Engineering notebook 3/30/11 Team #4728

Team # 4728
DATE 3/30/11 TIME SPAN 9:00-10:26
TOPIC: Conveyer belt and safety

Tasks Reflections
Go to the workshop and learn about safety/new parts we can add to our arsenal and equip to our robot
This opens up many new possibilities and additions to make to our robot
Make plans for a functional conveyer belt used to harvest batons
We’ve come up with 2 separate plans to do this and found parts we can order from Tetrix that match what we need almost exactly
TASK DETAILS: Design and plan a functional conveyer belt that can successfully collect and dispense batons

REQUIREMENTS (IF ANY): Only use parts that are authorized by FTC rules

THOUGHTS (IF ANY): We’re running out of time but this idea seems pretty cool

PICTURES, DRAWINGS (IF ANY):

Team 4724

DATE:03/29/11 TOPIC: Arm attachment

TASK	REFLECTIONS
Attach the arm with a rolling goal holder to the robot	Today we are working on our arm with a drilled out wheel to hold the rolling goal and balance with it. We will also come up with a team and robot name, as well as post a picture of the robot.

Ideas: Use "dump" mechanism and combine it with the wider based robot. Change servo on "dump" mechanism to a motor (stronger but slower). Arm will be a motor that is geared up from a smaller gear to a larger one. This will function as the arm for the rolling goal.

Plan: Robot will have a geared arm with a circle arm (like a ring) that will attach to the rolling goal making it easier to get the rolling goal on the balancing bridge.

Changes made: we took the gripper arm from the offensive robot we're not using and removed the wrist and grabber. We then replaced the short var for the arm for a longer one.

Visible Changes to the Robot Team #4725

- Try to make a seperate basket so it can hold more batons. -Fix up the program to where we can use the tub instead of the old grabber. -Check wheels to make sure they are good or if we need to change them. -Started on the Autonomous Period. - Put on another motor hub

Team 4724 Second Post

DATE:03/29/11 TOPIC: Robot Arm Mechanism

TASK	REFLECTIONS
Create detailed sketches of our robots capabilities and take photographs	Today we will illustrate our ideas for our final robot design in the form

TASKS details: John will draw out sketches of the final robot design to submit to Mr. O'Dell.
THOUGHTS: photographs and sketches will be uploaded to the blog.
Today, there were no changes in the robots basic design, the robot drives practiced navigating the field, climbing the mountain and balancing on the bridge.

Visible Changes team 4728

Moved parts of the frame forward a few inches. Added a servo too the top Removed all wires so we can rewire next class in an orgranized and neat fashion

4729 E Notebook 28 Mar 2011

Changes made to robot include:

- Modifications made to the program

- Batteries replaced from NXT

- Rewired the motors

- Connections made to Robox via BlueTooth

Engineering Notebook Team 4728 3/28/11

Team # 4728 DATE 3/28/11 TIME SPAN 9:00-10:33 TOPIC: Strengths and Weaknesses Tasks Reflections Combine our two robots to benefit from the strengths of both of them We used the base of one robot and the top of another and combined them. We combined our ideas for a device to collect the batons Connect servos and motors to be able to lift the bed of our robot so that it can dump batons Wiring this is kind of tricky but I’m sure our builders can figure it out TASK DETAILS: Combining the two robots and wiring servos and motors too properly lift the bed of our robot at a certain speed and angle REQUIREMENTS (IF ANY): Be able too get batons in the dispensers and as always stay in the 18”18”18” restrictions THOUGHTS (IF ANY): I think our new combined robot is going to be kick ass and do really well PICTURES, DRAWINGS (IF ANY):

Team 4724 first post

DATE:03/26/11 TOPIC: Arm attachment

TASK	REFLECTIONS
Attach the arm with a rolling goal holder to the robot	Today we are working on our arm with a drilled out wheel to hold the rolling goal and balance with it. We will also come up with a team and robot name, as well as post a picture of the robot.

TASKS details: We have taken out the insides of a wheel to where it is just the plastic frame. this fits perfectly around the center of the rolling goal, allowing us to balance with it in the end game.
THOUGHTS: For the team and robot name, we will all agree on one name for the team and robot and use it. For the rolling goal grabber, even with it, we have discovered that the small wheels on the rolling goals are very difficult to get up onto the bridge.

