Date&Time Activity Commentary Pictures with Captions

Saturday Today I completed a This was very

November 11,2017 multitude of objectives refreshing because I
10:51 pm – 1:40 pm including a meeting felt like I had achieved
3 hrs with my facilitator. I a lot on my project
completed my today. I was also
assembly of the motor feeling happy because
components, minus my facilitator helped This is a picture of me
the microcontroller. I me achieve something meeting my facilitator. I
also looked more into that I tend to be bad am finding out that he
microcontrollers to at, planning. I am also is a software developer
buy. Along with this, I relieved to find out which makes him
did some more that the code I had perfect for helping me
programming for the used so far was learn coding.
motors. This new acceptable to my
program is going to be facilitator who's
used as a test to assure knowledge in
that the motors are programming is quite
turning in the right extensive.
direction and correctly
responding. After that,
I met with my
facilitator from 12 to
1:40, and we discussed
a time line for my
project as well as
where I currently am
on the project.
Saturday Today, I watched an This was a particularly
August 26, 2017 introductory level exciting situation
2:15pm – 2:56 pm course on Computer because computer
41 min science using MIT's science is the field I
online courseware. On want to go into, and
this video I learned MIT is my dream
Here I am studiously
what syntax and static school. I learned about
watching Professor
semantics was as well the courseware over
Guttag teaching how
as basic Python the summer from s
students on what
terminology. I also friend, so I thought it’d
syntax and semantics
learned about the be perfect to get a
are, and the standards
roadblocks and head start.Even better,
of the class.
downfalls of using I was surprised to find
Python and coding in out that the course
general. teaches python, and
since the Raspberry
could be programmed
using python, I saw this
as a perfect
opportunity.
Wednesday, Today I received my Due to my previous
September 6, 2017 Raspberry Pi in the experience with
4:53pm – 7:08pm mail. I opened the Arduino, I expected the
2 hrs 15 min package and began raspberry to operate
reading the similar to that, with
instructions to ensure minute differences, but
that I properly setup that was not the case. I
the board since it's was aware of the
basically a mini Raspberry's stronger
computer. After computing capabilities, This is me performing
reading through the but was not aware that the setup necessary for
instructions I realized it automatically also the Raspberry Pi to
that I needed a acted as its own CPU in operate while also
monitor and keyboard, addition to its happily learning about
and could not easily programming the different coding
connect it to my laptop capabilities. This led languages that come
as one can with an me to be frustrated with the Pi.
Arduino, so I went to with the setup, and the
Walmart to find and unexpected time taken
buy a keyboard. After to purchase a
returning from my keyboard. This is also
purchase, I began the limiting because I
software setup of the expected to work on
Raspberry Pi which the go, but now I am
took about ten minutes restricted to a monitor
to do. Then, I remained at home or anywhere
on the Pi and learned else where I can access
it's functions and some a monitor not
of its useful connected to a CPU.
applications, like the
Python that came with
Raspbian software.
Most help on setup
came from Youtube.
Saturday, Two days ago, I This was very exciting
September 23, 2017 received some and an ease due to my
1pm – 3:12pm components necessary previous experience
2 hrs 12 min for my project. In order with Arduino. I was
to make sure that able to easily wire the
these components circuit, but I did run
were intact, I needed into complications in
to write programs and figuring out which pin
wire basic circuits to to place the wires on
test. To test the on the Raspberry Pi.
programing side, I used The research was fairly This is me in the middle
some programs from simple, but I did of wiring a circuit that
the Raspberry Pi checked around on will make the LED light
education site for multiple sites for a
 turning LED's on. This diagram just to be safe. up at the press of a
also tested the I was very exhilarated button on the circuit.
components by to discover that all of
ensuring that the my components were
resistors, buttons, properly working.
wires, and LED's all
worked in conjunction
with each other.
