We have been keeping busy these last couple days. All the drive train parts have been sent out to our sponsor CK Tool. Parts for our shooter and Frisbee pickup system have been sent off to our sheet metal sponsor,  Advanced Component Technology, Inc.

In the shop we have been working on our climbing mechanism and the robot frame. Most of the parts we need to assemble the robot are on order and should be arriving in the next week.

Programmers have been working on two main tasks. Our experienced programmers are working on implementing consistent velocity and rotation control on the robot. This will allow us to have both more consistent, controlled, and faster tele-operated driving along with a more consistent and effective autonomous period. The less experienced programmers have been learning  how to use the sensors we will be putting on the robot.

Hook strength test.

Our SVN hit a very important revision number.

The frame is coming along nicely. We just have a couple more pieces to machine and it will be finished. Our drive train is done being designed and we will be working with our sponsor, CK Tool, over the next couple days to get the gearbox plates, bearing blocks, and shafts made.

Our programmers have been working hard on autonomous code using a chassis from last year outfitted with an array of sensors. They are currently using data from a gyro and encoders on both sides of the drive train. With this they are working on being able to program a path for the robot to take and have it follow and adjust to that path on its own.

Over the last couple days we have had to make some tough decisions. We looked at our design for climbing the pyramid and came to the conclusion that it would not work as well as originally planned. The result of this discovery is a reworking of our game-play strategy and robot design. This set us back a little bit, but we are working hard and will be back on schedule soon.

Today we made some good progress on our machining. We finished the drive train rails and some other parts.

Over the past few days we have been diligently working on the CAD of the robot. The new rules on robot size for this year are proving to make things much more complicated than usual. Previously robot dimensions were approximately 28″ x 38″. This year however, we are limited to a total perimeter of 112″. The result of this change is that a rectangular robot will have to be under 25″ x 31″, a significantly smaller amount of space than we have had before.

The software team has been getting set up with their computers. We have a lot of new members on the software team this who need to install the IDE and get their computers able to upload code to the robot.  In addition we have also been working on improving the new drive code.

We have also finished our modified “pyramid”. All the pipe is at the proper positions to allow us to test our robot though it doesn’t taper like the real pyramid. It also folds down to allow us to bring it inside to the room with carpet most similar to the field where we do our robot testing.  We are planning to mark off the proper widths of each level so we know if we are within the limits of the real pyramid when testing our climbing ability. We have also built the goal for the top of the pyramid so we can practice with that.

Today our programmers were given an assessment to see what they currently know about programming and how they would go about in solving a particular task. It was a great opportunity for them to experience real-life programming as well learn to operate as a team.

Our designers also continued to design the robot and its various parts. They will definitely be working tomorrow!

There are just 37 days left until the end of Build Season!