Project Logs

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• Daily Project Logs for week 12 Sept 26 2016

  Steven • 10/03/2016 at 15:14 • 0 comments

  DAY	Project Logs Week 12
  MON	This is the week when burning out is okay, and pushing hard only makes a difference due to all the preparing and planning. Working on more functions from my list today, and fine tuning the existing ones.
  TUE	Worked on approximation of production model size, based off of dimensions from TI datasheets. Thank you TI engineers for being so detailed oriented!
  WED	Working out power requirements, came up with a skin battery concept to offset power draw. Power draw is always a problem with any project it seems. However, this is not a continuously operating device. It has several modules all working independently, that don't need to be on all the time. The GSM for example, is only in use when outside the RF radius, then it only sends a text out once every 60 seconds.
  THU	Working on descriptions for hackaday project template today, and more coding. Updated project log entry for today.
  FRI	Last project log entry? Working on description and testing today. Worked on more sweat battery computations today, and my project description.

• Daily Project Logs for week 11 Sept 19 2016

  Steven • 10/03/2016 at 15:13 • 0 comments

  DAY	Project Logs Week 11
  MON	Finally succeeded in calculating distance between two gps points today! it's the little things that make the difference, in programming, there are no big things, just a bunch of little ones that add up or don't. In other project log news, I will also be working more on the porject description, planning out the video, and thanking my wife for making my lunch today.
  TUE	Testing new antenna I built yesterday. Coiled dipole concept I had. Hopefully it will help increase the range for the radio, and later the gps.
  WED	Hardware debugging today. Tried to switch to a lower power board, arduino uno r3, to adafruit feather bluefruit u32. Didn't work, pins are weird on the feather. Switching back to uno r3, more soldering.Before undoing what I have done, I have decided to troubleshoot the feather for one day. This way, I won't loose too much time, and I will still benefit by learning something new.
  THU	Project log for today. Its Thursday. Also, yesterday I discovered the Adafruit feather is very unreliable, but I learned more about At Commands than I knew the day before, so it was worth it.
  FRI	Busy day at work, wasn't able to program during my lunch break as much as I like to. I was able to test GPS from across the room and get an LED to blink when moving GPS out of predetermined radius. That was way more exciting than this project log entry makes it sound! One LED blinking when I told to, is freaking awesome!

• Daily Project Logs for week 10 Sept 12 2016

  Steven • 10/03/2016 at 15:13 • 0 comments

  DAY	Project Logs Week 10
  MON	Today I am focused developing and implementing the different functions, and resoldering some loose wiring. Edited project details on Hackaday site.
  TUE	Checking gps distance and testing functions today, soldered SIM module on child unit. Ran out of solder, ordered more.
  WED	Working on RF today. Worked on sending gps coordinates over packet using RFM69HCW module. Put some time into writing up project description. Wrote this, and the previous sentence, brain shutting down...
  THU	Brain back online. More fun with radio packets. I did get the radios to talk to each other. Now trying to send GPS information. Converting integers to string is like converting rocks to silly string, I like silly string, possibly losing focus...Cramming doesn't help. It just doesn't. It only removes a small amount of guilt, but does nothing else to help aid in performing tasks. Computers can;t cram, everything is taken in at the pace it can handle. Why am I mentioning this...
  FRI	Coding, coding, coding, today I thought I would do some coding. Yes! Finally got Lat and Longitude floating points to go between radio modules, and was able to performa basic arithmetic functions after they were received!!! I am certainly making progress, I might actually finish in time to complete my entry!

• Daily Project Logs for week 9 Sept 5 2016

  Steven • 10/03/2016 at 15:12 • 0 comments

  DAY	Project Logs Week 9
  MON	Labor Day
  TUE	Goals this week: Finish assembly of new parts, finish programming of new modules, field test parent/child unit. Create Scenario list, as many as possible, for video narration. Disclaim that can't prepare for everything.
  WED	I thought I would mix things up today and program. As useless as this might seem as a project log, it isn't. Humor helps me refocus, and recharge motivation. Today I am working on the basic functions and taking a break from GPS parsing over RF.
  THU	Resolder things to try yet another board if I can't get the Adafruit Feather to work the way I want.
  FRI	I'm still not far enough fast enough. I had to take a step back today, and change tactics. Instead of small and functional, I'm going to focus on functional, and worry about making in smaller later. A project log would not be complete without documenting success. Success! I finally understood the string to float conversion example today, and was able to impliment it in my code. Next step, RF data transmission!

