Welcome to the LAAE Autonomous Vehicle Team Project web site

This web site is used to share knowledge among team members during the research and production stages of the project. It is also the project's portal to the public

Team members who are given permission may contribute to the Design and Research handbooks.

Bookmarks for Linux-related Pages

Video Story Board

Story board of the demo video. Demo video is due 4/13/07. Shooting starts in the week of 3/20/07.

RNDF Files

RNDF for LAHS:

RNDF_name LosAltosYard
num_segments 7
num_zones 0
segment 1
num_lanes 2
segment_name RightMost_NS
lane 1.1
num_waypoints 4
lane_width 13
1.1.1 34.008183 -117.975550
1.1.2 34.008323 -117.975466
1.1.3 34.008456 -117.975388
1.1.4 34.008556 -117.975329
exit 1.1.4 2.1.1
end_lane

lane 1.2
num_waypoints 4
lane_width 13
1.2.1 34.008199 -117.975589
1.2.2 34.008339 -117.975506
1.2.3 34.008472 -117.975427
1.2.4 34.008571 -117.975368
exit 1.2.4 2.2.1
end_lane
end_segment

Raw coordinates from GPS:
SE Corner
N34 00.491 W117 58.533

Wiring diagram

Wiring diagram

Initial version of the wiring diagram. Currently only includes wiring from PC Sealevel cards to I/F panel.

PDF version of the file also attached.

FPGA Functions

There are currently 3 functions that the FPGA will serve:

1. Timing and synchronization. It puts out 5 bits of an 8Hz count plus a signal that goes to the parallel port pin 10 of each computer, which should generate CPU interrupts on rising edges. We will use this for timing among the 3 computers to keep them in synch.
2. Sonar control. Our sonars are 10ns TTL triggered, and responds with a short pulse. The time between the 10ns trigger and the response pulse tells us how far an object is from the sonar. The FPGA will conduct this at 8Hz or 16Hz and interface with a computer by sending the computer the measured time difference.

PZ Hardware Block Diagram

PZ Hardware Block Diagram

Inter-Computer Timing and Synchronization

Project Zeus will utilize 3 different computers for navigation, sensor and actuator I/O, and user interaction. One challenge to a computer network like this in a real time operation is the issue of timing and synchronization.

Imagine the sensor computer receiving real time data from a camera, updated at 30fps and processed to provide offset information every 1/8 of a second. How does another computer who is controlling the actuator utilize this information on a timely basis?

This paper will discuss the different solutions of synchronizing operation among a group of networked computers.

Announcement for 1/20/2007 Meeting

Software developers please be prepared to talk about your IDDs. This means you, Richard, Jeff, and Phil.

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