Setting up the final prototype
Source: Own Image
Figure 1 - Receptor Prototype
Summary
As we get closer and closer to the project’s deadline, we keep on working, as there is still a lot to be done. For now, we are finishing everything related to the final prototype, still making some adjustments, looking for better material and wiring everything up.
Hardware adjustments
We started the week by searching more material to work with - namely, we searched for a couple of OpAmps and some more LEDs. But why more OpAmps? Well, first of all, we want to increase the frequency of the modulated signal, which has become quite a limiting factor with the models we have been using; other than this, we’re also looking for a better current bias. And what have these upgrades allowed us to do? Well, although it may not seem like much, the answer to the question is as simple as: the signal clarity and definition improved greatly.
Wiring the prototype
After the final decisions about the components were made, what was then left to do was to wire up the circuit on a stripboard and run some tests to check if everything was alright and if, as we expected, the performance improved. And it did! There is a really big difference between working with a simple breadboard and an actual stripboard meant for prototypes, the signal’s clarity and performance improved greatly, so we are satisfied with that!
Conclusion
It looks like the hardware part of the project is now officially completed, which comes with a very pleasant feeling of relief, above all else. For the next (and FINAL) week of work, all that’s essentially left to do is finish the software part responsible for “translating” the information to and from a binary stream of data in order to actually transmit media through the prototype, and not just a LED beam. Other than this, we will also have to test the operation of the circuit through water, which is actually the final objective of this whole thing!
So, basically, there’s only one week left, and we are very excited to finish our project and see the cumulus of our work. That’s about it, bye!