Scoil Naomh Fiachra

Voting Paper Model

The reason we decided to do the voting paper was because in America they had problems in voting. They complained that they made mistakes and they were not able to have a second chance. The problem was mostly in Florida, they said that the holes were too close to each other.

We have decided to make a model to give them a second chance. We needed three RCX’s, 5 touch sensors, 4 light sensors, 3 slow motors, 1 medium motor and 4 lights. We had it divided into 2 separate parts.

The first part has a frame to put the voting paper in. The voting paper has six holes in all. Three for the first vote and if you want to change your mind you punch the change of mind hole and then punch one of the holes on the second row.

The second part is the part which registers who you voted for. When you put the card into the machine the frame moves in with the motor until it hits the first touch sensor the frame stops.

Then the light sensor checks the change of mind holes to check if you wanted to change your mind. If you did change your mind it would look with the three light sensors at the three second choice holes and register who you voted for.

If you didn’t change your mind the frame would move forward until it hit the second touch sensor. When it did the same three light sensors would look at the first choice holes and register who you voted for.

The project worked fine but we were not able to register a spoiled vote. We had programmed it to register a spoiled vote but it didn’t work so our next problem is to make it work.

Voting Paper Tray
This is the Voting Tray. The Voting Paper moves forward towards the Light Sensors on a tray driven by rack gears. There are four light sensors. The first one, on the right, detects if the change of mind spot has been punched. If it has it sends a signal for the other light sensors to check which candidate has been selected in the change of mind column. If there is no hole in the change of mind spot the tray moves forward again until the vote column is under the three light sensors. The light sensors do a check and choose and signal to the third RCX showing which candidate got the vote.

 

This is a view of the candidates from above. Each candidate is run by a motor. When the RCX gets a signal that one of the candidates has a vote, the motor turns on and the candidate stands up. The motor remains running until the candidate hits a touch sensor and stops. Voting Paper Candidates

 

Voting Paper Program 1
This is part of the Program for RCX 1.

 

Voting Paper Candidates 2 This shows the three candidates. When the light sensors on the voting tray detect a vote a numeric signal is sent to this RCX. The RCX is programmed to activate one of the small motors operating the three candidates, depending on the value of the signal. To register a vote the candidate is rotated into an upright position. The rotation is stopped by a touch sensor at the rear of each.

 

Voting Tray showing the motor mounted at the side of the tray to operate the tray. Voting Paper Motor

 

Voting Paper All On the left is the unit which holds the three ‘candidates’. The RCX behind it receives a numeric signal from an RCX on the voting tray unit. The signal triggers a program which turns on a motor on the corresponding candidate. This rotates the candidate into an upright position to register the vote.

By: Peter, Ethan, Róisín, Sharon, Jane.