Friday Today I continued This has been the most
October 6, 2017 some previous frustrating portion of
6pm – 7pm research into the the project to date. I
1 hour proper motor and tires thought I could easily
I'd need for my project. be directed to the
This was also used to motor as tires that
budget as well as would fit to my needs,
contact the seller for but cost, efficiency,
the products I'm power source, and lack
planning to purchase. of knowledge were
The chat person then major roadblocks. The This is me irritatingly
redirected me to some site could not tell me looking through the
blogs and discussions what to use to build forums, but delighted at
that gave me insight on my bot, so they had to the highly useful
which motor would be direct me to forums. information that I was
of proper use for me. These forums did obtaining on why to use
The blogs also allowed turnout to be useful tires instead of tracks.
me to discover which though because I
battery would be the found out information
proper battery for this on a good battery and
project. I purchased motors.
$486 worth of items
after concluding my
research and finding
everything on the site
that I'd need for my
project.
Sunday Today I unpackaged my While this portion has
October 29, 2017 new set of axles after been grueling due to
11:30pm – 1pm having to send my last me having to reship
1 hr 30min ones back. The the axles, I was
previous set were not relieved to discover
hollow, so they could that the axles fit well
not be used as direct onto the motors which
driven shafts on the would make direct
motor. I watched a driving much easier. This is me frustratingly
multitude of videos The assembly was a placing the tire and axle
showing how to little frustrating to together on the motor
connect the shafts to figure out because the which had proven to be
the motor, as well as axles and motors did
 how to utilize the not come with more difficult than
collars to attach the instructions, so I had to expected.
motors to a chassis. I do some searching in
then looked into the order to figure it all
components necessary out. I also was
to complete the setup frustrated at finding
of the motors. I found out that I once again
out that I required one needed another extra
more component, a component, but was
microcontroller, so I relieved to find out
started searching on that that component
line for the prices of was fairly cheap.
the component.
Wednesday Tonight I got into the This was by far the
January 3,2018 grit of my project. I most frustrating,
11pm-4:30am performed a series of anger-filled, hopeless
5hrs 30 min multiple different point of my project
codes to attempt to because every code I
get my motors to spin. was writing up and
This time consisted of attempting would not
joint research and work. I even called my
coding efforts as I friend because it was
searched for any so late, and asked
explanation of a them if they saw what
compatible code or was wrong with a code
library for my I received from a
Raspberry PI and my helpdesk. I attempted
Sabertooth five different codes.
motorcontroller. Some did not even
make the motors
move, one would
abnormally control the
motors, and another
was only controlling
one motor at a time
but not the other.
Around 4am I finally
got a code that would
make both motors
spin, but then that
code led to frustration
because that code did
not allow for
directional or speed
control.
Thursday This was a repeat of This was an extremely
January 4,2018 the night before, but I exhilarating day
11pm-1am finally wrote up a code because I had finally
2 hrs that could control both felt like I was near
directional, and speed completion of the
functions on the project, and the
motors without project was looking to
inclusion of another be a success. The only
external board or wire. downfall was that I
From here I was able to found out my ir sensor
begin research and was not compatible
coding for remote with my board, so I
controlled control of would have to alter my
the motors. I ended up project from
learning of another autonomous to remote
more convenient way controlled, but the
to remote control the semi autonomous
motors by using a factor could come in
keyboard instead of an the coding to make it
ir remote. This was execute a specific task
more convenient or route so I have
because it required hope.
less trial and error, no
fallback from the ir
receiver being at risk of
being blocked, and
since my keyboard was
Bluetooth it could
control easily form a
distance.
Wednesday Today I met with my The only explanation
January 10, 2018 facilitator for a for the would be relief.
7pm – 8pm conclusion of the I have finally
1 hr project and product. completed the final
He gave me some tips stages of my project,
on strategies for and when I was
presentation, and how explaining my code to
I should go about a my facilitator, he said it
final product. His was concise and
advice was highly understandable. After
insightful due to his so many months of
past experience in work, research, and
helping other students learning, this was very
with senior projects. I satisfying to hear a
had him complete the professional
project verification compliment my work.
form, and I interviewed
him for the facilitator
 bio. I also explained my
code for the project to
him.
19 hrs 8min