Remote Control Duck Decoys - Senior Design
Transcription
Remote Control Duck Decoys - Senior Design
Remote Control Duck Decoys 1 DEPARTMENT OF ELECTRICAL AND COMPUTER ENGINEERING design document for Remote Control Duck Decoys submitted to: Randolph F. Follett, Ph.D., P.E. ECE 4512: Senior Design I Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering 413 Hardy Road, Box 9571 Mississippi State University Mississippi State, Mississippi 39762 April 27, 2015 prepared by: J. Dees, D. Maulden, T. Owen, J. Smith and J. White Faculty Advisor: Professor Robert Moorhead Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering Mississippi State University 413 Hardy Road, Box 9571 Mississippi State, Mississippi 39762 Tel: 662-416-0721 email: {jtd171, drm286, tao28, jes520, jww340}@ece.msstate.edu ECE 4512: Design I April 27, 2015 Remote Control Duck Decoys 2 LIST OF ABBREVIATIONS DC – Direct Current GUI – Graphical User Interface I2C – Inter-Integrated Circuit IDE – Integrated Development Environment IEEE – Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers LED – Light Emitting Diode Li-Po – Lithium Polymer LR-WPAN – Low-Rate Wireless Personal Area Networks mA - Milliamperes mAh – Milliampere Hours NiCd – Nickel Cadmium NiMH – Nickel Metal Hydride PAN – Personal Area Network PCB – Printed Circuit Board PETA – People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals RCD2 – Remote Control Duck Decoy(s) RPM – Rotations per Minute RX - Receiver SWD – Spinning Wing Decoy TX - Transmission USB – Universal Serial Bus V - Volts VDC – Voltage (Direct Current) W - Watts ECE 4512: Design I April 27, 2015 Remote Control Duck Decoys 3 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY There are several different versions of electronic or controlled duck decoys. The problem with these decoys is there is no current electronic decoy that has more than one feature built in. Remote Control Duck Decoy (RCD2) is equipped with multiple features to simulate a live duck: full motion wireless control, flapping wings simulator, pulse/wake capabilities, and swarm control. RCD2 will remove the hassle and expense of owning several decoy types to obtain multiple functions. Figure 1: RCD2 To ensure device reliability, some technical constraints were set in place. The size of the decoy must be able to house the electrical and mechanical components, and it must be life-sized to be appealing to incoming waterfowl. The hunter must be able to wirelessly control the decoys with the main remote control up to 75 yards. The battery life of each decoy and the microcontroller must last a minimum of six hours. To ensure that the decoys will be functional for the length of a typical duck hunt. In order to protect all electrical and mechanical components housed inside, the duck decoy body must be water and weather proof. The most unique function of RCD2 is the swarm control capabilities. RCD2 must allow the hunter to control a single duck or up to six ducks in the flock at the same time. In order to achieve our size constraint, we chose large-sized, hollow decoys that would be able to house all internal components. The backs of the decoys are cut off to create an access hatch. An Arduino Uno and Xbee transceiver is used in each decoy to achieve wireless control. When the user interacts with the controller, that information is sent to the Arduino to decide what is to be sent to the Xbee. Once the Xbee receives that packet, it sends it wirelessly to the other transceiver, which will relay that information to the Arduino Uno housed inside the decoy. The range of the Xbee wireless transceivers is 100 yards, which exceeds our constraint of 75 yards. There are two separate power sources inside each decoy. The reason to have multiple power supplies is that our Arduino ideally runs at 5V. Our main power supply reads up to 8.4V when fully charged. We found that adding another power supply at 5 volts would be ideal for our Arduino while also adding time to each decoys run time. The decoys are made waterproof by caulking around all external components. The access hatch is lined with rubber and uses nuts and bolts to tighten down and create a watertight seal. The final aspect of RCD2 is swarm control. The user can select which duck(s) to control via selection switches located on the handheld controller. The commands given will be duplicated over the selected ducks, creating a realistic flock that is swimming, flapping, or creating a wake. While multiple ducks can be selected they can only perform one function at a given time. This means that you could not flap one’s wing and wake the water at the same time. While many other duck decoys exist, there are none on the market that offer an all-in-one product like RCD2. Our product aspires to seize most of the electronic decoy market since there is not a product that is capable of producing multiple functions like RCD2. RCD2 will provide hunters with a reliable, costeffective product that will provide a multi-functional decoy ECE 4512: Design I April 27, 2015 Remote Control Duck Decoys 4 TABLE OF CONTENTS 1. PROBLEM .......................................................................................................................................... 5 2. DESIGN REQUIREMENTS/CONSTRAINTS................................................................................ 7 2.1. Technical Design Constraints ........................................................................................................ 7 2.2. Practical Design Constraints .......................................................................................................... 8 3. 4. APPROACH ...................................................................................................................................... 11 3.1. Hardware ................................................................................................................................... 11 3.2. Software ..................................................................................................................................... 19 EVALUATION ................................................................................................................................. 24 4.1. Test Certification – Propulsion and Control Subsystem ...................................................... 24 4.2. Test Certification – Wake Subsystem ..................................................................................... 26 4.3. Test Certification – Wing Subsystem ..................................................................................... 27 4.4. Test Certification – Processor and Communication Subsystems ......................................... 29 4.5. Test Certification – Total System ............................................................................................ 33 5. SUMMARY AND FUTURE WORK .............................................................................................. 35 6. ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS.............................................................................................................. 36 7. REFERENCES .................................................................................................................................. 37 8. APPENDIX: PRODUCT SPECIFICATION ................................................................................. 