During the hackathon, my journey began with learning Arduino programming and using Tinkercad for simulations. My initial idea was quite basic, which meant that I needed some time to grasp the concepts. As a team, we dove into exploring metal detectors, understanding their working principles, and acknowledging their limitations through sources like YouTube and various other platforms.
Simultaneously, I was delving into the mechanics of a differential drive system. We researched the types of materials commonly found in mines, which greatly influenced the sensitivity required for our mine detector.
In the initial phases, I contemplated utilizing two 555 timers to generate a square AC wave. The plan was to then convert this wave into a sinusoidal form using PWM and a combination of different resistors and capacitors. However, this approach seemed a bit intricate. Considering that PWM could be efficiently managed by Arduino itself, I switched to using MOSFETs for switching purposes. Their ability to operate at high switching frequencies made them a suitable choice.
My next learning point was the 7-segment display. While attempting to operate it solely with an Arduino, I realized that it would consume a significant number of pins. To simplify this, I decided to incorporate the CD4511 7-segment decoder IC. This IC takes binary code as input and effectively drives the 7-segment display.
The journey didn't stop there. I took the initiative to install Eagle, a PCB design software. Through various online resources and YouTube tutorials, I grasped the fundamentals of PCB designing and learned how to navigate the Eagle software effectively.
This hackathon experience enriched my knowledge of electronics, from programming Arduino and utilizing simulation tools like Tinkercad, to understanding the intricacies of different components like MOSFETs and 7-segment display decoders. It also introduced me to the world of PCB design, sparking a new realm of possibilities for future projects.
During the allocated time frame, we engaged in brainstorming various design scenarios for our project. These ranged from concepts like tracked robots featuring sprockets to alternatives like rubber-based traction belts devoid of sprockets. We explored multiple designs for the main frame, experimented with varying numbers of wheels, diverse wheel placement configurations on the frame, and even contemplated mechanical arm possibilities. While not all ideas materialized, we did incorporate some conventional designs into the project.
We referred to ChatGPT3.5 to estimate the weight of the mines. Considering the potential for encountering mines of different masses, contingent on different mine models, we scoured the web for pertinent models suitable for the intended terrain - a grassy-muddy environment. In this quest, I stumbled upon a peculiar design{1} that greatly diverged from our initial robot configuration. Notably, it carried a substantially larger weight compared to our original plan. This realization only dawned upon us after we constructed a prototype of the same.
In light of this newfound understanding, we also factored in the weight issue. We made a strategic decision: incorporating a tracked mechanism for movement might not be as critical, as our design inherently possessed the capability to navigate efficiently through mud.
Our emphasis on simplicity was deliberate, aimed at minimizing costs stemming from potential mechanical failures.