Gems of Wisdom for Future ME218 Students
Software
- Use the logic analyzer! It takes a few MINUTES to learn and it will save you hours of debugging.
- If you end up using a PIC for your controller or hovercraft, you're going to want some way to print (for debugging). We found that you can use radio communication to send extra debugging bytes along with the normal protocol packets and then print those bytes from TIVA to Tera Term.
- Try pairing with other teams as early as possible. This helps iron out any kinks in the protocol as well as in your own code.
- If you end up using a PIC for your controller or hovercraft, you're going to want some way to print (for debugging). We found that you can use radio communication to send extra debugging bytes along with the normal protocol packets and then print those bytes from TIVA to Tera Term.
- Try pairing with other teams as early as possible. This helps iron out any kinks in the protocol as well as in your own code.
Hardware
- Prototype a hovering platform early. Once you get a platform working, stick with it.
- Don't be afraid to use glue and duct tape. They're more than strong enough for making a hovercraft of this size.
- Cheap materials such as foam, foam core, and heavy plastic bags work really well for hovering.
- Reuse as many parts as possible from your ME218A and ME218B projects. Ours came in very handy.
- Don't be afraid to use glue and duct tape. They're more than strong enough for making a hovercraft of this size.
- Cheap materials such as foam, foam core, and heavy plastic bags work really well for hovering.
- Reuse as many parts as possible from your ME218A and ME218B projects. Ours came in very handy.
General
- Choose a fun theme that your whole team will be excited about.
- Make your checkpoints tough so that you will be working hard throughout and won't be scrambling at the end of the project.
- Make your checkpoints tough so that you will be working hard throughout and won't be scrambling at the end of the project.