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ED 1 Worksheet
| Questions | Answers | Objective | Function | Constraint |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. purpose of perpetual calender | reusable electromechanical system for determining and physically displaying the correct date, day, and year | ✔ | ||
| 2. type of reference callender | gregorian callender | ✔ | ✔ | |
| 3. how is leap year identified | microcontroller algorithm calculates divisibility by 4 but not by 100, unless also divisible by 400 | ✔ | ||
| 4. how are month lengths managed | software commands physical stepper motors to advance the required number of mechanical steps | ✔ | ||
| 5. which algorithm calculates the day of the week | zeller's congruence programmed into the central microcontroller | ✔ | ||
| 6. what is the main purpose of this project | create a physical calendar system using sensors and actuators for temporal tracking | ✔ | ||
| 7. how is the calender grid structured for display | physical rotating concentric dials or linear sliding mechanisms driven by electric motors | ✔ | ||
| 8. how does month navigation work | user turns a physical rotary encoder to activate motor movement across different months | ✔ | ✔ | |
| 9. how is the current date highlighted | optical encoders ensure the physical display aligns exactly with a viewing window on the outer box | ✔ | ||
| 10. how is absolute position calibrated | hall effect sensors establish a zero-position starting point during system power-up | ✔ | ||
| 11. how are invalid inputs handled? | microcontroller blocks physical inputs that go beyond valid date ranges for a given month | ✔ | ✔ | |
| 12. how is power supplied to the system | a regulated DC power supply must drive the logic board and the motors without losing voltage | ✔ | ||
| 13. How is the user interface designed | tactile push buttons and an electronic screen mounted securely on the physical chassis | ✔ | ||
| 14. how is data persistence managed? | real-time clock module with a small backup battery keeps the current time during power cuts | ✔ | ||
| 15. how is physical accuracy maintained | sensor feedback system corrects any mechanical errors or missed steps from the motors | ✔ | ✔ | |
| 16. how are month lengths managed physically | mechanical parts must physically move across twenty-eight, twenty-nine, thirty, or thirty-one exact positions | ✔ | ||
| 17. how is system state shown to the user | light emitting diodes indicate the power state, motor calibration, and any machine errors | ✔ | ||
| 18. diffrence between normal calender and perpetual calender | the mechatronic calendar automatically moves its physical parts indefinitely, whereas ordinary calendars are thrown away | ✔ | ||
| 19. what meterials would reduce the weight of calender? | meterials like foam board, plywood,aluminium sheet,acrylic sheet can be used | ✔ | ||
| 20. what is primary learning outcome of this project | connecting mechanical movements, electronic circuits, and programming to solve a physical problem | ✔ |
1. Objectives The main aim of this project is to build a reusable electromechanical system that determines and physically displays the correct date, day, and year using the Gregorian calendar format. The work tries to create a physical calendar system using sensors and actuators for time tracking, which is different from normal calendars because this mechatronic machine automatically moves its physical parts indefinitely instead of being thrown away at the end of the year. The user must be able to turn a physical rotary encoder to activate motor movement across different months. The primary learning outcome of doing this project is connecting mechanical movements, electronic circuits, and programming to solve a physical problem.
2. Functions The machine calculates the leap year using a microcontroller algorithm which checks divisibility by four, but not by one hundred, unless it is also divisible by four hundred. The day of the week is calculated using Zeller's congruence which is programmed directly into the central microcontroller. To manage the varying month lengths, software commands physical stepper motors to advance the required number of mechanical steps. The calendar grid is shown by using physical rotating concentric dials or linear sliding mechanisms which are driven by electric motors. To highlight the current date, optical encoders are used to make sure the physical display aligns exactly with a viewing window on the outer box, and hall effect sensors establish a zero-position starting point when the system is powered up. The system keeps time during power cuts using a real-time clock module with a small backup battery. The machine state is shown to the user by light emitting diodes that indicate power state, motor calibration, and any errors.
3. Constraints The project has strict physical and electrical limitations. A regulated DC power supply must drive the logic board and the motors without losing voltage. The user interface must be designed with tactile push buttons and an electronic screen that are mounted securely on the physical chassis. For the mechanical side, parts must physically move across twenty-eight, twenty-nine, thirty, or thirty-one exact positions depending on the correct month length. The microcontroller must block physical inputs that go beyond valid date ranges for a given month. A sensor feedback system must be present to correct any mechanical errors or missed steps from the motors to maintain physical accuracy. Finally, to reduce the overall weight of the calendar, materials like foam board, plywood, aluminium sheet, or acrylic sheet must be used for construction.
The engineering problem is to design and manufacture a reusable electromechanical perpetual calendar based on the Gregorian system that brings together physical movements, electronic circuits, and software programming. The machine must use a central microcontroller running Zeller's congruence to calculate days and leap years, and command stepper motors to move physical dials or sliding mechanisms to show the correct date. The system is constrained to use a regulated DC power supply, lightweight materials like acrylic or plywood, and sensor feedback systems including optical encoders and hall effect sensors to ensure the mechanical parts do not miss steps and always align perfectly with the viewing window. The final product must give the user a tactile interface to navigate months while automatically preventing invalid date inputs and retaining time data during power failures.