smooth movement via the gantry system.

The CAD model provides a clear representation of the mechanical design and will serve as a reference for building the physical prototype.

App Prototype Creation

We also developed a prototype of the mobile app that will interface with the charging table. The app includes:

Charging status, device name, battery percentage, temperature, and estimated time to full charge.

The settings feature allows for future customization and functionality expansions. This prototype will be used for real-time communication between the table and users to ensure proper tracking of the charging process, and it will also serve as a feedback system.

Component List & Part Sourcing

We have also made progress on assembling the component list for the smart charging table:

  • Researched motors, sensors, and magnetic components that are suitable for the gantry system.
  • Explored charging pad options to ensure continuous power delivery while allowing movement within the system.
  • This work brings us closer to being ready for the procurement phase and building the first physical prototype.

Design Presentation

The team has also started working on a comprehensive design presentation as required, and finished most part of it.

The whole team is currently on schedule, and for our next week’s plan:

  • Continue refining the CAD model with detailed dimensions and tolerances.
  • Finalize the component list and begin sourcing parts for the physical build.
  • Begin working on the communication protocol between the app and the table hardware.
  • Try to prototype the charging pad model.
  • Improve on the App features.
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Steven’s Status Report 9.28

This week in a meeting with my professor and TA we explored a technical challenge in our previous design, which was the question of how to power a movable rechargeable robot. We started with two solutions: one was to use wires to power the robots, however the tangling and resistance of the wires could cause a number of complications; the other was to add batteries to each of the robots, however after doing some research we realized that it would be difficult to charge the robots by homing them in place as the electrodes are too small and would place a huge demand on the robot’s controls and would be difficult to control. too large an electrode would pose problems such as circuit safety.

After several iterations this week, we finally decided to use a completely new design. We used the Gantry system, however, in order to achieve the effect of charging multiple devices at the same time, we came up with the innovative idea of using magnets on the end of the Gantry to move the charging pads across a layer of acrylic. This design is stable and efficient and allows for the charging of multiple devices.

After finalizing the design, I completed the mechanical design for the second version. This version focused more on the internal principles and concepts than the previous design, using real dimensions and an aluminum frame. This also meant that our design was being further refined. However, our Gantry system does not have the ability to purchase a frame directly due to its size, so we are still researching and discussing the design of this system. However the overall design is still very clear, and I have set deadlines for the complete overall design and hardware purchases that need to be made before fall break to ensure that our plans can continue to develop as we expect.

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Bruce’s Status Report for 9.28

This week, I focused on creating a working prototype of the mobile app that will interface with our smart charging table. The app is designed to display essential information, including:

  • Charging Status (whether the device is charging or not)
  • Device Name (currently connected device)
  • Battery Percentage (real-time battery level)
  • Temperature (monitoring device temperature)
  • Estimated Time to Fully Charge
  • Settings (for customization and additional functionality)

The prototype was developed using HTML, CSS, and JavaScript, offering a sleek and intuitive user interface. The app will be the central communication tool between the table and the user, allowing real-time updates on charging status and other metrics. It will also serve as a feedback to the whole system, so that we know whether the phone is charged, and whether we need to adjust the charging pad position.

Coordination on Final Design

I had multiple discussions and feedback sessions with my teammates, and we finalized the core design of the system:

  • We are opting for a gantry system to move the charging pad to the desired location.
  • Instead of attaching the charging pad directly to the gantry or a robot arm, we decided to make the charging pad constantly powered. This pad is placed between two layers, and the gantry system will use magnetic forces to move it to the correct position for charging the device.
  • This approach reduces mechanical complexity and ensures constant power flow to the charging pad, making the system more reliable and efficient.

Component List and Part Sourcing

This week, I also started working on assembling the component list for our smart charging table. This involved:

  • Researching suitable parts for the gantry system, such as motors, magnetic components.
  • Evaluating charging pad technology that can be integrated seamlessly into the table and be constantly powered without overloading or power loss.
  • Ensuring that all components align with our design constraints, including size, power requirements, and budget.

