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Robot car and distance/velocity measurement

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In our science class we were asked to follow the procedures of an experiment, that involves building a robot.  We were distributed into twos, so each one of us had a partner to work with. The study of this experiment was to determine the distance and the velocity the robot travelled within a certain power, and a certain time.

I have never built a robot before, however; it was such a great experience. Putting the wheels, the battery and all the equipment needed was a fun experience. After the robot was built we were asked to test how far and how fast the robot travelled. It took us a couple of times to move the robot, finally; it worked and it started moving. We were asked to calculate three numbers of powers and for each power we had to do three trials.

Below I will demonstrate the results we came up with for every power. I will present to you the distance the robot travelled that is calculated by the computer, as well as the distance travelled that we calculated, moreover the velocity and lastly the percentage of error.

 

Time/ sec Distance (m) Distance Velocity(m/s) % error
Power 25
Trial #1 0.191 0.1939 0.0656 1.506884905
Trial #2 0.2 0.2033 0.06778 1.636498884
Trial #3 0.197 0.19789 0.065964 0.450758439
Power 50
Trail #1 0.499 0.50865 0.16955 1.915347591
Trail #2 0.5 0.50617 0.16872 1.226432909
Trial #3 0.508 0.5146 0.17154 1.290827303
Power 65
Trial #1 0.718 0.72146 0.24049 0.480735831
Trial #2 0.706 0.71699 0.23899 1.544634889
Trial #3 0.71 0.71898 0.33966 1.256840544

 

In conclusion, looking at the results above, we can see how both the distance and the velocity increase as the power increases. As for the percentage of error, it was acceptable since accuracy and precision in the experiment were affected by human and systematic errors.

The modern electrical and power supply was first introduced in Pearl street station New York, where a 100 volt generator is able to light up several bulbs in the city during 1882. It was the beginning of the brightest technology progress in the United Stated, whereas the government conducted Thomas Edison’s invention of direct current. However, some particular challenges stimulates when the development of AC or alternating current is trying to replace Edison’s DC power grid as an alternative source of energy. When the flaws had decreased, the Federal government took in hold in distributing the power supplies, reaching some regions to benefit the new technology (“The Electricity Grid: A history”). In decades, from a simple invention of direct wirings providing energy to some parts of America, a bigger power plant, transmitter and transmission lines had paved its way in larger distribution of electrical supplies all through out the states. (see Fig.1). The grid operating system has been divided into three major states in America; the Eastern Interconnected System, the Western Interconnected System, and the Texas Interconnected System. This is the government’s idea to distribute the power and make it accessible to some regions and affordable to U.S. consumers (“Power Grid Technology”).

The U.S power grid

The U.S power grid   

However, the population is growing rapidly and technology gadgets are outgoing the market, there is a change in power distribution, in which the government is trying to respond (in particular the U.S. Department of Energy team). The creation of Smart Grid system helps to monitor the sufficient power flow and the smart meters (see fig. 2) identifies how much power being used by the consumer.

Smart meter

Smart meter

This is not meant to control but to ease possible scarcity problems in the future. Some of the purposes of Smart grid technologies as an essential from Energy Independence and Security Acts 2007 are; to amplify the digital and informational technology system usage, protect the cyber system, expand the other energy resources, bringing in the new smart technologies and gadgets in the market schemes and incorporate and adopt new smart technology systems (Sorebo & Echols, 3). Recently there are still some issues in terms the future risks and electric pricing of the smart technology, indeed this eventually speaks of an idea that nothing is permanent and perfect.

Works Cited
Sorebo, Gilbert N. & Echols, Micahel C. Smart Grid Security: An End-to-end View of Security in the New Electrical Grid. Floida: Taylor and Francis Group. 2012. Print

Penner, Peter Fox. Smart Power: Climate Change, the Smart Grid and the Future of Electric Utilities. Washington, DC: Island Press. 2010. Print

“The Electricity Grid”. Burn an Energy Journal (n.d.) : (n.pag.). Web. http://burnanenergyjournal.com/the-electricity-grid-a-history/. 14 September 2013

Germany’s Green Energy Policy

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In recent years, Germany has been following a new mantra in energy use: Energiewende. The term is in reference to the “energy revolution” embedded into cascades of policies that seek to achieve a climate friendly, secure and sustainable energy source for this major industrial nation. Using the Renewable Energy Sources Act (Erneuerbare-Energien-Gesetz, EEG) as the major policy instrument, the German government mandates grid operators to increase electricity purchase from renewable energy sources such as solar, wind, biomass, and hydroelectric power (Buchan 13). By the year 2020, the federal policy aims to increase consumption of “green” and renewable energy to at least 35%, and expected to grow to 80% by 2050 (Alston and Whittenbury 136). In the aftermath of Fukushima nuclear disaster in Japan, Germany also made a bold move by aligning its policy to close all of its nuclear reactors by 2022. Hence, the country’s energy policy appears to be taking a major leap from its conventional energy practice.

Specific efforts and goals for Germany’s green energy policy can be found in the government’s visions for each renewable energy source. Wind power has been envisioned as a way to create a carbon-free energy source. The policy also covers the massive extension of hydroelectric energy by increasing the amount of power installations while still meeting environmental requirements (Buchan 26). Another important inclusion of the federal policy is the promotion of biofuel sources from wood and organic waste materials. Meanwhile, solar energy is also continually explored in Germany to leverage the electrical source. In fact, certain institutions in Germany (See Figure 1 for example) have been designated as “energy-plus” institutions, complete with solar energy panels installed in roofs. Similar to other renewable energy sources, incentive programs and feed-in tariffs are also applied for geothermal installations. In any case, the incremental success of Germany in revolutionizing energy source can be found in its generally effective policy implementation, rather than an abundant natural resource base.

Alston, Margaret and Kerri Whittenbury. Research, Action and Policy: Addressing the Gendered Impacts of Climate Change. New York: Springer, 2013. Print.

Buchan, David. “The Energiewende- Germany’s Gamble.” Oxford Institute for Energy Studies (2012): 1-33. Web. http://www.oxfordenergy.org/wpcms/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/SP-261.pdf. 10 September 2013.

Federal Ministry of Economics and Technology. “Germany’s new energy policy: Heading towards 2050 with secure, affordable and environmentally sound energy.” (2012): 1-49. Web. http://www.bmwi.de/English/Redaktion/Pdf/germanys-new-energy-policy,property=pdf,bereich=bmwi,sprache=en,rwb=true.pdf. 10 September 2013.