38 ECE 4512: Design I April 27, 2015 Remote Control Duck Decoys 1. PROBLEM 1.1 Historical Introduction 5 Grits Gresham once said “[t]o the avid waterfowler, no moment of truth can match the instant when a flock first responds to his call and decoys, the time when this wild, free bird of unsurpassed grace begins a descent from the sky down to gun range. It is a stirring spectacle…” [1]. Evidence of waterfowl hunting for food, down, and feathers dates back to prehistoric cave drawings in Europe and appeared in ancient Egyptian drawings from 1900 BC [2]. With the invention of the black powder shotguns, duck hunters began using different tactics to harvest the coveted waterfowl. Methods of waterfowl hunting such as baiting, hunting at night, and using live or hand-carved decoys for attracting waterfowl were popular by hunters who profited from the products of the ducks. Due to a falling duck population and habitat degradation, laws were passed, such as the Migratory Bird Treaty Act, to protect the waterfowl species. The Joint State-Federal Migratory Bird Hunting Regulations banned using a live duck restrained by a weight to prevent it from flying or swimming out of the area, and this led to the use of homemade decoys [3]. These decoys were originally made from a combination of various grasses and woods. Later, in the 1960’s, development of a plastic, molded decoy allowed for mass production. Hunters began purchasing more decoys, creating a more realistic environment suitable for luring ducks. This eventually led to the development of the first electronic decoy. The first electronic duck decoy was introduced in the 1998-99 waterfowl hunting season. It simulated a stationary duck flapping by simply spinning the artificial wing extensions. Electronic decoys can be broken into three categories: Spinning Wing Decoys (SWDs) that spin or flap their wings, decoys that vibrate in the water, and decoys that are directionally controlled by a remote control. In a site-specific study of differential vulnerability by Caswell & Caswell stated “[i]n all cases, use of SWDs dramatically increased the harvest of ducks when compared to periods when SWDs were not used [4]”. Our team has proposed to design and develop the first flock of wirelessly controlled decoys that combine the features of the previous stated designs into one system. 1.2 Market and Competitive Product Analysis There is currently an average of 1.5 million duck hunters in the United States [5]. The targeted market for Remote Control Duck Decoy (RCD2) targets duck hunters worldwide who want more capability and life out of their duck decoys. There are currently different versions of electronic or controlled duck decoys such as The Wonderduck Motion Decoy, The Open Zone ZigZag Swimmer Decoy, and the Swim’n Duck. The Wonderduck Motion Decoy is designed to spin its wings while sitting still in water, and retails for $99.99. The Open Zone Swimmer Decoy maneuvers autonomously at random in water through an electronic circuit controlling two motors. This decoy offers no form of control and is sold for $79.95 [6]. The Swim’n Duck is very similar to the Open Zone Swimmer Decoy, but this decoy is remote controlled with a short range of thirty yards, and retails for $99.99. Brands such as Mojo, Flambeau, and Lucky Duck control the market of electronic decoys. The problem with these decoys is there is no one decoy equipped with wireless control, electronic wings, and pulse/wake capabilities. RCD2 would combine all of these features into one duck and will also have a larger remote control range. Another advantage is RCD2 will have the capabilities to control up to six ducks simultaneously through the wireless controller. This would be a huge advantage for duck hunters as they could get every feature of duck decoys in one, instead of having to buy multiple types of decoys. To make our product competitive with the market our cost of parts must be kept very low. Our product could draw investors from any company in the decoy industry who does not have their own electronic model. The companies who have their own electronic decoy could become potential investors in order to stay on top of the market with our technology. ECE 4512: Design I April 27, 2015 Remote Control Duck Decoys 1.3 6 Concise Problem Statement For duck hunting, finding the most realistic decoy is essential in a successful hunt. RCD2 is a combination of the best decoy technologies fused into a simple design. The prototype will be a common decoy with a hollow body center and a waterproof enclosure for the key electronic components. A direct current (DC) motor will be inside the enclosure to rotate the drive shaft and propeller providing propulsion. For steering control, a servo motor will allow the rudder to change directions, giving the user complete control of the decoy. A servo attached to the exterior wings will be used to recreate a fluid, flapping motion of a duck’s wings. The wings are to be made from plastic that will contour to the ducks outer shell. This makes the wings lighter; therefore, our motor will run more efficiently and save battery life. The third function of RCD2 is its ability to create a wake from a stationary position. A weight will be shifted inside RCD2’s body displacing water and adding another lifelike characteristic. These three functions are completely controlled by the user equipped with the RCD2 controller. The decoys will be directed by a remote control equipped with a microcontroller and wireless signal transmitter that communicates with all of the decoys. The user will select multiple ducks using switches on the remote control. The microprocessor will communicate a signal sending the commands to every duck selected. This will allow the hunter to move his or her ducks to a specific area or recreate a flock’s motion. However, if a single decoy needs to be moved for any reason, individual control is allowed by the microprocessor by selecting only one duck. Along with movement, multiple ducks can be selected to flap their wings or create wake in synchronization. The switching will allow for any combination of decoys to be accessed at any time. The functions of this product will create one of the most realistic decoys on the market. 1.4 Implications of Success Overall, RCD2 will be marketable to the duck hunter seeking a more reliable, lifelike, all-in-one decoy. Only three states in the United States ban the use of electronic decoys. Even with the ban in these few states, the market for our product will be substantial. Large corporations, such as Mossy Oak, Bass Pro Shop, Cabela’s, and any sporting goods outfitters, will be able to offer RCD2, assuming we market the final design independently. Our product aspires to seize most of the electronic decoy market since there is not a product like RCD2 available today. The electronic duck decoy market has not changed much in the last ten years. Current developers have not attempted to market a product with multiple features. This opens the door for a product, such as RCD2, to swarm the market. Along with being user friendly, RCD2 will remove the hassle of owning several decoy types to just owning one brand. The hunter will spend less time setting up his decoys and more time on the hunt for the prized waterfowl. If our product is successful, it will have a positive impact on the duck decoy market by providing improved technology, reduced cost for the average duck hunter, and implementing the complete duck hunting experience. ECE 4512: Design I April 27, 2015 Remote Control Duck Decoys 2. 7 DESIGN REQUIREMENTS/CONSTRAINTS The Remote Control Duck Decoy is an advanced, six duck decoy system. The hunter has access to multiple functions such as flapping, swimming, wake creation, and swarm control. This allows the hunter to recreate a desirable duck habitat to lure in live waterfowl. Along with the realistic characteristics of RCD2, the hunter can align his/her decoy spread from the comfort of the duck blind. The waterproof, robust design allows RCD2 to be used in the difficult weather associated with duck hunting. To develop this efficient system, many technical design and practical constraints must be satisfied. These constraints are outlined in the following sections. 