Introduction

Statement of Purpose
This project was chosen to improve existing umbrellas. Often times when rain falls a
person must constantly adjust the head of the umbrella to block the rain as it falls at different
angles due to the wind. Our idea intends to be an extension to current umbrellas that will
automatically adjust the head of the umbrella to block the maximum amount of rain according to
the wind direction and speed. Since it’s supposed to be an extension to current umbrellas we
want to make the device lightweight, cost effective, and easy to attach to existing products in the
market.

Objectives

Goals: (What do we want to acomplish)

● Lightweight extension that attaches to handle of umbrellas
● Create versatile product to work with different types of umbrellas
● Have real time response to change in wind speeds and direction

Functions: (Base functionality)

● Waterproof casing to prevent damage to electrical components
● Use of strain gauges in x and y directions for wind speed and direction
● Umbrella pitch and yaw motion
● Angle sensors to prevent umbrella movement to unreasonable positions

Benefits: (Benefits to end user)

● Able to be used with variety of existing umbrellas
● Very little user knowledge necessary
● Simple controller for real time control of motors
● Battery powered

Features: (Any besides function thats he

● Umbrella rotates 45° (pitch) and 360° (yaw) in 3 seconds
● Multiple Wind sensors to monitor changes in wind speed up to 25mph and direction
● No setup required
● Battery life for up to 1 continuous hours of operation
Block Diagram

Block Descriptions
Wind Sensor
The wind sensor will determine the speed and direction of the wind. The umbrella will be aimed
using this information. Thus the input will be the wind and the output will be the x and y
components of the measured wind velocity. Depending on the choice of filter, analog or digital,
the output will either be a pair of voltages or a values in memory on the microcontroller.

Controller
The controller determines when to make adjustments to the umbrella position. It takes the wind
velocity(vx, and vy) as input and outputs voltages to the motor drivers. The motors provide their
positions(phi and psi) as feedback for the control algorithm.

Motors
The motors are used to physically move the umbrella. They can adjust the pitch and yaw. They
receive voltages from the controller that control the direction and speed of each motor. The
output of the motors is rotation that changes the position of the umbrella.
Requirements and Verification

Overall Requirements:
Power Requirements:
This device should be able to run off of no more than 4 AA batteries for 1 hour (assuming
continuous modification of pitch and yaw)
Durability Requirements:
The entire device should be able to withstand water splashing on it
Size Requirements:
The device should be easy to hold with a single hand, and no taller than a foot
Weight Requirements:
The device should not weigh more than two pounds, including batteries, excluding
umbrella.

Overall Verification:
1) Verify power constraints. Program the microcontroller to continuously modify the pitch
and yaw and verify that it can run for one hour
2) Verify durability requirements: Ideally, take it out during a rain storm, otherwise, ensure it
can handle a little bit of water on the top of it
3) Size requirements: Verify that it comfortably fits in a single had
4) Weight requirements: Attach an umbrella, and make sure that it doesn’t feel unwieldy in a
user’s hands.
5) Final verification: Try it in actual rainstorm. Verify that the umbrella rotates to face the
wind and block the majority of the rain.

Controller Description:
The controller receives input from the wind sensor that determines the desired output pitch and
yaw of the umbrella. The controller runs in closed loop using the motor positions for feedback.

A PID or PD controller will be used. Constant error is acceptable, but oscillatory modes are not.
The pitch response will be slow to avoid uncomfortable torques for the user and so the pitch
controller should be underdamped. The yaw controller will have a faster response to respond to
sudden changes in direction of the user or the wind.

The controller, in fact, consists of two controllers: a pitch controller, and yaw controller. Referring
to conventions for Euler angles, these are called phi and psi, respectively.

Controller Requirements:
Pitch controller:
1. Overdamped, non­oscillatory response for inputs within acceptable wind speeds.
2. Outputs a voltage to motor driver.
3. Receives input from wind sensor as a value in memory on the microcontroller.
4. Has system identification procedure for choosing gains for a given motor system.
Yaw controller:
1. Same as the pitch controller, except the response must be fast instead of overdamped.
Should be able to rotate to any position in less than one second.
Controller Verification Plan:
The controllers have different response requirements, but are otherwise the same. Their
verification processes both follow this plan:
1. Connect the controller to a motor setup on the lab bench. Use potentiometers and the
microcontroller’s onboard ADC to simulate wind speed and direction. Measure the motor
response on an oscilloscope to verify that it meets the simulated requirements. For the
pitch controller: overdamped and non­oscillatory; for the yaw controller: <1sec response
time and non­oscillatory.
2. Test using the final motor setup. Ensure that desired angles can be achieved.
3. Test using the final wind sensor setup. Ensure that wind values are read correctly.
4. Perform system identification on a motor setup in the lab. Ideally, the ECE486 lab can be
used. Document this procedure, and apply it to the final motor setup once it is ready.
Verify that the response of the final system also meets the response requirements.

