Meeting began at 12:00 pm. 

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This meeting was once again held on a Wednesday in order to prepare for presentations being held on Thursday/Friday.

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Discussed the report. There were some formatting errors on one page (too much white space). Needed more discussion about failed tests. 

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We then started to discuss our PowerPoint rough draft. It will need to be uploaded as a PDF before we present (Friday at 9:15 am).

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The table of contents doesn't need to be read word for word. Just briefly cover it verbally. Verbally explain how each component is used in the project modules. Should explain how the hardware is integrated. Results go before non-technical issues. Presentation should match the organization of the report. Trouble shooting comes before final product. Discuss the results. Clean up the references.

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Meeting ended at 12:40 pm.

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Its been a great learning experience updating this website week to week as we made our journey dreaming and building Easy Tree. Thank you to Professor Ejaz for being out advisor through this process. And thank you for reading intrepid reader. See you out there!

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Love,

Thomas Quaglia and Samer Al-khub

Meeting began at 12:03 pm. 

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This meeting was held on a Wednesday in order to discuss the final report before it is due on Friday, and to not interfere with the Thanksgiving holiday tomorrow. 

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The paper was discussed in detail. Many issues were covered including: that the angle of Easy Tree could be problematic to tests, the final report needing final pictures of the product, everything must be included in the report, plow needs to try to be integrated in time (discuss this process), need to mention plow in conversation of success criteria, just explain errors (do not hide them), mention the video of the project in references.

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Title the chapters appropriately (check the template), explain that the Arduino is the main processor of the robot, mention the solar panel (or lack thereof), put two sections in Appendix B for the MATLAB and Arduino codes, keep the line spacing consistent.

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Final robot picture goes at the end of chapter 3. Make sure to include proposed/actual timeline and budget tables. Make sure to adhere to ethical aspect of academics, everything is properly sourced.

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Fix references, color code the code, the summary should include a couple of lines about the results.

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Meeting ended at 1:24 pm.

Meeting began at 11:00 am. 

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The meeting started with another look at the progress log. Professor Ejaz watched the videos we had posted about our experiments with the fertilizer pump. 

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We asked about how to clean up error messages on the serial monitor with our pH readings. He instructed us to filter out everything that wasn't a proper reading.

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We discussed the GPS again. If it is unable to be as accurate as needed it was determined that we would preprogram the path of the robot. This would allow it to be autonomous but still plant trees in any sized field.

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We reviewed the report again and Professor Ejaz pointed out formatting errors and gave advice on various sections. 

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Clear pictures, videos, and graphs must be posted to this website upon completion of the project. 

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Meeting ended at 11:45 am.

Meeting began at 11:01 am. 

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The meeting began with a quick review of the progress log. We were instructed that we would need to include videos of the final Easy Tree working and label them appropriately. 

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Next Professor Ejaz went through the rough draft of our report with us. He pointed out many errors in formatting and pointed out possible improvements in each chapter we had written so far. 

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Next week we will have completed most of the paper completed and continue testing Easy Tree. 
 

Meeting ended at 11:26 am.

Meeting began at 12:01pm. 

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The meeting started with Professor Ejaz informing us that  working on campus was off limits and that the paper would be due November 26th. Next week the meeting will start at 11am.

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We then went over the progress log for the previous week. The GPS still needs to be incorporated into the code and mounted. The fertilizer pump needs to be checked, as it currently pumps too much. Figure out the power relay for the fertilizer. The pH sensor needs to be mounted properly.

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With regards to the report, only hardware that is actually used needs to be listed. The engineering specification table and block diagram will be put in chapter 1. Chapter 3 will be the most important chapter. Each module must be discussed separately, then together. 

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Meeting ended at 12:41 pm.

Meeting started at noon. 

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Thomas started taking Professor Ejaz through the progress log. We asked about using BJTs and why it was not working for us. The microcontroller was not sending enough current to the collector. The appropriate resistor values must be calculated. 

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We went over an NPN transistor switching circuit. Professor Ejaz suggested we test this circuit using an LED before we continue testing with the pump.

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Professor Ejaz called the drill video, "pretty cool."

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The wires and modules must be mounted and cleaned up. The report continues to be worked on.

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Meeting ended at 12:49 pm.

Meeting started at 12:03 pm. 

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Professor Ejaz began the meeting by looking over the progress log. The Easy Tree rover is close to being finished! He asked how we had planned to mount the drill. We will look into it.

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Next the Professor asked us about our report. We told him we had two chapters completed. He reminded us its due November 26th.

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This week we will work on mounting the drill, and seed dispenser.

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Meeting ended at 12:30 pm.

Meeting started at 12:01 pm. 

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Professor Ejaz checked the progress log. We discussed how everything is to be integrated. The location of the seed storage was discussed.

