32.1 - 5/16/16

So today we had a breakthrough with the drone. We were finally able to connect it the drone to the flight control application. Apparently it doesn't work with Macs, but when we plug it into the new PC, it worked instantly. We were also able to connect the controller to the drone. Only issue is that it doesn't seem to be getting any of the readings from the controller when we try to move it. Maybe its a issue with our connection. We tried trouble shooting, but we had to go before we got too far. Next class we will definitely figure it out.

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5/14/16 Week 31 Recap Summary

So this week I worked on both the drone and the golf cart to fix some things. We replaced some of the wires and a switch on the golf cart so the solar panels could work. We fixed the controller issue for the drone, but we need to come up with a way so that the drone can connect to the controller. We may need a separate battery for that. I also flew on friday since it was not so windy, sadly it was very cloudy so not very good shots.

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31.3 - 5/13/16

So today we Bill talked to us about the solar panels that they installed on the dorms and how some of them were properly working, while others were not. He showed us the graph and information that shows that statement. Then afterwards, since it was such a nice day, we went to fly the drone around just for fun. We got some footage, but it was really cloudy so it wasn't the best footage around. Next time its just as not as windy and clear, we definitely want to fly and get footage of the campus.

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31.2 - 5/11/16

Today for part of the period, I worked with Erin on fixing the switch that we installed last time because the switch somehow broke. So we made a new hole and placed a new switch in there. It ended up working which is great. The next part of the period, I worked with Daniel on the drone. We worked on trying to sync up the controller with the drone, but after a number of trial and errors, we came to the conclusion that we need a separate battery for linkup, which is annoying but we will figure something out.

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31.1 - 5/9/16

Today I studied for my AP Physics C exam that I had later in the day.

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5/7/16 Week 30 Recap Summary

This week we were able to get the new flight controller for the drone, but the pins weren't solder on so we had to solder those on. We were also checking out to what application we will need to use to setup the flight controller. We didn't get a chance to set it up with the drone itself, but we are planning on working on that next week. We also flew over the cafeteria and got footage of it, but didn't get a chance to check it out because the class period was over. It is almost the end of the year and Schorn wants us to make a big ISR video the involves most of the projects and I was put as the lead, so I will work on that for the next few weeks as well.

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30.3 - 5/6/16

Today we talked with Schorn about the end of the year ISR projects and making one big video like Jack did last year. Im going to be the project lead on it and we are going to be coming up with idea for it. We are going to be conducting interviews of everyone and see where they all fit. Daniel and me also went out and filmed the cafeteria. We didn't get to see any of the footage because once we got back it was time to go. Next time we will look into the footage.

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30.2 - 5/4/16

So today I worked on soldering on all the pins onto the board, which was really tedious. Anyway, once I was done soldering on all the pins on, I started trying to set up the pins and everything with the rest of the drone. I had to look up how the set up is and where all the wires went. Once i finished that, I downloaded the program that it requires to configure the flight controller and started messing around with that. I didn't get very far because class ended so I will work on that next time.

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30.1 - 5/2/16

So today we worked on the drone again. We got the new flight controller, but none of the pins were soldered on so we got to work on that. I had my presentation as well today, so I did that, while Daniel continued to solder on the pieces. By the time I was done with my presentation, it was almost the end of the period and Daniel was halfway through soldering all the pins on. We packed up and went to lunch, planning on finishing the soldering next class.

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4/30/16 Week 29 Recap Summary

This week we worked on fixing the golf carts and making them better. The issue was that the smaller cart kept getting over charged and we would have to unplug it overtime before we used it. We attached a button to fix this issue. We also attached other buttons to the other cart to control the solar panels and the wifi. Sadly we didn't get a chance to fly this week, but we also the new flight controller came in this week so next week we can work on it and hopefully finish it.

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29.3 - 4/29/16

Today I left early because we have Biifs for track, so we left halfway through class. We fixed the switch on the bigger cart and replaced it with a new switch because we figured the switch was broken. We fixed it and it was good as new. So now we can turn the solar panels on and off. By the time we fixed it, it was time to go so we headed out.