2.1. Technical Design Constraints For RCD2 to be efficient and effective in the harsh waterfowl hunting environment, the following technical design constraints listed in Table 2.1 must be followed. Table 2.1. Technical Design Constraints Name Description Size The Decoy must house the electrical and mechanical components, and it must be lifesized to be appealing to incoming waterfowl. Range RCD2 must be controllable up to 75 yards from the main remote control. Battery Life The battery for each decoy and the remote controller must be sustainable for a minimum of six hours. Watertight Enclosure The decoy body must be waterproof to protect the electrical components housed inside. Swarm Control RCD2 must grant the user the ability to control a single duck or up to six multiple ducks at the same time. 2.1.1 Size RCD2 has several electrical components housed within the hollow duck decoy body. Our power supply, microcontroller, motor driver, and motors must fit within the plastic shell of the duck decoy. The components must be arranged by weight in this area. In doing so, the weight must be evenly distributed; so that, the duck has no balance issues and is not in danger of sinking. 2.1.2 Range The decoys must have an effective range of 50-75 yards from the wireless controller with a clear line of sight. This range allows a hunter to properly set up the decoys to form an appealing waterfowl environment. The controller’s master microcontroller we choose must be able to communicate with the slave microcontrollers within the duck decoy. Common forms of wireless communication include radio frequency (RF), Wi-Fi, and Bluetooth. One of these will be selected depending on their effective range ECE 4512: Design I April 27, 2015 Remote Control Duck Decoys 8 and usability. 2.1.3 Battery Life The decoys must operate multiple motors to control the rudder, propeller, wings, and wake creator while also processing information from the wireless controller. For viability, our decoy is required to operate for six hours. Our decoys must use one supply or two separate supplies to control both the microcontroller and the motors. Along with the decoys, the wireless controller for the system must also last six hours. One microcontroller is used inside the hand-held controller to send information wirelessly to the decoys. To power the controller a separate power supply will be needed. 2.1.4 Watertight Enclosure The decoys are required to operate on top of water and handle any weather conditions to which they are exposed. The components inside the decoy must stay dry in order to function properly. This means that each decoy must employ a watertight enclosure to ensure the contents stay dry. If the electronics are exposed, water could cause a short circuit possibly destroying the product. Any leaking could also decrease the buoyancy and sink the entire decoy. 2.1.5 Swarm Control One of RCD2’s defining features is the ability to control multiple decoys at a given time. The user must have the ability to select which duck he/she wants to control. To allow this, there must be a switching system allowing the user and controller to communicate with the desired decoy or decoys. The commands given must be duplicated over the selected ducks, creating a realistic flock either swimming, flapping, or creating a wake. 2.2. Practical Design Constraints Along with the technical constraints, the following practical design constraints listed in Table 2.2 must be followed. These practical constraints outline the constraints that make RCD2 a practical device. We have selected five constraints that must be closely followed: cost, reliability, assembly, environmentally friendly, and safety. ECE 4512: Design I April 27, 2015 Remote Control Duck Decoys 9 Table 2.2. Practical Design Constraints Type Name Description Economic Cost The total costs of parts per duck shall not exceed $300 Sustainability Reliability The decoys must be sufficiently robust to account for harsh conditions. The batteries must have at least a six hour life and be rechargeable. Manufacturability Assembly All removed plastic and holes for propeller must be sealed to not allow water inside the decoy. RCD2 must float in water. Environmental Environmentally Friendly Batteries must be sealed and secured to keep chemicals from leaking into the environment. Health and Safety Safety Users should not be exposed to electric shock or explosion due to power supply. 2.2.1 Economic In order to create a reasonably priced and competitive product, our components and materials should not exceed $300. The Lucky Duck Rapid Flyer is currently priced at $159.99, but it can only flap its wings remotely. Mojo, another competing brand, makes both a shaking decoy and a swimming decoy retailing at $99.79 and $80 respectively [1]. Mojo also has developed a three duck motion system similar to our swarm control; however, these decoys are in a fixed position and merely rotate in a circle through an underwater apparatus. This system is listed for $175 without including the decoys. With the combination of the four decoys listed, the price is well over $500. For our product to be competitive in this market, the total price of parts must be kept within the constraint. 2.2.2 Sustainability RCD2’s sustainability is one of the most important features of the design. Duck hunters and their equipment have to endure below-freezing temperatures, mud, rain, snow, and marshy terrain over the duration of their hunt [2]. Our decoy will have to overcome each of nature’s tests. With a battery life of six hours, including running and idle times, RCD2 must last for the duration of a single day hunt before needing a recharge. To deal with the typical duck hunting weather, the inside of the decoy must be reinforced with some type of insulation. The wireless controller requires its own power supply to last as long as the decoys. Along with battery life the controller must be designed to be water-resistant making RCD2 a durable system ready to handle the difficult environment. 2.2.3 Manufacturability RCD2 will need an opening to place all its components. This opening must allow the user easy access to power supply for replacement or recharge. This main cover must have a watertight seal, so the manufacturer and user can attach without compromising RCD2’s waterproof shell. The propeller, wings, and wake system must be driven by components within the decoy; therefore any other openings must be ECE 4512: Design I April 27, 2015 Remote Control Duck Decoys 10 water resistant. With all the components housed, the duck will be much heavier. If the weight of this is larger than the buoyancy of the duck, countermeasures must be in place to allow the duck to float in water. 2.2.4 Environmental Batteries contain various chemicals such as alkaline, lead, lithium, cadmium, mercury, and nickel metal hydride. These harmful substances can permeate into surface water. Cadmium, for instance, is easily absorbed by plant roots. This is very detrimental to wildlife if ingested [3]. Our prototype must prevent the leakage of these chemicals to protect the environment. 2.2.5 Health and Safety Safety is the most important constraint for any project. When electronics and water combine, users could experience electrical shock. Even though RCD2 must be waterproof, the users can open the decoy and expose themselves to electrical components. These parts must be arranged to minimize user exposure, or covers must be used with appropriate labels. Power supplies use dangerous chemicals as listed in section 2.2.4. These chemicals can be harmful to the user. Some power supplies available are explosive if charged incorrectly. Our prototype must either avoid these types of supplies or have limitations on charging to mitigate this risk ECE 4512: Design I April 27, 2015 Remote Control Duck Decoys 3. 11 APPROACH The Remote Control Duck Decoy is a multi-functional product that combines four major duck decoy products into one, easy-to-use product for duck hunters. RCD2 is controlled by an Arduino microcontroller that will manage the operations given by the user and relay that information to the decoys that will act out these instructions. Once the user selects a function, this process will be sent wirelessly from the controller to the decoys, then processed, and sent to the motors. The user will be able to attract more waterfowl with the ability to move the decoys, flap their wings, and create a wake in the water. 