# Bicycle turn signal

This page has two purposes; first, to provide a location to bring together the content from each team members weekly wiki documentation in a central location to improve information sharing and access while documenting the progress of the project as a whole, and second, to provide a forum for bringing the project documentation into line with the CDIO documentation format.
The four types of project documentation come from the cdio.org's syllabus. CDIO has a chance of evolving into a world wide engineering accreditation organization. CDIO is a world wide organization that evolved out of MIT aerospace engineering. As of fall 2012 there are 90 members worldwide including 15 US Universities. For a better introduction, read this general engineering introduction wikibook page.
These are links to the four CDIO syllabus sections. These links are a maximal set of possible engineering tasks that need to be documented. All engineering project tasks have to be named in the outline. No project or CDIO document is expected to do all tasks. Copy text from the pages linked below and add information to document that your group has considered and addressed important areas of concern relative to your project.
When initially tasked with engineering a bicycle turn signal, the first step in starting the project was deciding what would need to be accomplished in order for the project to be considered a success. While a bicycle turn signal seemed very straight forward,I knew that it would require a clear set of parameters in order to be completed- so I initiated a brainstorming session to help conceptualize the finished project. The group agreed that the light source utilized, as well as the form factor of the turn signal would be vital. The size of the turn signal needed to be large enough to allow visibility from distances of at least ten feet, and the light source needed to be visible in the late evening hours.
* Design CDIO
* Implement CDIO
* Operate CDIO

### Group Narrative
#### Week 1

For the first project for ENES 100 we were assigned with a group of Arien Motaher, Asad Gillani, Carlos Fernandez, Eldrick Kinmakon,and Kevin Szostak. Our goal was to design a bicycle turn signal. · Each year, more than 500,000 people go to the emergency room for bicycle injuries. More than 700 people die from those injuries. · Children 15 years and younger are the biggest risk. · Bicycle injuries and deaths cost $8 billion each year. After hours of brainstorming and defining the problem, we had agreed on a basic design for the bicycle turn signal. Our objective was to create a bicycle turn signal that would mounted on a back of a bicycle and it would have left and right signals to assist the rider make safe turns and warn traffic of their presence. Safety of the rider seemed like a huge priority for this project, so we tried to mold design around the safety concept. So our goal was to create a very simple but yet effective turn signal that would portable enough to have the ability to switch bicycles and deliver maximum safety. We plan to execute by having a big enough LED matrix on the back of a bicycle which could be seen at night by cars and pedestrians, the LED turn signal will controlled by 2 independent switch mounted on the front handle bars of the bicycle. So for week 1, the the team researched 4 major components of this project. We decided we need to focus on, and we came up with POSSIBLE options
* Housing-Figure out ways to house the components and parts of the project.
* Power- Figure out ways to power the the device
* Interface- Figure out a the main "brain" for our device, something that will control the LEDS through coding
* Control Options

#### Week 2

After looking into many options for each of our issues we eliminated many pricier options to make it as cost effective as possible
These were out final decisions:
Housing - We decided that we will custom 3D printed back housing with our specifications. we measured the box would need to have the dimensions of about 3.6in x 5in x 1.8in to fit a Arduino and a battery.
Battery - We decided that a 9v alkaline battery would be efficient to power 20+ LEDs. For Interface- We decided that a Arduino would be the best because it of it huge coding availability which will allow us to have 100% control of the LEDs lighting sequence, and it would be also easier to implement a switch and a buzzer.
Control - We decided basic pushbutton would be great because it will be the most convenient and easiest to merge in with the Arduino and the LED. Simple switches eliminates the hassle of overdoing the project and it keeps true to its integrity as it maintains functionality.

#### Week 3

During this week of the project we finally had all the research we needed to draw up how we wanted our prototype to look. We looked online at what types of boxes were already made with the 3D printer that fit our dimensions so that it could be used as housing for the battery, Arduino and LEDs/bread board. We then measured how well it would fit to the bike and determined we would need about 2-3ft of wire to get from wire to get from where the housing, then the wire would follow the frame and end at the handle bars where our two push buttons and devices to hold them with would be.
All together what seemed pretty straight forward, building turn signals, turned into a great deal of work. We decided not to use Sketchup or CAD to draw up our project because each bike is different and what were making has no moving parts just light bulbs that have electricity passed through them. Next week we will try and finish our prototype by printing our housing on the 3D printer, since this week it was having problems keeping itself at the right melting temperature. If it is not working by next week we will have to come up with another option for housing the Arduino, LEDs/bread board and power source.

#### Week 4

During this week our group decided to go with a bigger platform for our LED lay out. We determined that the factory OEM cover for the brake reflector that came with the bike might be hard to see with the few amount of LEDs that can fit inside the housing and the contrasting colors (i.e. red/greed). To make it easier to see the lights we made a new housing out of the lego pieces for robots for a temporary period of time until we order or print our housing that will hold the power source, LEDs and arduino.
* soldering LED prongs to wires.
* sliding shrink wrap over wiring then using a heat gun to seal it.
* breakdown of prototype 2
* prototype 2
* side view of prototype 2

#### Week 5

Code for the Arduino

#### Week 6

This week we designed our housing for the LEDs, battery and arduino(s) and are drawing the program in sketchup so that hopefully we may print by next week. We are currently still waiting on the LEDs we ordered and cannot set up or next prototype without these next multicolored LEDs.
<gallery> File:Specs for housing.JPG|Prototype twos dimensions for 3D printing