Budget

WEEK 9 & WEEK 10

Hardware /component

No	Component	Quantity	Cost(RM)
1	RC helicopter	1	400.00
2	Interfacing	1	100.00
Total			500.00

Gantt Chart

Degree Semester 1

Work Plan

WEEK 9 & WEEK 10

The time frame allocated for this research study is 4 months. It will start in August 2012 and is projected to be completed in October 2012. The Gantt chart for the project and its milestone are shown as in Table 1.

Practically, reliability is often more difficult to specify than many major performance characteristics and is certainly more difficult than most to measure. The accurate assessment of the reliability of a product in use is often difficult because of the long period needed or the large number of samples required in order to gain statistical confidence in the assessment. In reliability estimation, the failure rate models are approximations to reality. The failure rate models are normally based on the best field data that could be obtained for a wide variety of parts and systems. This data is then analysed, with many simplifying assumptions applied, to create usable models. Thus, one should not treat a reliability estimation numbers for the system as an absolute prediction of field failure rate. Generally, it has been agreed that these estimations can be very useful when used for relative comparison, such as comparing design alternatives, or comparing products.

Prototype of Autonomous Surveillance Helicopter by Using Computer for data centre application will be built to enables the community to visualise the impact and application of the proposed methods in determining the best solutions in converting the controller with autonomous mode. This prototype will be presented in the FYP Presentation Day.

Benefits/ Contribitions

WEEK 9 & WEEK 10

Based on the objectives that have been started, this project will give many advantages to people to play the RC helicopter. As we know, the technology itself exist to bring convenient to us, and with this technology, the user will satisfied with what the technology give to them. The main contribution that this technology will give is as follows:

• By using this technology, people would like to play the RC helicopter no need to control it by manually. All the ways or direction that we want it to go, we just have to programmed it in our computer and run it. The RC helicopter will go as we programmed it.

• This technology also gives us to reduce the electricity usage because this project no needs to use the controller. If we used the controller, we must need to charge the battery to put in the controller and make it function. With this project, we just need to run it in our computer. So we can reduce the electricity by using this technology. 

      With this technology, even though it also uses the electricity to on the computer, but it definitely will reduce the electricity. We just use when we would like to play it. It is different with normal RC helicopter because we need to charge the battery for the controller and the RC helicopter and it need charge more than 3 hours.

Objectives

WEEK 9 & WEEK 10

This system provides a function to please the user, which is the main core of this project. This controller will give many advantages for user. So, the objectives of this project are:

1. To make the helicopter can fly in autonomous mode.
2. To develop a system by using microcontroller.

Flowchart

WEEK 9 & WEEK 10

Electric Motor

          An electric motor is an electromechanical device that converts electrical energy into mechanical energy.

Most electric motors operate through the interaction of magnetic fields and current-carrying conductors to generate force. The reverse process, producing electrical energy from mechanical energy, is done by generators such as an alternator or a dynamo; some electric motors can also be used as generators, for example, a traction motor on a vehicle may perform both tasks. Electric motors and generators are commonly referred to as electric machines. Electric motor are found in applications as diverse as industrial fans, blowers and pumps, machine tools, household appliances, power tools, and disk drives. They may be powered by direct current, e.g., a battery powered portable device or motor vehicle, or by alternating current from a central electrical distribution grid or inverter. Small motor may be found in electric wristwatches. Medium- size motor of highly standardized dimensions and characteristics provide convenient mechanical power for industrial uses. The very largest electric motors are used for propulsion of ships, pipeline compressors, and water pumps with rating in the millions of watts. Electric motors may be classified by the source of electric power, by their internal construction, by their application, or by the type of motion they give.

Computer

             A computer is a general purpose device that can be programmed to carry out a finite set of arithmetic or logical operations. Since a sequence of operations can be readily changed, the computer can solve more than one kind of problem. Conventionally, a computer consists of at least one processing element, typically a central processing unit (CPU) and some form of memory. The processing element carries out arithmetic and logic operations, and a sequencing and control unit that can change the order of operations based on stored information. Peripheral devices allow information to be retrieved from an external source, and the result of operations saved and retrieved.

Microcontroller

A microcontroller (sometimes abbreviated µC, uC or MCU) is a small computer on a single integrated circuit containing a processor core, memory, and programmable input/output peripherals. Neither programme memory in the form of NOR flash or OTP ROM is also often included on chip, as well as a typically small amount of RAM. Microcontrollers are designed for embedded applications, in contrast to the microprocessors used in personal computers or other general purpose applications.

            For this project, microcontroller is use as a main controller of the helicopter. When the wireless detects the input for controller at PC, it will send high signal to the controller; this is where the helicopter starts.

Methodology

WEEK 9 & WEEK 10

Block Diagram

Problem Statement

WEEK 9 & WEEK 10

            The Autonomous Surveillance Helicopter by Using Computer is the system to make easy to control the helicopter by using the usual remote control. The usual remote control must use the battery to make it function and when we must use it again on other time, we must to charge it before use. Compare to this system, the controller not use the battery at controller to function it. It is because we just need to program it into the computer. When we would like to play it, we just run for the command in the memory. So, we not use the controller more to play it.
            Sometime, we forget to charge the battery at the remote control. so, we need to spend much time to wait the battery while it charges. But, the new controller not needs the battery because the controller just uses to take the program and put it in the memory for the direction. So, the problems at the old remote controller can be solving by using this new type of the RC helicopter to function.