3.1. Hardware Subsystems The hardware of RCD2 is partitioned into five subsystems. This section will describe the specific components that were selected for the RCD2 and the role that they play in the device as a whole. A justification of which components were purchased for RCD2 will be made, along with a system overview, as shown in Figure 3.1.1. Figure 3.1.1 – Hardware Subsystems ECE 4512: Design I April 27, 2015 Remote Control Duck Decoys 3.1.1 12 Propulsion & Control Subsystem The Remote Control Duck Decoy provides an easier setup of a spread of decoys by allowing the user to remotely move each decoy to a desired location. Two subsystems are required to accomplish this movement. These subsystems are the propulsion system and the control subsystem. With this set of subsystems, RCD2 will have the capability to move anywhere within our constrained range. When selecting the DC motor to propel RCD2 different motors were considered. The first was the DC toy motor by Adafruit. This 130 size motor was very reasonably priced and fit our space constraint; however, this motor could not produce the amount of torque needed to propel our duck efficiently. The next motor we researched was the Turnigy XK2040-4500KV Brushless Inrunner. This motor is commonly used in hobby remote control boats. It is designed to have low torque but high rotations per minute (RPMs) to propel the boat at a higher speed. This motor would work for RCD2 in some situations, but a higher torque motor was needed to push RCD2 through algae commonly found in ponds. Our final motor researched was the Johnson 545 DC motor. The propulsion system uses four key components to allow RCD2 to move forward and backward: a DC motor, coupling, watertight shaft, and propeller. The propulsion motor is a DC 545 type motor designed and manufactured by Johnson Motor Company. This motor was designed to operate in model tug boats at low RPM but at high torque. Our selected DC motor also offered a compatible coupling, shaft, and propeller. The coupling is responsible for transmitting the rotational mechanical force from the motor to the propeller. The two brass coupling ends attach to the ⅛ inch shaft of the propeller and the motor. In between the two is a plastic Dogbone, which allows flexibility in the position of the motor in relation to the propeller. Once connected, the motor is now rotating the shaft. This stainless steel shaft is encased within a brass tube with Oilite bearings pressed into each end. These bearings keep all unwanted water out of the decoy. When this shaft spins, our propeller water is displaced in one direction while our decoy travels in the other. Figure 3.1.1 – RCD2 Rear Interior ECE 4512: Design I April 27, 2015 Remote Control Duck Decoys 13 Forward and reverse are the two key directions controlled by the propulsion motor, but for RCD2 to go left and right, a steering control system is needed. Three different methods of control were proposed for RCD2. The first idea was to use two rudders on either side of the propeller. The two rudders would make steering much easier, but, due to a larger mechanical build and adding more holes jeopardizing the water resistant design of the duck, this idea was omitted. Our next idea involved using only two propulsion motors and no propeller, like the Swim’n Duck uses. However, to control this effectively, each motor must have variable speed control. This would add another level of complexity to our code and drain the motor batteries significantly faster. We selected the final design, which uses our single propulsion motor and one rudder directly behind the propeller. Our rudder is turned by a TowerPro MG995 servo motor within the decoy for precise control. Figure 3.1.2 – RCD2 Rear Exterior 3.1.2 Wake Subsystem Since motion is a crucial feature in attracting waterfowl, many hunters have used vibrating devices to cause a ripple in the water to imitate signs of life. Originally, when incorporating this technique into our design, we planned to construct our own pulsation design. This called for a hole in the bottom of the decoy with an umbrella shaped piece inside the water. This piece was meant to connect to an actuator, or servo motor, to move the umbrella back and forth. This motion would pull the duck down into the water and create the desired wake. This design had several flaws. First, adding a hole in the bottom of the decoy greatly increases the chance for leaks. Second, this would be a much larger motion that could possibly flip and sink the decoy. Lastly, the time to research necessary parts and implement the design was too great given the narrow time frame for our project. This problem was easily solved with the discovery of an existing product. The H20 Quiver Magnet made our once daunting task simple, cheap, and reliable. Instead of creating a large motion for larger ripples in the water. The quiver magnet uses quick vibrations similar to a cell phone or video game controller. This shorter, quicker motion puts RCD2 at less risk of flipping over. ECE 4512: Design I April 27, 2015 Remote Control Duck Decoys 14 This device uses two AA batteries to power a small DC motor. This motor has an arm on its shaft with a disk weight attached to it. As the weight rotates, the centripetal force of the offset weight is asymmetric, resulting in a net centrifugal force displacing the motor. The rapid displacement of the motor causes the vibrations [9]. This energy is then transferred to the water creating ripples. All of this is contained within a waterproof cylinder with a detachable lid. Since we did not want to use another power supply for the quiver magnet, a few modifications were made. First, the motor was removed and the existing leads were detached. Previous wiring for the batteries and push button switch were removed. Next, a small opening was drilled into the base of the quiver magnet where the new long leads could run from the device to the motor driver within the decoy body. The quiver magnet will be attached at the base of the decoy, where it will provide more balance. Figure 3.1.3 shows a detailed view of RCD2’s wake subsystem Figure 3.1.3 – Wake Subsystem Interior & Exterior The tradeoffs for selecting the H20 Quiver Magnet over our own design our shown in Table 3.1.1. The Quiver Magnet is a patented product, so there will be some legal issues to handle in RCD2’s future. The Quiver Magnet’s design though is more than sufficient for the functionality of the RCD2 prototype. Table 3.1.1 – Wake Subsystem Comparison ECE 4512: Design I April 27, 2015 Remote Control Duck Decoys 3.1.3 15 Wing Subsystem To add another dimension of motion, RCD2 will have the ability to flap its wings. With this being the most complex mechanical operation of our design, there were many difficulties to overcome in the implementation. Our wings are made out of plastic board and are painted in the pattern matching the appropriate decoy. These wings will be mounted to a 3-D printed arm. This arm will be attached to a bracket mounted on the exterior of the decoy where it can pivot. The other side of the arm, opposite the wings, will extend towards the base of the decoy where it will be attached to the motion arm. The motion arm goes into the duck decoy body where it will securely attach to a servo motor creating the mechanical motion. We decided on the servo against a small DC motor and a stepper motor. The DC motor had too low of a torque to create the wing motion. The stepper motor had the necessary torque and position control; however, stepper motors would have been more expensive. The cheaper stepper motors do not have the fluid motion like the more expensive ones. These cheaper models would not recreate the fluid flapping motion of a live duck. The servo motor works perfectly due to its very high torque and ability to be positioned accurately. The servo will pull the motion arm up and down, pulling and pushing the wings up and down. Table 3.1.1 shows a comparison of all three motors below. Table 3.1.1 – Wing Motor Comparison Figure 3.1.4 – RCD2 Wing Subsystem ECE 4512: Design I April 27, 2015 Remote Control Duck Decoys 3.1.4 16 Primary Power Supply Subsystem The subsystems mentioned above are powered by RCD2’s primary power supply. This power supply is responsible for all mechanical movement of RCD2. These systems draw small amounts of current, but must last six hours to meet our constraint. Our highest load when testing the above components was just under 500mA. We took this high number and plugged it into equation 3.1.1 to determine the capacity of the battery we needed. 