We have learnt that many people work in many different ways. Only if we accept compromises can we make progress. But if one loses hope of completing a task, then the group would suffer entirely. Hence, it is crucial to stay focused and optimistic as a team. What we want to emphasise is that we have learnt a lot of teamwork, we understand the weaknesses of each of us and we work together to cover up for each other. This ensures that we complete our tasks on time and not impede the progress of the project.

Of course, we have learnt many new skills in the process. Lab practical skills in the field of engineering were an eye-opener to the few of us when we got to explore and learn more through hands-on, even if we make a big accident. Skills such as welding, attaching digital circuit components, using a spanner or wheel and axle efficiently are not skills you can learn in the school's science labs. Such practical skills require you to step out of your comfort zone, find someone you are truly able to work with and then hone your skills as both an individual and as a group. Such a project definitely expands our horizons, lets us learn whether we are truly interested in something and most importantly, it tests our determination. We even had to work till 9 p.m. on some days to settle our reports and also our labwork. When one screw fails, we try another screw and if it fails, we try another till it succeeds.

Finally, we have of course met new people, like our dearest mentors and got to understand them even better. This project also enables us to work in an industrial lab with so many new tools, milling machines, large knives for cutting metals etc. We can then learn more and understand more about these tools and I am sure we can put this knowledge to good use in the future.

We would like to thank our three dearest mentors who have helped us a lot and of course, the various lab technicians who have helped us in one way or another. This project will not stop here, we will keep on simplifying it till it looks small and yet magnificent.

Meeting started at 2:45 p.m. at Ngee Ann Polytechnic

Half of the projector has been completed. The heavy base for added stability is now in place and the rotating mirror is ready and working. It spins at a high speed to generate a centralised image in the middle of the vortex while the laser beam is dispersed into a 360 degrees arc in the surroundings, creating a visual impact.

Meanwhile, we added 2 more screws onto the base of the rotating volumetric screen for added security. It ensures that the screen will remain tightly attached onto the heavy metal base and will not start moving when the screen spins, which can be extremely dangerous and hazardous to onlookers.

Next, we decided the arrangement of our circuit components, ranging from our Compact Visual System, our Digital Signal Processor, our laser power supply and the laser controller. We placed these components in their approximate positions and stuck masking tape on these areas so that the lab technicians knew where to drill a hole into the heavy metal base. We intend to connect our electrical and digital components by Thursday.

Finally, we placed an order for a perspex box, which would allow us to see through into the image, but it ensures added security as well because should the volumetric screen fly off its support while rotating at a high speed, the perspex, being a tough material, would weaken the impact and lower the speed of the screen so as to minimise damage and hurt.

Meeting ended at 6:00 p.m.

Today, we had finally conceptualised our third prototype, and the main motivation is to make it even more portable for the purpose of convenience. Since the second prototype was extremely bulky and hard to be carried around, the third prototype could settle this problem easily. The main working principle behind our third prototype is that it can be detached into three separate portions: a heavy metal base for stability, a long perspex vertical column, and a top box consisting of the optical components. These three components can be brought around separately and then reassembled at the presentation venue.

The next step is to disassemble our second prototype which was what we did. We retained all useful components like the crossbars and golden rods, but disposed of faulty equipment like rusty and loosened screws. Every single optical component was also removed and placed onto the working bench separately.



We then placed orders for a motor of higher power so that it can rotate more quickly and generate a higher resolution image and also for a 3.0 metre long perspex cylinder with one covered end for our supporting column.

Mr Lee agreed to help with the welding and milling portions, but we are to do the optical arrangement by ourselves.

Meeting ended at 5:30 p.m.

Meeting started at 2:30 p.m. at Ngee Ann Polytechnic, Centre of Innovation.

Today's meeting was mainly about discussion. After hearing the judges' comments that our projector needs to be more portable, we brainstormed on any ways we could make it smaller or easier to carry around without compromising on other qualities.

Currently, our laser projector looks big because of the optical table and the supporting metal frames. We discussed if we could do without the frames but they were needed to hold the projector in that position above the screen. Kiat Long suggested that the big frames could be made foldable to be kept at the side of the projector like the handle of an umbrella but Mr Lee disagreed because fixing a single hinge joint can cost a lot. He disagreed with us dismantling the setup and assembling it at the judging venue because we might make a mistake out of nervousness or stage fright.