Design Presentation

In addition to technical work, I began working on some parts of the design presentation slides. Some of the parts I worked on:

  • Overall concept and design goals.
  • The functionalities of the smart charging table, with visuals of the app interface and how it will communicate with the table.
  • A detailed explanation of how the gantry system and magnetic movement will work.

This presentation will help convey our design decisions and ensure that everyone is aligned as we move forward with implementation.

I am currently on schedule.

Next Steps:

  • Finalize the component list and begin buying parts.
  • Add more features to the APP.
  • Start implementing the communication between the app and the table’s hardware.
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Harry Status Report for 9.28

Personal Work this week:

  1. Work on the design presentation, responsible for use case, quantitative design requirements, and solution approach parts.
  2. Proposed the idea of using armed robot (R robot, single arm) that could rotate. The charging station could then move forward and backward on the arm and finally reach desired charging position. In this condition, the wires and be placed inside the arm, successfully eliminate the original concern regarding the cubic robot’s (our original design) motion affected be charging wire. However, we think the limited area the end effector could reach and the precision issue caused by the arm robot will make our job extremely difficult. So we moved on.
  3. Meetings with teammates to review the design of our system. We went through in detail regarding our original design, which contains four cubic robots operating on the second layer of the system with each robot hold a charging pad (the charging pad is on top of the robot). However, one important fact that need to be taken into account is the way the robot and the charging pad is charged. Wireless charging can’t ensure constant power supply to the robot system; as for wired charging, the robot will drag the wire during the movement. In this condition, there will be great difficulty to prevent the wire from affecting the robot’s motion. Therefore, we worked together and decided to modify the design. In our new approach, between the second layer and the third layer will be a xy-axis motion system accomplished by belt (also consider linear motors, currently researching on some cheap options). as for the second layer, there will be four charging pads. The motion system (gantry) will use magnetic field to move the charging pad around. In that way we don’t need to worry about wire affecting the motion of the robot.
  4. Work on the component list. While some parts of the system can be directly produced using 3D printing, some other parts such as the layer, which will be either glass or transparent plastic, will be bought online. I have completed part of the component list and will continue to work on it.  We plan to use Nvidia Jetson nano instead of Raspberry Pi. Also, we are considering to build our own charging pad instead of directly purchase existing ones by creating magnetic field between the electronic devices and the charging station.  Qi-certified contract is being studied at the same time.
  5.  More details regarding the newest version of our design is included in team status report.

Overall, my progress in on schedule. Because we have finalized our design plan and begin to work on our component lists, we believe we are on the right track.

The next week, I will work together with my teammates for the component list. Because we have finalized our design, we are searching for corresponding components that matches with our design. At the same time,  I will work together with Steven to figure out the mechanical design of our system. Because now the second layer only contains the charging stations, the distance between layers will be modified. Also, we will continue to work on the presentation together to ensure our presentation can successfully illustrate and deliver our ideas.

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Team Status Report 9.21

Week Review
This week, Team A1 successfully presented our project, AutoChargeX, which introduces a smart charging table designed to streamline the charging process for electronic devices like smartphones. Our presentation outlined the problems with current wired and wireless charging solutions, including the inconvenience of cable management and the precision required for effective device alignment on traditional charging pads. Our solution, a table that automatically detects and aligns with electronic devices for seamless, multi-device charging, was well-received.

  • Presentation Highlights
    Problem Identification: We highlighted the issues with existing charging methods, such as the need to stay tethered to a power source and the challenges with alignment on wireless pads.
  • Proposed Solution: Our smart charging table, equipped with sophisticated sensors and a robotic system, automatically detects and positions the charging pad under the device, ensuring optimal alignment and efficient charging for multiple devices.
  • Use Cases and Target Audience: The solution is particularly suited for home use, as well as public spaces like libraries and offices. This broad applicability was emphasized to showcase the potential market reach.

