Today is a another work day for us. We have quite a list of things to get done today and tomorrow. We have to get this prototype done so we can start programming and drive testing it while we build the actual robot so we can “ship” it by the 18th. Here is what we have for this weekend:
The actual robot chassis is coming along nicely today. Towards the afternoon more of our students showed up so we were able to get more things done and have people working on more things at once. The prototype bot is still a work in progress, but it was worked on quite a bit today.
Oh we also have a system now that will keep our snack area a little neater. We now have a rack for mugs that we will keep here with all of our names on it, so we don’t have to keep using so many plastic cups.
The shooter has also been worked on quite a lot today. After going through two different prototypes we found one that we think will work. So we have been updating that one and working to get it to work.
The prototype bot hopped some today too!!! We have wheel movement and a little bit of forward motion now!
*Update from the end of the day*
Thing we got done….
Test the drive train.
We got that covered, it works alright for the first time using mecanum wheels.
Is the speed/torque ratio workable?
Check, but that could still use some tweaking.
Test the pickup while driving. Does it pickup at any speed.
This one is still in progress too.
We can’t really test it to much when it’s not quite finished.
To be finished later
Yes!!! We did get this one done, and there is even a guard added to keep the frisbees out from under our wheels this time. Hopefully we won’t end up on top of any game pieces like we did somehow last year!
Not today…
We are really close to being able to do that, but it didn’t get done today.
Not quite… We have to have a lot of Lexan to do that, and I think it is still being shipped here.
The mug rack was attached to the wall and is now ready to use! *Team members please bring a small mug with a handle and your name on it so you can leave it here and use it instead of a plastic or styrofoam cup.
Prototype bot is running, and moving!!! 😀
As far as programing goes, they had to do quite a lot to get the mecanum wheels working. Which, I am told, includes doing a lot of hard math.
Other than that…. it was a really good day. Until tomorrow!
