Week 11 - Progress Presentation & Improvement Discussion

This week, we had a presentation session on Thursday, where each group shared their progress and discussed the issues they encountered during the project. We also discussed with all the groups how to improve the project. Additionally, a design discussion was conducted to consolidate all the systems of the mini-cleaning robot developed by each group. As part of my group, one suggestion from the progress presentation was to increase the battery capacity by connecting it to a power bank.

Week 10 - Troubleshooting The Problem from The Project & Add IoT Features

During this week, the issues encountered with the output of the battery indicator system were carried forward and resolved through a troubleshooting process. The process involved carefully examining the code, reviewing the connections, and conducting various tests to pinpoint the source of the problem. After several iterations of troubleshooting, the issue was finally identified. It turned out that there was a minor wiring inconsistency that was causing intermittent interruptions in the communication between the OLED display and the microcontroller. I swiftly corrected the wiring and retested the system. This time, the OLED show consistently displayed the correct battery readings, providing accurate information to the user. 

Buoyed by the successful resolution of the previous issue, I continue enhancing the mini-cleaning robot by incorporating an IoT feature using Blynk. The addition of Blynk would enable the robot to connect to the internet, provide real-time updates on the battery status, and notify the user when the battery was running low. I installed the Blynk mobile application and created an account to begin the setup process. Next, the Blynk library was added to the Arduino IDE, allowing seamless microcontroller integration. I did a new project by configuring the Blynk app with the library. The project was then linked to the mini-cleaning robot by generating an authentication token, which was used to establish a connection between the microcontroller and the Blynk server.

Once the setup was complete, I began programming the microcontroller to communicate with the Blynk server. This involved defining virtual pins within the code that would be used to send and receive data between the robot and the Blynk app. I implemented a condition within the code to check the battery level regularly to enable the battery notification feature. If the battery voltage fell below a predetermined threshold, the microcontroller would send a signal to the Blynk server, triggering a notification to the user's mobile device. Excited to see the IoT feature, I uploaded the code to the microcontroller and launched the Blynk app. The moment of truth had arrived. As the mini cleaning robot powered on, I monitored the Blynk app, eagerly awaiting updates.

Sure enough, as the battery level dropped to the predefined threshold, a notification promptly appeared on the Blynk app, alerting the user that the battery was running low. The information provided a timely reminder to recharge the robot, ensuring its continued operation and preventing interruptions during cleaning sessions. With the successful integration of Blynk and the implementation of battery notifications, the mini-cleaning robot has evolved into an innovative and user-friendly device. Users could now stay informed about the battery status in real-time and receive timely alerts when the battery needed attention. After going through the system development, The project was ready to make a positive impact, empowering users with reliable information about the battery's status and ensuring the efficient operation of the robot.

Week 9 - Coding Development, Circuit Installation & Testing The Functionality Operation of The Project

This week, I will continue the development of this project by working on the coding for the battery indicator system, as I am responsible for managing this system. With a clear vision in mind, I began working diligently on the code, carefully planning each step of the process. The goal was to create a reliable and accurate battery indicator system to provide real-time updates on the battery's voltage and percentage.

I started by setting up the necessary variables and defining the input and output pins for the battery indicator components. The code must interact with the TP4056 battery charger module, the LiPo rechargeable battery, the I2C OLED display, the LED traffic light module, and the voltage divider circuit. Next, I focused on the logic of the code. The battery voltage was accurately measured and converted into a percentage value using appropriate conditional statements and mathematical calculations. This value would determine the battery level on the OLED display and the LED traffic light module. To ensure the code was robust and user-friendly, I implemented error-handling mechanisms. This allowed the code to handle unexpected situations, such as incorrect readings or communication failures, ensuring the reliable operation of the battery indicator system.

After countless days of coding, debugging, and testing, I succeeded. The battery indicator system flow was fully functional and provided accurate and real-time information about the battery's status. With a sense of accomplishment, I integrated the code into the mini-cleaning robot by making a circuit installation connecting all the components and observing the battery indicator system in action. However, as with any complex project, there were also some challenges. During the testing phase, I encountered an issue where the OLED display intermittently showed incorrect battery readings. The displayed voltage and percentage would fluctuate rapidly or display inaccurate information. Therefore, the troubleshooting process and the addition of IoT features will continue next week using the Blynk IoT platform.

Week 8 - Purchasing Component Based on The Proposal Requirement

This week, the development process of the mini cleaning robot, specifically the movement system and battery indicator system, was initiated by purchasing the main components for the project. We purchased online from Autobotic Sdn Bhd, an electronic component store. It took approximately 3 days for the components to arrive at our home. Once we receive the components, we will proceed with the coding development next week to assess its effectiveness on the output components.