• Daily Project Logs for week 8 Aug 29 2016

  Steven • 10/03/2016 at 15:11 • 0 comments

  DAY	Project Logs Week 8
  MON	Over the weekend, I thought about the emotional component to this project. Emotions accompanying this project have been running high for me, so I think it's worth mentioning in a project log. In order to design a device that can help stop someone from being kidnapped, I have had to predict all the different ways a kidnapper would try to take someone's child. I have also had to imagine how I would react to that situation, both heroically, and panic stricken. Trying to imagine the what if, allows me to design a better device, but does take it's toll on me. It is hard to hold back tears of sadness at times. Nothing is better than paying attention to your kids, but maybe this will help when unavoidable distractions happen.
  TUE	Going my dad's house for a night of programming! I soldered the radio wires today during lunch. Made the first silicone housing. It was okay, I ultimately ended up taping the whole thing together with electrical tape, sorry Macgyver.
  WED	Got some good ideas last night on how to work out the comm issues I am having. Goving over the project with my dad was helpful.
  THU	Learning more about serial communications, ordered new parts yesterday, hopefully that will make programming this a little easier.
  FRI	Today my goal is to make progress.

• Daily Project Logs for week 7 Aug 22 2016

  Steven • 10/03/2016 at 15:10 • 0 comments

  DAY	Project Logs Week 7
  MON	"ah!" Did Homer scream, only 5 weeks left. Worked on more detailed dedfinitions for functions list for both parent and child.
  TUE	Ordered SIM808 module a couple weeks agao, it arrived today. Tried to get that working, thought it would be easier to learn faster, maybe not.
  WED	errors, and errors, and errors today, oh my!
  THU	Keep going! Worked on defining specifics of each function in sketch.
  FRI	Changed fake project name to real one.
  SAT	I spent some time to think about how to go about making a video. I came with some ideas. When I look back on this project log, I will not find it very useful.

• Daily Project Logs for week 6 Aug 15 2016

  Steven • 10/03/2016 at 15:10 • 0 comments

  DAY	Project Logs Week 6
  MON	Still stuck on getting both modules to talk to each other. This is almost as difficult as two humans talking to each other.
  TUE	Reviewed log from yesterday. Same problem.
  WED	I can do this!
  THU	More troubleshooting today. This time with Serial communication, yay progress! I have noticed that the length of my project logs is directly proportional to my progress, crazy coincidence, crazy...i'm not going crazy...shhhhh...
  FRI	Updated Schedule. Roadtrip coming up, good chance to relax and let brain recover.

• Daily Project Logs for week 5 Aug 8 2016

  Steven • 10/03/2016 at 15:09 • 0 comments

  DAY	Project Logs Week 5
  MON	More GPS fun. Decided on new name over the weekend. SOS Kids, or SOS for Kids.
  TUE	Still on GPS. Decided to go with 433mhz RF instead of bluetooth. Longer range is better for this application. One of the things I have a difficult time with is explaining how something is supposed to work to other people. For that reason I created a, "Description of Behavior" section for my documentation. I will revise it regularly. Writing things down seems to help me organize my thoughts.
  WED	Worked out a more defined function list. Yesterday I 3D printed a new case for everything. It was easy, and a good waste of time. I say good because I find it helpful when I am stuck on something to take a break and do something I know how to do. This seems to help renew my confidence, and motivation.
  THU	Sill learning GPS stuff.
  FRI	Took a stop back today from GPS. Simplified things in my arduino sketch. Now I am making some progress switching between GPS and other Serial communication. Simple is always better, it's always hard to keep organzied so things stay simple.

• Daily Project Logs for week 4 Aug 1 2016

  Steven • 10/03/2016 at 15:07 • 0 comments

  DAY	Project Logs Week 4
  MON	Worked on calculating distance between gps modules. Used excel to organize formula, and see how many variables I will need, 9 I think.
  TUE	Started work on app UI concept, focus is still on stand a lone devices, but may have enough time to do app. worked on getting distance between dParent and Child devices using GPS. Brain stopped working, took a step back and reviewed feature list. Reorganized some things. Verified there is no hyphen in "reorganize".
  WED	Added more to roadmap and feature set. Brain working better today. Continuing distance calculation and sending data between devices.
  THU	More fun wih gps coordinates! :)
  FRI	More fun wih gps coordinates! :) Wait that was yesterday...nope I'm still working on it. Newbie 1, reporting for duty!

• Daily Project Logs for week 3 July 25 2016

  Steven • 10/03/2016 at 15:04 • 0 comments

  DAY	Project Logs Week 3
  MON	Tried to get RSSI Data, decided other methods are better.
  TUE	GPS module arrived! Tried to get RSSI data from ble module.
  WED	Solder connection broke. Resolderd. Unsolderd all other connections then resoldered. Burnt small area on finger.
  THU	Started getting data from GPS module. Researching what to do with data when received. Decided to try to use bluetooth somehow. Brainstorming: social 'Amber Alert' ping system, extend ble range by resonance (similar to wifi power transfer), long range ble scanner issued to law enforcment, way to tell if gps is receiving a signal (sanning for "dead space" with other device-what signals are being absorbed etc), ultrasonic ping,
  FRI	Decided to use "Amber Alert" for notification. Will send predetermined text to look for child. User enters description of child.
  SAT	Took break to help drive moving van from San Antonio, TX to Reno, NV. Took 40 hours with sleeping here and there. Great trip for brain storming about the project with my dad.
  SUN	Took break to help drive moving van from San Antonio, TX to Reno, NV. Took 40 hours with sleeping here and there. Great trip for brain storming about the project with my dad.

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