Team # 4725, page 3/25/11

Tasks:
Decide upon a name for your team
Decide upon a name for your robot
Change the NXT BRICK name to your team #
Check for any Samantha power cables
Place 1 photo onto your blog
Draw 1 sketch with labels of functions your new robot
Turn in sketch, O'Dell will scan and email to you
Place sketch in your blog

Task details:
Team name: Gods


Robot name: Titan


Brick name changed
the sketch is done:


















here is the Photo:

4729 E. Notebook - 24 Mar 2011

Tasks:
Create Team Name
Create Name for Robot
Change Brick Name to 4729
1 Picture on Blog
1 Sketch of Robot with Functions Labeled

Changes Made:
Renamed Brick to 4729
Named team Team Robox
Named Robot Robox
Sketched the Robox
Mounted baton gathering / propelling system onto Robox

Reflections:
Robox should be considerably more functional following the upgrade. We are planning on adding Lexan funnels to the Robox. These will be fabricated by Jahanbox.
















The Advanced Baton Gathering System

Group # 4725, date: 3/22/11

Our new group includes our original group: Chinmay, Finley, Scott, Ross, and Sid and the new group: Bryan, Nick, Brandon, and Kevin. Our group has collectively decided to use the design of the original groups robot. The weaknesses of our robot include the inability to pick up the batons, and the difficulty of driving the robot. The strengths of our robot is balancing, and great driving sensitivity and fast maneuverability. Today is basically a day we brainstormed ideas.

4729 E. Notebook - 22 March 2011

Problems:
One robot had poor rate of success at collecting the batons
It also had no way of retrieving the batons (it can only stow them)
The other robot's scoring mechanism does not fit this robot

Changes Made:
Added a C beam to increase maneuverability with the rolling goal
This mechanism only works when a baton is in the center post, so the goal is not technically in --possession
Added an L profile bar to guide the batons into the rolling goal

Reflections:
The robots still need to be merged to maximize functionality. As we work on adding the scoring mechanism, we must also ensure that the robot does not exceed size limits. We also need to check how the robot performs on the field.

The Advanced Baton Sorting System
















The Rolling Goal Stop Mechanism

Teacher Blog - DO NOT EDIT PLZ

Today we combined teams.  

Previously we had two classes of around 25 students each, forming 6 teams per class of 4 to 5 students.  Now that we have a field we have opted to combine teams to give us more parts, more brains and more solutions to problems faced on the field.  Teams are now from 6 to 9 students, 3 teams per class for a total of 6 FTC teams in the high school at this moment.

Team combination procedure was thought out ahead of time and was not democratic.  I assigned teams to each other based on current robot status, age / class rank and team ability.

Students were shown the following ppt slides on how to 'get an A':

•Write down the individual problems you face

•Brainstorm together for multiple solutions

•Plan your changes on paper

•Document all changes to your design in your blog even if they don’t mean success:

–Andersonrobotics.blogspot.com

•Include photos in blog (mandatory!)

•Scan all drawings, put in blog (mandatory!)

The students' first assignment of the day was:

•Meet with your new teammates

•Assign one scribe to record on paper the strengths and weaknesses of your robots

•Put the robots on the field and walk through some of the problems you face with each robot.

•Decide which engineering notebook you will use and TELL me so I know which one to grade.

•Create a new post detailing your new group AND the results of your meeting with strengths and weaknesses.

above - team 4729 discussing a robot that cages a rolling goal

 above - team 4727 discussing various combinations to their two robots

 team 4728 - going over their robots

2ND DAY - Sorry did not have time to update on the actual day, this is what I remember from that day.  We had an abbreviated "late day" schedule of 76 minute classes, so, the teams continued on their build, but I asked them to draw a sketch of the intended robot and label what functions the bot might have.  Most teams got this to me.  I scanned them in and emailed them to the teams, asking them to take the sketches and include them in their blog.  I also asked the teams to take 1 digital photo with their cell phone camera (someone in the group to use their phone for this express purpose) and include it in their blog as well.  One of the best sketches is below:

3RD DAY - Today, I reiterated the importance of documenting their changes.  Today I assigned them to turn in a paper copy of their changes (great or small), take another photo of the actual changes they made, and include all information in their blog.  So, we're trying to establish a pattern and hopefully in the limited time we have (about 10 more class periods before the competition) they will be able to do this automatically.

 

March 8th, 2011

Our main task today was to determine the purpose of our robot. We concluded after practicing on the field, that we are mainly going to be an offensive robot. Our robot was able to successfully balance on board. Our main challange was that our robot was not able to effectively grab batons, which is what we spent the remaining of our time remodeling.