𝐶𝑎𝑝𝑎𝑐𝑖𝑡𝑦 = 𝐵𝑎𝑡𝑡𝑒𝑟𝑦 𝐿𝑖𝑓𝑒 ∗ 𝐿𝑜𝑎𝑑 6 ℎ𝑜𝑢𝑟𝑠 ∗ 500𝑚𝐴 = = 4285.7𝑚𝐴ℎ 0.7 0.7 Equation 3.1.1 In this formula the 0.7 factor is an allowance to make sure we had enough capacity to meet the constraint. This calculation shows that we need a battery with a minimum 4300mAh capacity. To ensure our sustainability we decided on a 5000mAh battery. There are four different types of batteries we compared to find a suitable power supply for RCD2. These are compared in Table 3.1.2. Table 3.1.2 – Battery Comparison After weighing each pro and con, we selected the nickel metal hydride (NiMH) battery as our primary power supply. The nickel cadmium (NiCd) battery did not have adequate capacity to run a minimum of six hours, and it was made from toxic chemicals which would defy our environmental constraint also. The Lithium Polymer (Li-Po) battery met both our size and capacity constraints. The Li-Po battery, however, generates much more heat and charging can be dangerous if not done correctly. This led to our decision to use the 7.4V Rage 5000mAh NiMH battery. This battery, when charged, delivers 8.4V and has enough capacity to sustain our largest current load for at least six hours. 3.1.5 Processor Subsystem To account for the different processes involved with RCD2, a microcontroller is needed to perform all the tasks. Originally, we planned to use the Arduino Yun. The Yun had a Linux processor built in that established its own Wi-Fi network. This Wi-Fi network did not provide sufficient range, and we had difficulty sending commands from peer to peer. So after working with the Yun for several weeks, we decided to find a cheaper, simpler alternative. We stayed with the Arduino brand and purchased the Uno ECE 4512: Design I April 27, 2015 Remote Control Duck Decoys 17 microcontroller. This is Arduino’s simplest platform and is compatible with the Xbee communication module to be discussed in section 3.1.6. Our decision to use the Arduino Uno and Xbee is explained in Table 3.1.2. Table 3.1.2 – Microcontroller Comparison This microcontroller will be the operator for both the decoys and the controller. Inside the decoys, the Arduino will be paired with an Adafruit Motor Shield as an extension of the microcontroller. This shield is the motor driver for all our mechanical features. It is equipped with four H bridges that provide up to 1.2 Amperes to both the propulsion and wake system motors. The shield has two male pin sets to attach our wing and rudder servo motors. Originally the servos were powered by the secondary power supply, but this supply did not generate enough power to run the servo motors. To fix this issue the trace on motor shield printed circuit board (PCB) connecting the servo to the 5V pin on the Arduino. Next, jumpers from the primary power supply input on the motor shield were soldered directly to the servo power pins. This resolved our power issue allowing our servos to operate correctly. 3.1.6 Communication Subsystem Three communication mediums were considered for the design of RCD2: Wi-Fi, ZigBee Mesh, and IEEE 802.15.4. A quick comparison of these medium is shown in Table 3.1.3. The three means of communication were purchased and tested. First, we attempted to use the Arduino Yun and its on-board Wi-Fi to setup a local network which commands would be carried out. Our obvious issue was the range in which the network was effective. The other issues came as we attempted to make the controller Arduino the server and the decoy Arduinos clients. We could not send commands from peer to peer. Digi’s Series 2 Xbee transceivers were our next approach. We purchased four Series 2 Xbee transceivers and began configuring them to communicate with each other. These Xbees operated on ZigBee Mesh Protocol which is a high-level communication protocol to create personal area networks. We successfully sent commands from the controller Arduino to one decoy Arduino; however, when sending commands to multiple decoys errors occurred. After consulting the experts at Digi, we discovered that using ZigBee Mesh meant that all Xbees were sending and receiving packets from each other. With the decoys in close proximity to one another these packets were colliding and becoming lost. This caused our decoys to become unresponsive. The last communication hardware we purchased was the Series 1 Xbee transceiver. It uses the IEEE 802.15.4 communication protocol. This is a standard which specifies the physical layer and media access control for low-rate wireless personal area networks (LR-WPANs) [10]. By changing each Xbees’ MY address and configuring them to the same personal area network (PAN), the controller Xbee would broadcast the command string to all three decoy Xbees without losing any packets. Each processor interprets the command string and decides what it should or should not do. ECE 4512: Design I April 27, 2015 Remote Control Duck Decoys 18 Table 3.1.3 – Communication Medium Comparison The only issue with either Xbees against the Arduino Yun was space consumption. The Arduino Yun was the same size as the Arduino Uno, but its Wi-Fi was built into the board. The Xbee required connection to the transmission (TX) and receiver (RX) pins of the Arduino Uno. With no space available in the decoy to the side of the microcontroller, we found another option. We purchased the Sainsmart Xbee Shield which stacks on top of the Adafruit Motor Driver Shield and the Arduino Uno. This shield allowed us to house all our processor components vertically inside the decoy body. 3.1.7 Secondary Power Supply Subsystem To power the processor for both the controller and decoy, two options were considered. The first was to power the processor and communication subsystems from the primary power supply. Using the 8.4V battery would have been sufficient for the Arduino Uno’s five to twelve volt input range. The Xbee is powered from the Arduinos regulated 3.3V pin, so the primary batter would not affect it. The benefits of using the single power supply are less used space inside decoy, less overall weight of decoy, and lower costs. All these benefits did not outweigh the cons to this method. Arduino and Adafruit both strongly suggest to power the microcontroller with a separate power supply than the one used on the motor shield. This is due to the fact that noise from the motors can feedback through the circuit causing voltage changes on the Arduino. This voltage drops cause the Arduino to reset and disrupts communication. The solution was to use two separate power supplies. The Anker External Battery Power Bank is a portable phone charger with USB connection. This cheap module does not take up much room inside the decoy and can be easily removed and recharged by the user. It delivers 5V and a max current of 1A. This power supply has 3200mAh capacity and weighs 2.8oz. This power supply will be responsible for communication, processing commands, lighting LED’s on controller only. After adding the currents from all the datasheets this power supply will not be responsible for a load over 200mA. Using the same formula as Equation 3.1, the estimated hours of the secondary power supply is 11.2 hours. 