Literature Review

WEEK 8 & WEEK 9

If we take in Malaysia, many people would like to play the remote control helicopter. It gets some problems when we want to buy and play it. The RC helicopter is very costly to buy it and after we buy, it also takes costly to maintenance it. For the example, the sensitive and always gets problem in part of the RC helicopter is the remote controller. We need to very carefully when we use it. With this state of this problem, the idea to solve the problem comes immediately. It’s named as Autonomous Surveillance Helicopter by Using Computer.

The Autonomous Surveillance Helicopter by Using Computer is the system to make easy to control the helicopter by using the usual remote control. This project would make the RC helicopter can be play in autonomous mode. This is the new type of project to make it function in autonomous. By make it play in autonomous, it is no need to use the normally controller to control it.

From the research have been done, there is another project similar with this project. It just has some differential between these projects. For this Autonomous Surveillance Helicopter by Using Computer is the project to make the RC helicopter function by autonomous mode. We use the controller to get the instruction for the direction to make the RC helicopter moves. So, by using this type of the controller we no longer to play the RC helicopter by manually. We just need to set the instruction in the computer and run it. We can see the RC helicopter run it in front of our computer. Moreover, it can reduce the electricity because we don't need to charge it every time when we want to play the RC helicopter. We also can save our time without waiting the battery when it is charge.

Introduction

WEEK 7 & WEEK 8

             Every person have own hobbies. Some people like to play or collect toys such as remote control car, helicopter, and airplane. But the toys are very expensive to buy or collect by someone who not has much money. Remote control (RC) helicopter usually controlled manually. This project would like to change the controller that we can control it in autonomous mode.

            The objective of this project is want make RC helicopter control by autonomous mode. By controlling using PC joystick, it can be easier managed it. Moreover, we no need to another supply such as battery to made controller can function. We just need to program it into the PC and we don’t need to control. It is because the memory will save all the command that we program.

            So, this project will give more advantages in this way. We just need to program it and play as we want it.

Abstract

WEEK 6 & WEEK 7

            Nowadays, people in the world would likes to do easier in everything. People like applied everything in automatic or robotic in their life. The system has become widely famous. For the project, Autonomous Surveillance Helicopter by Using Computer is the robotic where the system is to automatically control by computer or X-box controller. It can be easier to manage or to control without using the usual controller. It is because the usual controller using battery to make the controller can be function. The battery faster to broke because the controller may use much power when it be function.

            The research has been making, many people like to play or have their own remote helicopter control. Otherwise, the controller always has in problems when we want to use it to play the remote helicopter control. Among the problems we can faces when using the remote control such as the battery of the remote was running out, the antenna brake and ext. the problem can solve if we using the controller that connected at PC. It is because by using controller at PC not use the battery or antenna to make it function. So, we can save our cost to buy and change the battery or the antenna when we want to used it.
           The research that was making, the usual remote control to control the helicopter always has problems. It must use much power for the supply, which is battery, to make it function. The battery in the remote controller was faster to run out. It just can use once time when we charge
it. When we give over charge at the battery, it also can easy to break down. It also takes costly to change for the new one. So, for the conclusion, I think that is better to use the joystick that can connected at PC by using the usual remote controller because it can give us so many benefits when we want to play the RC helicopter.

FYP 1 Breafing

WEEK 5 & WEEK 6

The briefing teach how to make a proposal and tell us what should be there in the proposal for FYP 1. Elements that belong in the proposal are:

1. Project Title
2. Abstract
3. Introduction
4. Literature Review
5. Problem Statement
6. Methodology
7. Objectives
8. Benefits/ Contributions
9. Work Plan
10. Budget
11. Conclusion
12. References

Circuits Research

WEEK 4

RC Receiver Board

Content RC Helicopter

Hardware Research (RC Helicopter)

WEEK 3

RC Helicopter

GENERAL INFO

Dimensions (LxWxH)	550 x 230 x 140 mm
Mass	185 g
Casing	Plastic
Color options	Black + White + Green

BATTERY

Battery type	Alkaline
Number of batteries	8
Battery functioning life	0.3 hours

POWER-RELATED FEATURES

Power source

Car Adapter

CONNECTIVITY

Data transfer rate

0

OTHERS

Includes	4 Channel R/C Set
Suitable for	Indoor / Outdoor / Backyard / Park ( 500 sqft area )
Features	Carbon Fibre flybar and boom, remote control
Includes	3 in 1 Mixer / Gyro / Receiver Board
Main Rotor Span	510mm
Tail Rotor Span	145mm
Fuselage length	469mm
Frequency	35 / 72 mhz

Programming Research

WEEK 3

               For the programming research, I have not yet to make sure of it. this is because the program requires a strong knowledge of the Micro Controller. Programming research will be determined at next semester for Final Year Project 2.

RC Helicopter Research

WEEK 3

RC Helicopter

Project Title

WEEK 3

               For the Final Year Project 1 (WPB49804), the Autonomous Surveillance Helicopter by Using Computer was selected in this week. This title is operated by Sir Ahmad Basri bin Hj. Zainal. He was an adviser for this project.

               For semester 1, we only need to research about this project first. After that, we must submit the proposal to adviser and progress report to our adviser in Week 14. In the progress report, we use blog as a progress report. it is because easy to edit by student when we do it. it also easy to our adviser to check or marking our progress report.

               We also must need to do a research about the component such as hardware for circuit needed.



WEEK 2

1. Searching the project title and find the adviser.
2. The dateline for register the FYP title is Week 5.



WEEK 1

FYP BREAFING 1

1. Talk about code for FYP 1 in this semester because it is totally different than last semester.
2. For FYP 1 using code WPB49804 and FYP 2 using code WPB49806.