Mr Lee strongly insists that we fix everything such that the bigger optical table would have a large square gap in the middle. The smaller optical table would carry the volumetric screen while the larger table carries the metal supporting frames. The smaller table can be pushed under the table and erected upwards for the image to be formed on the screen. The height of the screen relative to the ground will also be adjustable.

The Centre of Innovation also plans to purchase and machine the flimsy metal frames to be much thiiner and yet sturdier. kiat Long suggested bamboo poles, but that would look extremely unprofessional on a mechanics physics tool like a projector. Bamboo is also hollow and will weakness the overall support of the projector itself. We also discussed changing the values in the terms of the lens equation to reducethe distance and will aloow us to scale down the projector, but this would require a new DMD, Laser Source and lenses. In terms of price and effort needed to purchase these materials, it is not worth it.

We then went on to discuss our presentation. mr Lee helped us brainstorm certain questions like the judges may ask. Mr Lee thinks that there is nothing wrong in making the projector bulkier if it can display impressive 3D images during satellite communications or for wide-screen cinematics. This is more of an R&D Project than an Innovations one and it will not be possible to tell whether it will be a success or failure at such an early stage. Finally, Mr Lee expressed worries regarding the lack of time and funding and also regarding the programming software portion of our project. We attempted to learn about mathematical formulae such as Fourier's Plan to help with developing source codes, but were still rather unclear after that.

Meeting ended at 4:45 p.m.

Meeting started at 0900h at Centre of Innovation

Today, we did a test run of the newly designed projector. After reconnecting the power supply and the laser software, the projector could function properly. However, the image of the rotating head was rather blurred since we were not using a high quality laser and the distance between the laser and screen is large, so there is large energy loss. Also, the ceramic tile, is the screen is rather thick, thus there is a large distance for diffraction of light rays to take place.






Next, we increased the image distance, so as to magnify the image. This was done by moving the laser frame upwards by approximately 8 cm. However, we decided to change to a newer table so as not to compromise with the quality of our image. Also, we are removing one of the leg barriers of the optical table so as to open up a space to insert a smaller table carrying the screen.



To improve the quality of the image, we decided to rectify the source, such as to make one frame per degree; as such, we created 360 images for one complete 360 degrees rotation. These images will then be inputted into the Compact Vision System. With a quantization of images, there would be smoother transition of the displayed image and would thus be of a higher quality. After which, we modified the Labview source cdes further, creating one which could process and transfer the 360 head rotation images.



Meeting ended at 1230h

Meeting started at 2:15 p.m.. Our agenda for today is to practise and be sure of the transferring process.

1) Log in as Administrator Account

2) Go to National Instruments, Measurement and Automation Explorer

3) Click on remote devices and select CVS, then right click and select file transfer.

4) Delete all files in the remote directory and create a new folder with a suitable name,

5) Transfer all images into the folder in numerical sequence

6) Open up the project file with Labview, and ensure that the images are in the corresponding format (.bmp / . jpg ) as according to the source code and Labview programme

7) Next, after ensuring the source code's correct, go to Project's Tab and create a new project

8) Go to my Real-time applications, right click and select build all, then build again, deploy and finally run as startup.

9) Finally, reboot the Compact Vision System so that the image can be reloaded.

Meeting ended at 5:30 p.m.

Meeting started at 8:55 a.m. at Ngee Ann Polytechnic

Mr Lee started off by explaining to us the shortcomings of our previous design, such as being too compact and yet the outer casing was bulky etc. Mr Lee then introduced to us new concepts which led to newer designs for the laser projector. We then went to Research Lab 1 to determine which material would be most suitable for a image display surface. After numerous experiments involving laser diodes, we concluded that white paper and cement were equally good.

Kenneth was then tasked to read Joseph W. Goodman's Book "Introduction to Fourier Optics" pages 137-160. It contained information about frequency response for diffraction-limited incoherent imaging, optical transfer function, aberrations and their effects on frequency response, comparison of coherent and incoherent imaging.

Kiat Long then searched the catalogue for the laser power supply. Jonathan was observing Mr Lee's work on machinery, offering valuable advice. He was using the milling machine to smoothen a metal block, removing the layer of rust over it. However, the block had to be coated with a layer of silver polish to make it look more appealing to the audience. Also, we all went through the project proposal, Mr Lee pointed out to us the places which required more elaboration, such as the rationale for our project and our methodology.

Meeting ended at 12:45 p.m.

About Yourself Here.

A group working on designing a small and portable laser based projector

Your Wishes Here =D

Our project to be of a successful and unexpected success !

Your Chat Box Here.

 

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