3.1.8 Controller Subsystem The controller is the interface between the hunter and RCD2. The two options considered when deciding on the controller were purchasing a controller and reprogram it, or design our own controller from scratch. The upside to buying a controller was it would take less time to reprogram than to build our own. ECE 4512: Design I April 27, 2015 Remote Control Duck Decoys 19 The downside is that the controllers that could control more than three devices were greatly out of our price range. This led to the decision to build our own. We used the Arduino Uno, Sainsmart Xbee Shield, and S1 Xbee transceiver as the brain and communicator of our controller. Nine pushbuttons where then divided into three categories: direction control, decoy selection, decoy action. These pushbuttons wired directly to the inputs on the Arduino. Three output LED’s were connected with 330 ohm current-limiting resistors. These LEDs show which duck the user has activated. All this is powered by the secondary power supply mentioned in Section 3.1.7. The controller is shown in Figure 3.1.5. Figure 3.1.5 – Controller Layout 3.2 Software The Remote Control Duck Decoy interface/control system consists of many parts that work as the brains of the operation. The user will have a handheld, wireless controller that will be used to operate the ducks. Inside the controller, there will be an Arduino Uno and Xbee Wireless Transceiver. When the user interacts with the controller that information is sent to the Arduino to decide what is to be sent to the ECE 4512: Design I April 27, 2015 Remote Control Duck Decoys 20 Xbee. Once Xbee receives that packet, it sends it wirelessly to the other transceiver, which will relay that information to the Arduino Uno housed inside the decoy. Figure 3.2.1 is a system overview of the implementation of the software. Figure 3.2.1 – System Overview of RCD2 Software 3.2.1 Interface The user interface is a wireless controller that consists of a decoy selection and a range of operations, such as: forward, backward, left, right, wing flap, and wake creation. When the user makes a decision on the decoy and operation, that combination is given a defined number sequence that is processed to act out that specific task. 3.2.2 Decoy & Operation Selection The numbering technique we decided upon for the decoy selection was a binary-inspired addition sequence. When the user selects a decoy, that decoy has a reference number that is added to a variable. However, when the operator selects the same decoy, again it subtracts that number from the variable, thus updating the value of the variable. Figure 3.2.2 is a representation of the decoy selection numbering system used to determine the decoy the user desires to communicate with. ECE 4512: Design I April 27, 2015 Remote Control Duck Decoys 21 Figure 3.2.2 – Duck Selection Algorithm With this technique, any combination of decoys can be made with a unique number. For example, if the user wants to communicate with decoys 2 and 3, the program adds the two unique numbers, (2 and 4), for those decoys that creates a unique number to that combination, (6). The process used for the operations performed by the duck is much simpler than that of the decoy selection. When the decoy receives the packet of information, that command also has a number unique to one of the six possible operations. The Arduino inside the decoy is there to process that number, and, depending on what value it is given, it turns on the respective motors. 3.3 Usage Cases The “sunny day” usage case of RCD2 is illustrated in Figure 3.3.1. This represents the simplest operation of our product. It demonstrates the user (Hunter) giving RCD2 commands. Then after communication and processing, RCD2 preforms the commands. ECE 4512: Design I April 27, 2015 Remote Control Duck Decoys 22 Figure 3.3.1 – Sunny Day Usage Case The “rainy day” usage case represents situations that would not happen often, but are still feasible in the operation of the RCD2. Illustrated in Figure 3.3.2 is a case when the decoy is stuck on something in the water and needs to be moved to work properly. Figure 3.3.2 – Rainy Day Usage Case #1 ECE 4512: Design I April 27, 2015 Remote Control Duck Decoys 23 Figure 3.3.3 shows a case when the duck battery is low. The hunter confirms this by plugging it into the battery charger. The solution is to replace that battery and put the original battery on the charger for the next hunt. Figure 3.3.3 – Rainy Day Usage Case #2 ECE 4512: Design I April 27, 2015 Remote Control Duck Decoys 4. 24 EVALUATION In order to validate that the Remote Control Duck Decoy met all of the technical and practical constraints, several tests were performed to evaluate the product. Subsystem tests were performed first to assure that the different components would operate properly, and then the entire system was tested to prove all subsystems worked together correctly. This document will describe and state the results of these tests used to accomplish the design requirements for RCD2. Some subsystems are not clearly defined in the technical constraints; nonetheless, the operations of these subsystems are vital to satisfying the constraint requirements. Therefore, the following test certifications will review each subsystem test and prove their need for fulfilling the technical constraints listed in Table 4.1. Table 4.1 – Technical Design Constraints Name Description Size The Decoy must house the electrical and mechanical components, and it must be lifesized to be appealing to incoming waterfowl. Range RCD2 must be controllable up to 75 yards from the main remote control. Battery Life The battery for each decoy and the remote controller must be sustainable for a minimum of six hours. Watertight Enclosure The decoy body must be waterproof to protect the electrical components housed inside. Swarm Control RCD2 must grant the user the ability to control a single duck or up to six multiple ducks at the same time. 4.1 Test Certification – Propulsion and Control Subsystem The propulsion and control subsystem required many experiments to test the functionality and power usage. The following tests were run: propulsion DC motor power test, control servo power test, and push-pull rod strength test. 4.1.1 Propulsion DC Motor Power Test For this test we connected the propulsion motor to the motor shield and wired the multimeter in series with our Rage 8.4V 5000mAh NiMH battery. With this test circuit, the motor was commanded to operate from the controller. The test showed that our coupled DC motor drew 292mA at 8.34V or 2.44 Watts. The wiring diagram for this test is shown in Figure 4.1.1. ECE 4512: Design I April 27, 2015 Remote Control Duck Decoys 25 Figure 4.1.1 – Propulsion Motor Power Consumption Test Schematic 4.1.2 Control Servo Power Test The original servo power test pointed out a flaw in our power system. Our servo motor would randomly move when not commanded to, and there was not enough power to the servo for it to move correctly. The cause was that our servos were being powered by the Arduino microcontroller and its separate power supply (5V, 500mA max output). This problem was remedied by modifications to our motor shield. First, a trace from the 5V pin on the Arduino to the servo was cut. Next, jumpers from the servo leads were soldered to our external battery supply in parallel. With the servo now running off our main power supply, testing could be conducted. Using the same setup as the propulsion testing, we selected the left turn command on the controller to operate that function. The servo and propulsion motor at 8.34V averaged 285mA or 2.38 Watts. The wiring schematic for this test is shown in Figure 4.1.2. ECE 4512: Design I April 27, 2015 Remote Control Duck Decoys 26 Figure 4.1.2 – Control Motor Power Consumption Test Schematic 4.1.3 Push-Pull Rod Strength Test The push-pull rods are the channel of mechanical energy from the servo motor to the rudder. They have to be strong and long enough to move the rudder in the desired direction. We tested three different types of common metal: 18-gauge single strand copper wire, music wire, and aluminum paper clips. Our testing of these metals was performed with the operational prototype in a body of water. We had the three decoys