Control Engineering

Link This | Email this | Blog This | Comments (0)

What can one person do?
August 15, 2008

You know the story, two brothers that ran a bicycle shop decided to build an airplane and compete for the prize offered for the first powered flight.  They build their extraordinary invention out of ordinary things: bike sprockets, roller chain, wood, muslin, piano wire and they built their own engine even though there were a few already available on the market.  This was their answer to the question of "how would it be possible for a man to fly?"


Photo: AutoCad Inventor

Reguardless of the size of the organization, an inventor is an individual person.  Some one person with all the elements of an idea in their head, visualizing the problem in great detail, and visualizing a solution to that problem.  Nikola Tesla could imagine what he was working on so clearly that he had trouble distinguishing what he was imagining from reality.  Tesla's ability is rare so to give the average engineer this ability software companies are creating virtual reality environments they can now interact with his/her ideas as if they were already built.  Making this ability available to everyone should make inventing more accessable to a wider number of people.  The ads say "Experience your design before it’s built. In today’s global market, as manufacturers work to reduce design cycles and cost margins, industry experts are championing Digital Prototyping as a way to cost-effectively validate design ideas and accelerate the development of competitive products."  What they mean is that with the right computer programs now a days you can enter a design engineers playground to build virtual prototypes, check for form, fit, and interference.  Run the things you have built.  Disassemble them, check them for stress and wear all while wearing funny glasses, like CrystalEyes.  While have not spent much time in the virtual reality world, it was fun to visit.   You should demo it if your company does not already have a CAVE environment for you to work in, just for the fun of it.

Technical Details - updated
AGV WENDY DARLING SPECIFICATIONS
GMC 2-1/2 Ton 6x6 Truck
"M" Series  M-215 Dump Truck.

Engine
Model...GMC 302
Type...Valve in Head, 4 Cy., 6 cyl
Horsepower...130 at 3200 RPM
Displacement...302 cu. in.
Bore...4"
Stroke...4"
Oil Capacity...11 qt.

Radiator
Capacity...22 qt.

Fuel 
Gasoline or Ethanol
Holley Carburetor...Model 885-FFG

Electrical System
Ignition, Starting, Lights...24-volt converted to 12-volt 

Transmission
Detroit Transmission...Model
302-M
Dual Range Hydramatic Having 4 Speeds in Each Range

Transfer Case
GM...Ord. # 7411327
Ratio...1.16:1

Drive Shaft
MFG...Spicer Axles
Type...Hypoid, Single-Reduction, Full Floating
Ratio...6.17:1
Tandem Rating...26,000 lbs.

Brakes
Wagner-Bendix: Midland...Air Actuated Hydraulic
Parking...External Contracting Band, 87 Sq. In

Steering
Saginaw...Model 552-D-6 
AIM AutoDrive Electric Steering

Short Wheelbase - 144"
Cab to Center of Tandem...72"
Cab to End of Frame...117 1/2"

Weight
14,460 lbs. 

Tire Size
9.00 x 20-8 ply Military Non-Directional Tread

Highway Speed
55 MPH 

Computer Hardware
Grid Systems
K-Pro
PC's
Servos

Computer Software
Navigation - DeLorme Street Smart, locating, routing, dynamic rerouting, speed, and heading
Driving Program - accelerator, brakes, transmission, steering
Collision Avoidance - dodge-em, stop, back up

Sensors
Color cameras - Preco Electronics
Radar - Preco Electronics
Sonar - Ecco Imaging Systems
Curb Feelers - Angelo Brothers

GO ROBOTS !

Paul F. Grayson - Chief Engineer
AMERICAN INDUSTRIAL MAGIC, LLC
Racing to build technology that saves soldier's lives.
390 4-Mile Rd. S.
Traverse City, MI 49686-8411
(231) 946-0187, (231) 883-4463 Cell
pgrayson@aimagic.org
AIM: http://aimagic.org
Robot Club: http://tech.groups.yahoo.com/group/robotcluboftraversecitymi/
CE Magazine: http://www.controleng.com/blog/1180000318.html
pfg:(s);(l);tt

Posted by Paul Grayson on August 15, 2008 | Comments (0)