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29.2 - 4/27/16

So today we worked on the golf cart’s. We added another switch to the smaller cart to control the wifi, so we could turn it on and off when we please. We also attempted to add a button to the bigger cart that also turn on and off the solar panels, but for some reason it wouldn't work. Probably because we used the switch that was apart of the golf cart, which i guess doesn't work. We wanted to fly today, but it got too windy so that was disappointing.

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29.1 - 4/25/16

So today we had a fire drill near the end of class so that cut into out class time. Anyway, Erin and me worked on the golf cart. We worked on putting a switch on the smaller cart in order to be able to turn on and off the solar panels so that the smaller cart wouldn't over charge. That way we wouldn't have to unplug and plug back the solar panels right before we use it.

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4/23/16 Week 28 Recap Summary

This week was we were kind of all over the place. We checked out the footage that we shot the Friday before. They came out pretty good. We also worked on our drone, but we couldn't get the flight controller to work for some reason. It even made the application crash multiple times, so we are just planning on getting a new one that will hopefully work. We also worked on the golf carts, trying to make the smaller one more reliable and fix the voltmeter that is attached to it. Next week, if the weather is good, I want to fly again because it was fun last time and I want to do it again.

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28.3 - 4/22/16

So today not much was done. We had a lot of people come in and tour the energy lab and some board of trustees came to see what we are up to. We talked to them about our projects and that took up a large part of class. We then went to go worked on the golf carts because the smaller one keeps acting up. We also attempted to fix the voltmeter that is attached to the gold cart but no dice. Hopefully next week the weather is better so we can fly again.

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28.2 - 4/20/16

Today Daniel and I worked on the drone again. We kept trying to make the flight controller work, but it just wouldn't connect. And then it started to just crash the entire application altogether so thats fun. I couldn't seem to find a similar issue to us on any of the forums I looked into, which is disappointing. Something seems wrong with the controller so we are just going to order a new one from a better site. Hopefully is comes in soon so then we can finish making this drone.

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28.1 - 4/18/16

So today we checked on the footage from the previous week. It looked pretty good. Sadly, we couldnt go out flying today. It was too rainy and windy, which was a bummer because Daniel and me really wanted to go flying again. Anyway, we started working on putting the video clips together into a small video. It wasn't finished by the time class was over because I was also looking into the flight controller issue. I was looking through forums, trying to see if I could find a solution to our problem, but no dice. Next class the video will be done and hopefully I will find a solution to our problem.

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4/16/16 Week 27 Recap Summary

So this week it was rainy for the most part and we couldn't go and fly the drone over the solar panels until friday. But once we did, it felt great to have a nice sunny day and fly the drone. We got the footage and will look over it next class. On the other two class periods, we worked on our drone, trying to figure out what seems to be the issue with the flight controller and why it won't connect to either of our computers. Maybe it is a mac issue? But from the forums i have been searching, it didn't seem like pc or mac had an affect. I was able to sort of get it to connect at one point, but when I tried to update the flight controller, no dice. Hopefully next week I will be able to get it to work and then our drone will be nearly complete.

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27.3 - 4/15/16

So today we went to finally get some shots of the solar panels on the English, IT, and Art buildings. It was a beautiful day with barely any wind, so it was a perfect day for flying. Daniel and me went down to go film and fly the drone and Savannah, Sydney, Erin, and Alice came down and joined us. Even though the Energy lab is a great place to be in, its great to get out and fly the drone every once in a awhile. After we flew took footage of the solar panels we just flew the drone around until all our batteries died and then we headed back up. We didn't get time to check the footage so thats the plan for next class.

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27.2 - 4/13/16

So once again the weather was bad. Really rainy and windy so there was no chance of flying. Bill asked us to moved the monitors that we set up last week underneath the desk because it was taking up too much space and it would make a great work area. After we were done moving, we set up some new touch screen monitors in their place which are much smaller. We then when to go work on the drone and figure out what was the issue with the flight controller. I didn't work on my computer, so I asked Daniel to download the program onto his computer to see if it would work on his, but no dice. We then tried it on my computer again and it sort of worked. Instead of plugging it right away, i decided to try the rescue button and then plug it in. It work meaning that it registered that it was actually there, but other than that nothing. When i tried to upgrade it would say it was unable to load boot uploader on the flight controller. I'm going to look into some forums to see if this is a recurring problem and if they had found a solution for it.

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