each with a different metal for the push-pull rod. Using the controller we oscillated between right and left three separate times. During testing the paper clip only lasted two cycles before becoming ineffective. The copper wire and music wire both withstood the test. The music wire however is much more expensive and shorter than the single strand copper that can be cut to desired length. This test solidified our use of the copper wire. 4.2. Test Certification – Wake Subsystem Two tests were performed on the wake subsystem that creates the ripples in water giving RCD2 another dimension of movement. The first test was the wake subsystem DC motor power test. The second was the shaker stability test. 4.2.1 Wake Subsystem DC Motor Power Test Testing the power consumption of the wake subsystem used the same procedure as the previous two power consumption test. The 8.4V battery and Quiver Magnet was connected to the motor shield. With the multimeter running, the command for the decoy to shake was given. We originally recorded just over ECE 4512: Design I April 27, 2015 Remote Control Duck Decoys 27 600mA at 8.4V. This was too large of a current draw and would not allow us to meet our six hour life constraint. We reprogramed the motor shield to only operate the Quiver Magnet at 80% of its maximum capacity. The retest of the power consumption resulted in acceptable numbers. At 8.27V we recorded 322mA or 2.66 Watts. This allows us to meet our sustainability constraint. Figure 4.2.1 shows the schematic of the test. Figure 4.2.1 – Wake Subsystem Power Consumption Test Schematic 4.2.2 Shaker Stability Test The wake subsystem creates a vibration that creates ripples throughout the surrounding water. This vibration also has an effect on our components housed within the decoy. To test this, we ran the wake subsystem continuously for three minutes. After this test some of our components had been moved out of position and almost caused a short circuit between two motor leads. To prevent this foam inserts were added to dampen vibration. This helped, but was not enough. We then secured our processor and checked for any frayed wires on the motor leads. We also added a layer of silicon between the decoy and the wake system. Once secure, the test was run a third time for a longer five minutes. The test implicated that we had provided enough stability within our decoy preventing vibration-related issues. 4.3 Test Certification – Wing Subsystem During the testing of the wing subsystem we recorded several values. As recalled from the approach section, the wings are made from 3-D printed polymer. The mechanical motion of the wings is provided by a MG995 TowerPro servo motor. Both of these components were tested individually. After each of these components was tested, a full scale wing test was then implemented. The results of this test proved a fatal flaw in our design. The wings were designed to be pulled up by the line and down by gravity. The design worked in the laboratory setting; however, in the outdoor setting it proved detrimental to our prototype. Once the wings were pulled up by the line and servo, occasionally the wind would keep the wings held up. This provided an undesirable torque on our wings that could have easily flipped our nonwaterproof prototype. Our solution was to add a rubber band from the base of the bracket mounted to the decoy and to the arm where the wing was mounted. The same test was then performed and the wind no longer had the negative effect. ECE 4512: Design I April 27, 2015 Remote Control Duck Decoys 4.3.1 28 Wing Subsystem Servo Power Test The wing servo motor was tested using the same setup as the propulsion, control, and wake system power test. When testing using the flap command, our servo motor drew, on average, 400mA or 3.31W at 8.27V. This test circuit is show in Figure 4.3.1. This 400mA current is less than our 580mA maximum current requirement to meet our sustainability constraint. Figure 4.3.1 – Wing Servo Power Consumption Test Schematic 4.3.2 Solid Works Stress Analysis After designing the 3-D brackets in AutoCAD, we sent the files to Solid works to run a stress test on the part. This was performed by giving the part a fixed position and applying a force in the direction that the servo motor will pull the string. This proved to us, that under a one Newton force, the part was most likely to fail at the bottom edges. Figure 4.3.2 shows the stress test that was performed. ECE 4512: Design I April 27, 2015 Remote Control Duck Decoys 29 Figure 3.4.2 – SolidWorks Stress Analysis 4.4 Test Certification – Processor and Communication Subsystems The processor subsystem is responsible for communication, user interface, and decoy output. We performed three tests to verify this subsystem: a range test, a communication test, and a processor power usage test. 4.4.1 Range Test The range test was conducted at Davis-Wade Stadium. We were allowed access to the field to get an accurate range test in yards. Initially the laptop receiving the signal from the controller Xbee was placed at the south end zone goalpost. The controller was then tested at three different ranges. Our constraints we had to meet were 50 and 75 yards. We easily achieved these and tried to find our upper limit on range. Our test showed that we have an upper range limit of 100 yards, which is more than enough to meet our constraints. This test is shown in Figure 4.4.1 ECE 4512: Design I April 27, 2015 Remote Control Duck Decoys 30 Figure 4.4.1 – Range Test at Davis-Wade Stadium 4.4.2 Communication Test For the software testing of the controller and the decoys, we simulated running one duck with the wireless controller. We are using an Arduino GUI/IDE to see the information being sent and received over the serial monitor. Figure 4.4.2 is a screenshot of what the controller is sending to the decoys to be processed inside the decoy. When the packet is received the Arduino will process the information being sent over the serial monitor. Then the decoy will perform the desired command. Figure 4.4.3 is a screenshot to show when the motors are running and what command is being executed. ECE 4512: Design I April 27, 2015 Remote Control Duck Decoys Figure 4.4.2 – Commands Sent 31 Figure 4.4.3 – Commands Received To allow this information to be sent, we are using wireless communication. The testing we have done for communication is through XCTU software. This software allows us to operate the coordinator and receiver at the same time to show the information being sent through the terminal. Figure 4.4.4 is a screenshot to show the output of the two modules communication between each other and the method of configuration. Figure 4.4.4 – Configuration Screen & Communication Terminal (Master – Red, Slave – Blue) ECE 4512: Design I April 27, 2015 Remote Control Duck Decoys 4.4.3 32 Communication Delay Testing When using wireless devices, delays in communication are unavoidable. Although it is not directly listed as a constraint, we felt this to be an important test in moving forward with our prototype. Our test was conducted by using two channels on an oscilloscope. Channel one (yellow) was connected to one of the motor leads, and channel two (blue) was connected to the pushbutton that commands the motor to propel the decoy forward. In our test we recorded a one second delay in between the command being entered, transmitted, interpreted, and preformed. Figure 4.4.5 shows the oscilloscope screen where the cursors measure the difference in time. Figure 4.4.5 – Oscilloscope Measurements 4.4.4 Processor Power Usage Test For this test a Universal Serial Bus (USB) Ammeter was used to test the current being drawn for our transceivers. For the controller with all three decoys selected and all decoy indication LED’s on, the largest current draw was 250 mA. Our batteries that power the processor rated for 5V, 3200mAh, and 500mA max output. Using these numbers, our device running at max power (1.25 Watts) will last almost nine hours, thus meeting our six hour constraint. The decoy receivers draw 90mA (0.45 Watts) when receiving commands and communicating with the Xbee and motor shield. With the same power supply mentioned above, the decoy processor will last around 24 hours. ECE 4512: Design I April 27, 2015 Remote Control Duck Decoys 4.5 33 Test Certification – Total System Test For the total system test, we evaluated RCD2 with three tests: waterproof test, main battery test, and swarm control test. These tests were crucial to the overall functionality of RCD2. 