Hamster Elevator 

Course:

ENGS 32 Introduction To

Linear & Digital Circuits

Date:

Winter 2016

Team Size:

3

Key Responsibilities:

Design & Analyze Circuit Blocks

Breadboard & Troubleshoot circuit

Skills:

OrCAD Software

Oscilloscope

CHALLENGE: To design the electronic circuitry for a two-story hamster elevator that detects the presence of a hamster and moves up/down based on its previous position at constant velocity.

FINAL CIRCUIT & ELEVATOR:

 
 

ELEVATOR IN ACTION:

 
 

FINAL CIRCUIT DIAGRAM:

These six blocks illustrate the top level breakdown of the circuit as explained below:

  • Capacitance Sensing Block: Functions as hamster detection system
  • Debouncing Block: Output of capacitance block gets "debounced" in order to ensure that the platform only senses the hamster when it is actually on it
  • Position Sensing Block; Simple position sensor that determines the position of the elevator 
  • Digital Logic Block: Logic gates that feed out two outputs: ENABLE (turns elevator motor on/off) and DIRECTION (determines which direction the motor should turn)
  • Control Velocity Block: Allows platform to move at constant velocity 
  • H-Bridge Block: Connects all the circuitry to the motor itself