posted on Sunday, April 20, 2008 1:25 PM |

Airplanes for me are a mixed blessing when it comes to work.  Due to the fact I have no where else to go, no real distractions (aka zero access to my media server), and virtually an unlimited supply of stuff to get done, I get a massive amount done.  But for the skateboard project and another, it semi sucks.  I need access to the skateboard to test out new code segments and I need access to Twitter for the other.  While I have my IMU with me in my book bag, I can't use it on the plane for fear of ending up in Guantanamo Bay since I think I'm the only one on the airplane that deals with electronics.

Anywho, here is what I've gotten done on the skateboard.

  • New Kalman filter hopefully implemented with the gyro bias correction.
  • Refactored out IMU correction code from the old Kalman filter code to correct the accelerator and gyro for temperature drift.

 

What I think I may do during some downtime while at the US Imagine Cup finals in LA.

  • Try to reduce cross threading.
    • Remove the idea of delegates from the Skateboard class and replace it with a boolean
    • Add in phidget code
    • See if I can't produce a lighter version of the data logging.
  • Work on motor control code
    • Add in active polling so I can use the WatchDog features (turns it off if computer doesn't respond)
    • Correct the code for poling voltage and other features.
  • Work on my Twitter app.
    • Can't talk more about it other than I'm seriously behind on it.
Tags [ Parts Building ]

Your Comments.

  • # re: Speed controller / battery stress testing.

    If you want to keep the voltage constant and not let it drop off slowly, you should use a capacitor...

    Is the noise comming from the drive chains? if so, I would recommend either silkolene chain lube or Castol Chain Wax, this will help with the noise, but not solve it...

    Left by Robin Jones at 3/30/2008 7:57 AM
  • # re: Speed controller / battery stress testing.

    They are chain driven. I know it won't be solved, I just want it reduced.

    As for the capacitor, the motor control actually has some pretty beef ones built in. I just want to see when I should force the skateboard to turn off so I don't go flying into a patch of grass (or a brick wall)

    Left by Clint Rutkas at 3/30/2008 1:42 PM
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