Feedback and Suggestions

  • Technical Feedback: Professors and teaching assistants suggested improvements in User Case Requirement, and they suggests that we should consider the requirement in terms of the users. Instead of just think of the quantitative metric of the system, we should think what is really important to users. Therefore, we would revise our user case requirement and focus more on the user friendly perspective.
  • Design Suggestions: Enhancements in user interface design were proposed to make the system more user-friendly and accessible, particularly through a customized app for charging notifications.
    Challenges and User-Centered Design
  • Technical Challenges: Ensuring high accuracy in device detection and precise robotic alignment were identified as key challenges. Our dual-layer detection system using computer vision and proximity sensors needs to meet these demands reliably.
  • User Requirements: We outlined specific user-centered design requirements, such as quick detection and charging initiation, safe operation temperatures, and obstruction detection to ensure safety and convenience. As mentioned in technical feedback, we would focus more on the perspective of users.

Next Steps
For the coming week, our team plans to finalize the design by incorporating the feedback received. We will also detail a component list that supports our design requirements, focusing on:

  • Component Selection: Identifying and listing all necessary components, such as sensors, motors, and charging modules, to ensure they meet our design and functional specifications.
  • Design Refinement: Addressing the suggestions made by our professors and teaching assistants, particularly in improving communication efficiency and user interaction elements.

Conclusion
Our team remains committed to refining AutoChargeX to meet the high standards set by our educational objectives and the practical needs of potential users. We anticipate further testing and iterative improvements to ensure our solution not only meets but exceeds the expectations laid out in its conceptual framework.

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Steven’s Status Report 9.21

This week I’ve been focusing mostly on the mechanical design aspect of the project. After discussions with the group, we basically settled on a three-tier table design: the bottom layer is for the camera module, the second layer is a transparent acrylic panel for charging the robot to move around, and the top layer is a transparent tabletop.

I have our V1.0 CAD model finished. And we are also working on the mechanical design for the moving charging robots. We got out inspiration of the moving charging robot from CMU Zoom Lab’s multi-agent robot and we consider to use ESP-32 as the Central Processor for our robot as its compact size and built-in wireless communication features fits our application.

Next week, I will further polish the CAD design for our desk and starting the detail CAD design for the charging robot with real-world dimensions. Hopefully, we can have a better design image while at the same time starting the component selection process, as the model of motor used by the charging robot could impact a lot on the mechanical design.

As for the presentation slides, I was in charged of division of labor, schedule, and Preliminary Testing & Validation. I have reviewed the advice from the post-presentation feedback and audience reflects that our Gantt chart is hard to view. They also suggest that our task division in the Gantt chart could be more achievable and solid if we can split the task according to the different levels of the tasks. So next week, I will also further refines our Gantt chart and then ask for professors’ and TAs’ guidance.

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Bruce’s Status Report for 9.21

Overview: This week, I focused on key elements in the design and development of our smart charging table project. The core goal of the project is to create a system where robots underneath the table can automatically locate a smartphone (or other Qi-enabled devices) and initiate charging seamlessly. I contributed by researching potential solutions, designing the system architecture, and preparing the project’s presentation material.

I took the initiative to research possible technical solutions for both the hardware and software layers of the project. Key aspects I worked on include:

  • I devised a system approach where there is a separation between object detection (handled by the upper layer) and charging pad movement (managed by the lower layer). This dual-layer system ensures efficient detection and charging.
  • I proposed integrating cameras and proximity sensors for detecting devices. I identified OpenCV as the tool for real-time object detection and suggested the use of sensor fusion techniques to enhance detection accuracy.
  • For precise movement, I researched the use of linear motors and encoders to achieve the required sub-centimeter accuracy in the robot’s movement. I also identified control algorithms that would optimize movement planning and trajectory.
  • Based on the system’s needs, I suggested using real-time operating systems (RTOS) with I2C or SPI communication protocols. This would allow fast and reliable data transmission between sensors, motors, and the central processing unit (Raspberry Pi).
  1. While preparing for the project presentation, I identified the main technical challenges, including:
  • Device Detection Accuracy: I emphasized that the system needs to detect devices across a large surface area with a margin of error of less than 1 cm. My proposed solution involves dual-layer detection using both computer vision and proximity sensors to enhance speed and accuracy, targeting detection within 500 milliseconds.
  • Positioning and Alignment: I helped define that the charging pad must align with the device’s wireless charging coil within a 2 cm accuracy range in under 10 seconds. The encoders and feedback system on the robot will ensure precise alignment.
  • Communication Efficiency: I addressed the importance of high-speed communication between the sensors and the control unit, ensuring low-latency data transmission using I2C or SPI protocols.
  1. Minimum Viable Product (MVP): As part of the MVP, I along with my other teammates outlined the essential features that need to be completed for the first iteration of the smart charging table:
  • A three-layered table system, including a transparent surface, the robot movement platform, and the camera hub for object detection.
  • An automated device alignment system using dual sensors to detect and position the charging pad within a 3 cm range of accuracy.
  • Integration of a basic Qi-certified wireless charging module providing up to 15W power output.
  • A feedback control system to monitor and update system parameters in real-time.
  1. I created the PowerPoint presentation used to explain the system approach, technical challenges, and proposed solutions. I ensured that the slides clearly outlined the hardware, software, and layered approach that the project will follow.
      