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We asked Professor Ejaz about how to trigger the fertilizer pump electronically. BJT Transistors were discussed as a viable option. We were informed that if the transistor is  biased in the saturation and cut off regions it would work as a switch. The current in the base of the BJT would allow it to be used as a switch. We need to check the GPIO pin of the micro controller to determine its able to supply enough current.

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It was also brought to our attention that we must know the starting current of the motors of Easy Tree for our presentation. Some of the guests may ask about it.

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Lastly, possible improvements were discussed on how to integrate components in a more efficient manner.

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The seed dispenser, Arduino issues, and BJT transistor issues will be handled this week.

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Meeting ended at 12:38 pm.

Meeting started at 12:03 pm. 

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Professor Ejaz began the meeting looking through the code we had posted to the progress log. Started discussing PWM pins, shields, and Arduino mega.

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Next we discussed how we intended to wire the circuit: soldering vs breadboard and wires vs jumpers. It was brought to our attention that someone may ask why we didnt solder the breadboard. It was determined wed use small PCB and solder wires.

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Lastly we discussed design of the the Easy Tree, and how it needs to have a quality design cover for the electric and mechanical components. We also discussed venting.

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For next week we need to get board connections working and trouble shoot software issues.

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Meeting ended at 12:27 pm.

Meeting started at 12:01 pm. 

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Professor Ejaz began the meeting looking over the hardware layout for Easy Tree. He then looked at psice and asked if we were planning to piece it together using subcircuits. Sent Thomas a guide on subcircuits and asked us about the goal of the pspice diagrams.

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Started discussing the compass and its lack of functioning. Professor Ejaz recommended we drop the magnometer and use the GPS module to determine direction. We then started discussing the logic behind the compass/GPS.

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Professor Ejaz watched the videos of the group running field tests. He asked about the seed and liquid fertilizer dispensors. They still need to be bought but shoudlnt be hard to integrate. 

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For next week we need to look over old groups projects to investigate how they made their magnometers work, and investigate using the GPS as a compass. Finally a fertilizer module needs to be purchased.

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Meeting ended at 12:34 pm.

Meeting started at 12:02 pm. 

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After some small talk, Professor Ejaz checked the progress log and watched the videos of the chassis driving. He liked what he saw. 

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The connections to the battery were discussed and observed. Safety concerns were raised. We will make the connections safer. 

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pH data examples were looked over. everything looked good. We next discussed the robot being able to turn at right angles, then we discussed the trouble we continue to have with the compass module. It does not respond and give accurate directions. 

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We plan to meet tomorrow to get a hands on view of the various modules the other team member has worked on and discuss how to layout circuits and modules on the chassis. Hope to have everything integrated.

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Meeting ended at 12:23 pm.

Meeting started at 12:03 pm. 

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Spent time looking over the progress log. Professor Ejaz looked at the pH sensor and told us it didn't need to be TOO accurate, we will endeavor to make it acceptable. The heat-maps Thomas prepared were looked over. The professor enjoyed them.

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The compass was discussed. It is not performing as desired.

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The motor and chassis were discussed. The answers given were satisfactory and the chassis is on track! The solar panel was determined to be secondary importance. It will be integrated after everything else is done. The chassis must be tested for next week.

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The chassis and probes must be integrated in two weeks.

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Meeting ended at 12:31 pm.

Meeting started at 12:02 pm. 

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Went over progress log from previous week. Professor Ejaz said it was all shaping up well. The compass still needs work.

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Discussed the meshplot more and discovered that we needed to be putting the pH X and Y values into a matrix. Professor Ejaz also showed us the plot3 function in matlab.

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The hardware and software componants should be ready to be integrated together by MID OCTOBER.

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The final Design Document must also begin being composed.

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Meeting ended at 12:28 pm.

Meeting started at 12:01 pm. 

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Went over progress log from previous week with professor Ejaz and discussed circuit.io.

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A mesh plot was discussed as a possible way of displaying pH data for final end user. Professor Ejaz demonstrated mesh plot in Matlab and gave us resources to look further into it on our own. A pH table will also be used.

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Team members will be working on probes and coding this week. Discussed possibility of adding LED screen as user interface.

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Must spend more time on project during week.

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Meeting ended at 12:27 pm.

Meeting with Professor Ejaz began at 12:02 pm.

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Meeting began with Professor Ejaz informing the team of important dates to keep in mind and how the Senior Design Report differs from the Proposal Report. 

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Went over the parts ordered so far and what remained to be 3D printed. PRofessor Ejaz read over updates from the Progress Log.

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Went over Design Portion of website and how to update it. Lastly, Professor Ejaz told us to get started on formating our proposal document into a design document.  

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Meeting ended at 12:21 pm.