Motor Requirements:
Provide power to mechanical motions for the umbrella attachment
Rotating umbrella with 2 degrees of freedom (pitch and yaw).
One motor per degree of freedom.
Torque requirements:
Must be able to modify pitch while dealing with an unbalanced load.
Must be able to modify yaw while dealing with wind and an unbalanced load.
Speed requirements:
Pitch: Rotate 45 degrees in 3 seconds (1/24 revolutions per second)
 Yaw: Rotate 360 degrees in 5 seconds (⅕ revolutions per second)
Voltage/Power requirements:
Must be able to run off at most 4 AA batteries. End product should be able to support an
hour of continuous motion (continually modifying pitch and yaw).
Size requirements:
Must fit compactly inside the attachment. We are hoping for 130 size hobby motors (but
the exact size will be determined by the power requirements)
Durability requirements:
These motors must be able to last 24 hours of continuous operation to help ensure
lifetime of the device

These motors will receive their power from the motor controllers, and will actuate components
that are attached to the angle sensors

Motor Verification Plan:

1) Visually verify that the motor size is correct for the project. Record this in a table
2) Verify that the motors can run continuously for 24 hours under normal operating voltages
a) Hook 5­10 motors up to a power source for 24 hours. Record how many failed in
that time in a table.
3) Verify that these motors can be driven off of the motor controller using no more than 4 AA
batteries
a) This test will be the same as in the motor controller verification.
4) Attach the motors to the device. Ensure the motors can apply enough torque to modify
pitch and yaw
a) Try to modify pitch, record if it can in a table
b) Try to modify the yaw, record it in the table
i) Umbrella is upright
ii) Umbrella is at 45 degrees
c) Ensure that the pitch and yaw can be changed at the same time
5) Verify that the motors can modify pitch and yaw at the given speeds specified in the
requirements document.

Motor Driver Requirements:

The motor drivers amplify the signal coming from the microprocessor and supply that amplified
signal to the motors. A microprocessor is not designed to supply the power levels to a motor, so
the motor controller is between the two, ensuring that the microprocessor signal is translated
into motor motion.
Design Requirements:
It must be able to a single motor in the forward and reverse direction.
It must be able to be controlled by a signal from the microprocessor
It must be able to handle the power levels that will be supplied to the motor.
Voltage Requirements:
It must be able to be run by no more than 4 AA batteries
Size Requirements:
It must be small enough to fit inside the handle of the umbrella attachment.

Motor Controller Verification:

1) Visually verify that the motor driver is small enough to fit inside the handle of the umbrella
attachment. Record this on a table
2) Verify that the motor driver can control the motors using no more than 4 AA batteries.
Record the results on a table
a) Ensure you can power the motor full power forward
b) Ensure you can power the motor full power backwards
c) Ensure you can stop the motor
d) Sweep from full power forwards to full power backwards, seeing the speed
decrease.
3) Verify that the signal from the microprocessor can control the motor driver. Repeat the
same tests as in step 2 and record that in a table.

Angle Sensor Requirements:

Size Requirements:
Must be small enough to fit alongside and attach to the rotating mechanical pieces.
Measurement Requirements:
Pitch: Must be able to measure 90 degrees of range with an accuracy of +­ 0.5 degrees
Yaw: Must be able to measure 360 degrees of range with infinite rotation with an
accuracy of +­ 2.5 degrees
Output Requirements:
Must return an output range within the measuring range of the microcontroller’s ADC.
Power Requirements:
Must be able to be run off of no more than 4 AA batteries.

Angle Sensor Verification:

1) Ensure that meaningful data can be recorded using only 4 AA batteries by looking at the
response on an oscilloscope. A screenshot of this data will be recorded for verification.
2) Rotate each sensor the minimum amount necessary to verify that the accuracy is
correct. At this stage, use an oscilloscope to visually inspect the data. Record a
screenshot of that.
3) Program the microcontroller to read the value at its ADC. Verify that the microcontroller
can distinguish different angles with the specified resolution. Repeat this for all angles
within the given range. Generate a table showing the results.
4) Attach the sensors to the actual mechanical elements. Repeat step 3, this time, moving
the mechanical elements, and ensuring the sensor measures it correctly.

Wind Sensor Verification:

1) Initial in Lab testing to ensure appropriate data readings on a simple arduino circuit. We
want to test readings for accuracy up to ~25mph
 2) Once in lab tests seem satisfactory do field tests to collect real data. We want to test for
sensitivity, range and repeatability. Compare results to those collected by a cup
anemometer.
3) With data collected design algorithm for calculating direction and speed from multiple
sensors
4) Need to design low­pass filter to prevent noise and Analog to Digital converter to interface
with the microcontroller.
5) Optimize location of sensors with respect to the user to ensure reliable readings can be
collected.

Tolerance Analysis
Wind Speed Sensors:
The wind speed sensors are a critical part of our design. We use their results to determine what
the pitch of the umbrella should be.
The goal of this tolerance analysis is to ensure that the wind sensors operate accurately within
our given specifications.
Specifications:
Finding the wind speed +­3mph in the range of 0mph and 24mph (Up to a 5 on the Beaufort
Wind Scale).
A modification of 3 mph in wind speed corresponds to approximately a 6 degree change in pitch
for the umbrella
Test Procedure:
1) Obtain an anemometer that is known to be accurate
2) For low wind speeds, measure the speed of wind generated by a house fan with both
devices, and ensure that they fit within the given tolerance
3) For higher wind speeds, both wind speed sensors will be attached to a car that will drive
10­25mph. Once again, we will verify that the good anemometer and experimental
anemometer are within the specified tolerance.