Daily Archives: February 3, 2016

Lego Robot Car Experiment

Goal and Object

The main goal in this experiment is measuring the distance and speed of the wheel while a lego car is traveling in a certain amount of time. The object that our team used is an lego car which can connect to computer to calculate its distance and speed through a program.

 

Screen-Shot-2016-01-04-at-8.11.29-AM

 

Experiment Process

  • First, we connected the car to computer through two USB cables.
  • Second, we opened the VI to record the wheel rotation, distance, and speed.
  • Next, we used a ruler to measure the radius of wheel.
  • Then, we found the distance by calculating the circumference of the wheel. (d = circumference)
  • After that, we entered the information into the VI and began to record the speed
  • Also, we had to record in two way. One by ruler, and the other is on computer.
  • Third, we let the can run in a certain amount of time and distance that we already set up on the computer.
  • Fourth, we used ruler to measure the distance that the car had passed.
  • Finally, we wrote down the number that we had record by ruler and the one on computer that had been already calculated.
  • Additionally, we had to do the experiment three tests with the different number of time and power. Also, in each tests, we had to do three times so it would be nine times totally

 

Calculation

  • First, we use the equation of circumference to calculate the distance because distance = circumference (d=2pi*r)
  • Then, we converted from centimeter to meter
  • Finally, after each test, we would calculate the percentage of error between computer and ruler measuring result.

% error = [|dm-dc|/((dm+dc)/2)]*100

Result

sci

Conclusion

Even though the percentage of errors are still big in our opinion, we felt satisfied with what we did and experienced through this experiment.

A “Smarter” Grid

What is Smart Grid?

Smart grid is an electrical grid which is used to develop network communication. It is a combination between Information Technology, Communication Technology, and Electrical Power System. In contrast with the traditional grid, smart grid uses two-way dialogue to develop communication between utilities and consumers. Also, the information can be exchanged to each other. We can say that Smart Grid is as an new upgrade for the original one.

 

 

How does it work? 

In the past, the traditional grid uses one-way power flow to deliver the energy power from the power plant to household. First, the transmission lines will carry electricity in a long distance from power plant to the distribution line. Then, those line will carry the electricity to households.

However, everything has changed now. We have a “smarter” grid which can make everything works easily.  Using solar pin and wind to create energy power. Then it will deliver in two-way power flow from power plant to home than come back. It can help consumers manage the electricity usage easily and quickly.

 

smart_grid1

 

Advantages

High quality: the state can manage how much electricity usage of each household by the information they get in two-way communication.

Consumer satisfy: they don’t worry much about how much they have been charge because they can manage them from now.

 

Disadvantages

Expensive to rebuild: “cost much more than the $4.5 billion in federal funds” to rebuild the grid

Risk of privacy: hackers can control thousand of meters and demand of power. Also, they can get you information that your house and power station exchange to each other such as what is your address? How much power usage did your house use?

 

Conclusion

It is a great idea to improve and develop. Also, we need to work more to figure out what we can do to protect customers’ privacy. I hope that we will have more project like this to keep our planet greener.

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References: 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JwRTpWZReJk

http://www.slideshare.net/nldhage/smart-grid-introduction

https://electrical-systems-lighting.knoji.com/pros-and-cons-of-the-smart-grid/