  2. I worked closely with the team to review our progress and ensure that we are all aligned on the next steps. I also facilitated discussions to resolve any design issues, particularly regarding motor control and sensor integration. Feedback was incorporated into both the presentation and the technical documentation.


We are currently on our schedule.

Next Steps: For the upcoming week, I plan to focus on the following tasks:

  • Begin prototyping the detection system using OpenCV and test proximity sensors with the Raspberry Pi.
  • Finalized the component list and start design the system.
  • Refine the MVP features based on the system and iterate the design as necessary.

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Harry Status Report 9.21

During Wednesday, we presented our idea and proposal to the whole class to demonstrate our project: AutoChargerX. As the presenter, I carefully practiced to ensure that my presentation will be clear, insightful and easy to understand. At the same time, I dig into some specific design part of our project to make sure I can answer questions raised by professors, TAs, and other students.

Because the presentation is divided into many separate parts, we my teammates and I prepare for the presentation, we first divided the work between us thus each of us were responsible for several parts. After everybody finish his work, we then combined our work together.

My parts include use case introduction, use case requirements, part of technical challenges and the MVP definitions. I searched online for a variety of resources and listed some common problems for today’s charging systems. I pointed out that an automated wireless charging system will greatly help people with their everyday life because a home based wireless charging table can offer then convenience and high efficiency.

I also communicated with my teammates and drew out the brief design layout of our table system as shown below:

The three layered table system contains the surface, robot operating platform and the camera hub. The robot will hold the charging pads, which are on top of the robots and pair with the electronic devices on the surface of the table. The camera on the third layer will monitor the whole system and send feedbacks to control software, robots, and other devices in the system.

For MVP, I discussed from several viewpoints: table system, wireless charging module, automated device detection and alignment, robot motion plan, and feedback control software. In MVP, the numerical requirements are not as strict as those we mentioned for our final target because we want to make everything work first then try to reach higher efficiency.

Next week, we will further discuss our design with the professors and listen to their advice.

 

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Introduction and Project Summary

In the modern era, smartphones and wireless devices have become indispensable to daily life. However, the process of charging these devices remains cumbersome. Wired charging requires physical effort and proximity to a power source, often forcing users to get out of bed or remain tethered to a specific spot. On the other hand, wireless charging, though more convenient, requires precise placement of the device on a charging pad. Even a slight deviation from the center can prevent the device from charging, leading to frustration and potential battery depletion when the user expects a full charge.

The need for a more user-friendly charging solution has become evident. A smart charging table can address these challenges by combining the convenience of wireless charging with the accuracy of automated positioning. By incorporating innovative technology that autonomously locates and aligns with devices, this table aims to revolutionize the charging experience, providing a seamless, efficient, and hands-free solution.

For our project, we will to design a smart charging table that can be placed in public areas such as libraries to help people with their charging issues. The table will have two layers: a transparent desktop on top and a charging system on the second layer beneath the desktop. The charging system will contain components that first automatically detect the position of your electronic device, such as your phone, and then move a magnetic charger to the position right below your phone and begin charging. During the whole process, the only thing you need to do is to place your phone on the table, and our device will do all the work automatically.