4.5.1 Waterproof Test Our ducks will be impacted by water on two separate fronts. The first is the water RCD2 will be floating on top of. To test this we filled the duck with weights to match the weight of our electrical components and placed the duck in the water. Initially, there were no leaks but we noticed the duck had the tendency to lean towards its turning direction. This was fixed by adding a floating board under the decoy to prevent rollover. The other front RCD2 must battle is in the form of precipitation. To test waterproof for this we simulated rain with a water hose. No leaks were found even when the amount of water was increased. During the simulated rain, the corrugated plastic wings did not swell or sag due to the amount of water they received. The wings also doubled as a channel for precipitation to drain thus further protecting the access hatch of RCD2. 4.5.2 Primary Battery Test Each motor shield is powered with a 7.2V, 5000mAh nickel metal hydride battery. Our battery, when fully charged, outputs a voltage of 8.4V. The wake system is our largest current draw of all the continuous functions (322mA). With our calculations, the maximum current for six hour sustainability is 580mA. Despite the large range of current throughout the wing subsystem, it has a median value of 400mA. This falls under our upper limit; therefore, our system will be sustainable for its constrained minimum. Table 4.5.1 shows the voltage, current, and power ratings for all functions of RCD2. Table 4.5.1 – Power Consumption 4.5.3 Swarm Control Test The defining feature of RCD2 is its swarm control feature. Each decoy has a unique value that enables its features. Once this decoy is selected the value is incremented, and each processor interprets the commands. This feature was tested by having each duck and our controller assembled and powered. We connected three oscilloscopes to each of the decoys’ motor leads. This was done to show the motor pulses as we selected each duck. Figure 4.5.1 shows the layout and each individual oscilloscope. The decoys are in order of one to three from left to right. First, decoy one was instructed to run its motor. Next, decoy one and two were instructed to do the same. Finally, all three decoys were operating and the waveforms show how many times each duck ran their motor. ECE 4512: Design I April 27, 2015 Remote Control Duck Decoys 34 Figure 4.5.1 – Swarm Control Test ECE 4512: Design I April 27, 2015 Remote Control Duck Decoys 5. 35 SUMMARY AND FUTURE WORK During the first semester of ECE 4512 the Remote Control Duck Decoys made great strides towards being a completed product. We achieved all of our major functions: directional control, flapping wings, wake creation, and swarm control. The power supplies, rudder, propeller, propulsion motor, and servo motors proved to operate these functions effectively. For RCD2 to be a product on the shelf of hunting stores, more work is needed in particular areas. 5.1 3-D Printed Stability Inserts One of the issues RCD2 has approached is that all of the parts inside the decoy need to be mounted, so there are no stability issues. The solution, we have decided, would be to 3-D print a piece that would fit inside the decoy. This piece would be tested and created to support every part within the decoy while limiting its ability to shift. This would create a stable environment during turns and changing conditions on the water’s surface. 5.2 Wing Cosmetics We currently have “prototype” wings on the decoy. The plan is to make a more realistic wing by adding designs relevant to the type of decoy we are using. Testing will be implemented to see if there is a better material for the wings such as a silk sleeve around a wire frame. This is commonly used on other winged, electronic decoys on the market. 5.3 Push-Pull Rod Improvements The push-pull rods we are using are working properly for our use. However, this process could look more professional. This could be done by changing the placement of the servo, changing the placement of the rudder, or just making more precise bends in the copper to connect the two. 5.4 Controller PCB and Housing For the controller, schematics have been created for the microcontroller we are currently using and the breadboard prototype we used. This includes our controller layout along with the decoy selection LEDs. The controller will possibly be 3-D printed to fit our button layout and design. The next step would be to create a schematic for our communication and consolidate the three of these together to manufacture. 5.5 Communication & Microcontroller Research We plan to research the use of our communication and microcontroller components to see if there would be a more efficient process. This could be due to a cheaper, smaller, or less complex product. There are many different combinations we can use to reproduce what we have created. This research will determine whether we have one of the more efficient of these choices, or if we need to proceed with another option. ECE 4512: Design I April 27, 2015 Remote Control Duck Decoys 6. 36 ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS The Remote Control Duck Decoy senior design team would like to thank Brian Patton for his drawing expertise and allowing us to use the 3-D printer at The Factory in Patterson Hall. We also wish to thank Joshua Lyles and Ryan Smith for their mechanical expertise in designing the wing system of RCD2. Ryan Meechum is also to thank for guidance and donation of servo motors. We thank Ed Dechert for critiquing and improving our technical writing and presentation skills. And finally, we give special thanks to our faculty advisor, Dr. Robert Moorhead, and the Mississippi State University Electrical and Computer Engineering Department for giving us the advice and knowledge needed for our success. ECE 4512: Design I April 27, 2015 Remote Control Duck Decoys 7. REFERENCES [1] G. Gresham, The Complete Wildflower. New York: Winchester Press, 1973. 37 [2] G. A. Baldassarre, E. G. Bolen, Waterfowl Ecology and Management. New York: John Wiley & Sons, Inc., 1994, pp. 3-6. [3] D. Tonelli. (2008, June 6). 1935: The End of an Era [Online]. Available: http://edecoy.org/livedecoy.html [4] Division of Migratory Bird Management. (2005, February 10). Review of ElectronicMotorized Decoys for Taking Migratory Game Birds [Online]. Available: http://www.mdwfa.org/flyway/ElectronicMotorizedDecoyReviewUSFWS2005.pdf [5] M. P. Vrtiska, J. H. Gammonley, L. W. Naylor, and A. H. Raedeke, As Waterfowl Hunters Decline. Internet: http://news.wildlife.org/twp/2013-summer/as-waterfowl-hunters-decline/ [6] ZigZag Swimmers [Online]. Available: http://ozdecoys.com/index.php?route=product/category&path=42 [7] (2014). [Online]. Available: http://www.mojooutdoors.com/index.php/vendor-productsmenu-item/product/476-mojo-swimmer/category_pathway-38 [8] Forecast Your Duck Hunt. [Online]. Available: http://www.ducks.org/hunting/huntingtips/forecast-your-duck-hunting-successweather-matters [9] Understanding ERM Vibration Motor Characteristics. [Online]. Available: http://www.precisionmicrodrives.com/application-notes-technical-guides/application-bulletins/ab-004understanding-erm-characteristics-for-vibration-applications [10] IEEE 802.15.4: Wireless Personal Area Networks (PANs). [Online]. Available: https://standards.ieee.org/about/get/802/802.15.html ECE 4512: Design I April 27, 2015 Remote Control Duck Decoys 8. 38 APPENDIX: PRODUCT SPECIFICATION ECE 4512: Design I April 27, 2015