EduTech Simon Fraser University, Burnaby, BC [email protected]School of Engineering Science Simon Fraser University Burnaby, BC V5A 1S6 [email protected]April 17, 2008 Dr. Patrick Leung School of Engineering Science Simon Fraser University Burnaby, British Columbia Re: ENSC 440 Post-Mortem for a 3D-LED Plotter Dear Dr. Leung, The attached document, Post-Mortem for a 3D-LED Plotter, contains information regarding the implementation of our ENSC 440 project. The 3D-LED Plotter will be used to create 3D visualizations using a matrix of LEDs. Plotting equations and creating 3D drawings are a few of the applications. This document details the current state of the device, deviation from our original plans, as well as potential future modifications that could add more value to the device. In addition, we will also provide a discussion of the project’s timeline and budget. Finally, we conclude this document with a brief reflection by each member of the team over the experiences lived and the knowledge acquired during the completion of this project. EduTech was founded by four motivated and talented senior engineering students: Leah Finkel, Anna Seung, Julio Perez and Iman Shahsavani. If you have any comments or queries, please feel free to contact me by phone at (604) 671-3070 or by e-mail at the above address. Sincerely, Leah Finkel President and CEO EduTech Enclosed: Post-Mortem for a 3D-LED Plotter
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In terms of user-interaction, the user interface currently consists of a set of seven buttons that fulfill the actions specified in the Functional Specifications document, in addition,
EduTech added an LCD display that provides feedback to the user with respect to the
available modes of operation, the current state of the device, as well as other available
options specific to each mode. Figure 2 above, shows the current state of the device,
including the current user interface.
3. Deviation from Expected
Overall, the current prototype meets most of the specification requirements set up by
EduTech. Nevertheless, EduTech has identified the following deviations from the
expected end product.
- The current prototype is not as portable as it was originally intended. Great care is
required to keep the wiring in place and to maintain the structural integrity of the
LED matrix.
- Casing is not included in the current prototype due to budgetary constraints.
- A fourth mode, Animations, has been included to provide extra functionality for
the device.
- Even though the original design didn't specify memory requirements, the current
implementation utilizes only 60% of the available memory in the microcontroller.
This means that there is plenty of space for more models and extra features in the
current implementation.
4. Future Plans
Possible improvements for the current prototype include:
- Improved wiring and casing: It is possible to manufacture a custom PCB board as
well as proper casing to improve the transportation and portability of the device.
- Due to the available memory on the microcontroller, more material and extra
functions could be created in software, to better showcase the potential of this
device. Possible improvements include:
o Improved rotation routines for more interesting animation sequences.
o Addition of more complex animation sequences.
o Addition of more Math-Examples with more complex equations that test
the limitation on the resolution of the device.
o Facilitate the creation of user-made animation, by allowing the user to
save and reload still-drawings as animation frames.
- Donation of free PIC microcontrollers from Microchip’s Sample.Microchip, which greatly reduced the cost of the PIC & Programmer category, and allowed
us to focus the remainder of our money on other ICs.
b. Schedule:
The following figure shows the Projected and the Actual timelines for the completion of
this project. As it can be noted, most of the items were delayed by approximately four
days, which can be attributed to a series of factors such as:
- Unexpected interruptions in the development and research stages caused by
unforeseen commitments of the team members
- Unexpected complications during the hardware construction process. More
specifically, wiring problems and underestimated construction times.
Regardless of the complications encountered, EduTech was still able to complete the task
at hand within 3 days of its projected end date. In addition, the implementation of the
wish to do so. When I compare this statement with my initial feelings of trepidation and disbelief that we would ever be able to pull this off, it’s clear how much I’ve learned.
Up until taking Ensc 440, the significance of everything I’ve been studying all this time
hadn’t really sunk in, but now my perspective seems vast. It has been, without a doubt,
the most interesting and inspiring class I have taken as an Engineering student. If it were
up to me, there would be a similar class in each year of the program.
Iman Shahsavani
Starting this semester, I knew that I was signing up for a course that is going to be very
challenging and time consuming. Therefore, I managed to form a group early before the
semester begins and through several meetings we agreed on a project idea that was later
on approved by the professors.
