Build Week 2

Team 3082: Week Two Update

Mechanical (Prototyping): Our mechanical subteam has been focusing on refining our prototypes for the power cell (yellow ball) carrier and shooter. Currently, we have four power cell carrier designs and two shooter designs to pick from. We additionally set up a test field to compare the accuracy of our shooters side-by-side. Our goal going into week three is to choose so that we can refine, CAD, and build our official robot mechanisms.

Mechanical (field elements): We have also made a lot of progress on-field elements this week, including finishing the Power Port and cutting all the “special-cut” pieces for the Loading Bay. We anticipate they will be complete early in week three.

Electronics: Our electronics subteam has been focusing on sensors and their third electronics board. We have been soldering and crimping the sensors to index the power cells. The third electronics board will be for programmers to use. We are also drawing a schematic for the kit chassis board.

Programming: Our programming subteam has also been focusing on “vision” for the robot, which pertains to making sure cameras and sensors are up and running so that drivers can see even if their vision is impeded. The progress with sensors will also help the robot auto-align. Finally, although we are not currently anticipating the control panel (color wheel) being part of our strategy, we have been setting up code for the color sensor as well, in case we do decide to go for the control panel.

Drive Team: Week two has been extremely important as we begin to consider drive team roles. We started the week with a Game Manual Rules test, which all applicants sat down and took to see if they put in the time to learn the game rules and penalties. Applicants also indicated on the Rules Test which drive team roles they were interested in. Then, we held 15-minute-long interviews for all students who applied for driver, operator (second driver), and/or drive coach. Our third and final drive team application step was a driving test for all driver and operator applicants. We plan to have our drive team roles assigned by the beginning of week three.

Proudest Accomplishments: ★ Solid prototypes to give us a more realistic idea of how different mechanisms will function on our robot. ★ Having multiple controls set up along with the kit chassis to allow drivers to choose the controls for their skills tests.