During the course of this project, I strengthened many of my skills. Software design and
debugging, hardware debugging, research and development, and time management were
a few of the skills that I managed to expand. Most importantly, a very healthy group
dynamic helped us focus solely on the project and take on the challenge of delivering a
solid product.
Software was a huge part of this project, and through the help of other members, I learned
a lot of new concepts and strategies to undertake the task in hand. Since we used C
language, which I was not formerly exposed to very much, I was familiarized with the
language and feel much more comfortable choosing this language in the future for my
projects. Since we used a PIC micro-controller, I was familiarized with the programming
techniques required for obtaining the expected behavior.
Finally efficient decision making and sharing work load was another important process in
accomplishing all the goals set out for this project. I was very comfortable with the other
group members, and through working together we shared all of our engineering skills and
experience to achieve the final desired objective. I would be more than delighted to work
with the same team on a future project.
Anna Seung
When EduTech was first formed in December 2007, we discussed about various project
idea, and found the LED display cube the most interesting. However, designing the
circuitry of LED matrix was the most difficult tasks all members faced during the
semester. We looked at and studied similar product outside such as hypnocube. But we
have not found any reference of how to connect each LEDs. We tried hard and Julio came up with really brilliant idea. But we had no idea whether that design will work or
not.
We first started with building scaled down prototype (i.e. 3*3*3*). It did not work nicely
as we planned just like any other projects. We had clock signal and data bit receiving
problem along with software. However, we managed to fix it and moved onto 8*8*8
LED matrix building. I was mainly responsible for assembly of the hardware, but was
also involved in a circuit design as a team member. Soldering of each wire with LEDs
took so much time and often some LEDs felt apart. Also the wires connected to the flip-
flops often came out which caused our project to be unstable.
What I learned from this project is that healthy group dynamics and efficiency of circuit
design are the most important factors. I believe we could manage to complete and fix all
problems because our group dynamics was very healthy, and very well incorporated.
Our project was very efficient in a way that each LED can be controlled individually,
which enabled us to perform all the projected functions with different colors, and the
colors of LEDs are different from others.
This project has given me experiencing in every angle of engineering process in terms of
manufacturing, circuit design and integration of both software and hardware. Not only
that it was very valuable experience even though we struggled somewhat to make it
work.
Julio Perez
It has been just about four months since I first started to seriously think about
Engeineering-440. Four mounts since we first dreamed up the idea of a three dimensional
display. Four months since four talented and young engineering students decided that
lighting up a large number of LEDs would be a fun, interesting and useful project to
which to dedicate four months of our life. And now, looking back I can seriously say that
I couldn't have asked for a better project or a better group.
Unlike other courses in university were we are usually told what to do and how to do it,
this course gave us the opportunity to create something from the ground up. It gave us the
chance to experience the life of an inventor, a designer, a writer, a layer, and engineer.
This course has been the only point of my studies were I have finally been able to feel
that I have learned something and that I am able to create useful things. Things like C-
programming, PIC microcontrollers, digital circuit design and plain old LED-resistors
networks, are just some of the tasks that we had to deal on this project, which I’ve gotten
good at –or at least knowledgeable on-. Everything from project design to implementation and product evaluation was a challenge, but, thanks to my team
members, everything seemed and at the end was doable.
Looking back at the semester, I can definitely note how much my writing and
communication abilities in general have improved. In addition, I have found a new
interest in management tasks, to take responsibility and ownership of projects, and to
guide and inspire people, which are things I would have never considered before. I have
also realized the important of a good group. This doesn't mean a group were all members
are friends, they also need to be comrades. This means a group were everyone knows its
place, when to tell a joke, when to get thinking, and went to put the LED down and go for
a walk. Fortunately, my group was exactly like that.
At the end, I can see myself working on more things like this, I am very interested in
microcontrollers, FPGAs and digital circuits so, after all, the time spent on ENSC440 was
a very fruitful -even with all of the troubles, long nights and frustrating times.
7. Conclusion
EduTech was created by a group of 4 motivated engineering students, wanting to work on
a project that would be fun and interesting as well as educational and useful. Throughout
all this time, the surprise looks of curious people, and the words of encouragement and
the interest that they showed to us, have helped to keep pushing to accomplish this goal.
At the end of four months of planning and development, we all, are proud of our
accomplishments and believe that our prototype model can be of inspiration and starting
point for future studies on true three-dimensional displays.