1/31 - Optimal Performance

With only 18 days left before the end of the FRC Build season, it's time to step it up for the Discobots. We are running slightly behind with the build of Robot v1, partly because we have redesigned some fundamental elements for optimal, efficient performance. Thus, some sub teams have been divided and re-tasked to begin assembling basic components of Robot v2, our final competition robot design. DISCO DISCO DISCO ... BOTS!!!!

"You can feel the atmosphere in the room, as every day more and more parts arrive (we recently took delivery of huge pieces of uncut, sheet metal and a couple of 21-foot hollow steel bars) only to run out of 1/16 " nuts and bolts. Amid the parts frenzy, most members toil day-in and day-out to build, disassemble, and rebuild increasingly better robot components, while others meticulously plan out a 2015 FRC game board strategy. Mentors work alongside high schoolers, ranging from Debakey freshmen to Lamar juniors to Carnegie sophomores (and more, of course). It's just beautiful."

-Nolan Shah, Programming Overlord

We noticed that our rear right wheel was "slipping," or not making contact with the floor at times due in part to a heavily laden manipulator (3 totes). When we removed the extra payload, the problem persisted, although to a smaller degree. Thus, a group of members and mentors were re-tasked towards weighting / gearing the drive train for better traction. It is important to note that the wheels perform significantly better on carpet, as opposed to the tile floor as tested above, but we aren't taking any chances.

Programming Division

While most everybody else spent Saturday at Carnegie, programmers worked on Betelgeuse at our home away from home - RYON Labs, Rice University. They completed their work from last weekend of getting the limit switches to operate (give feedback to) the manipulator in autonomous, as well as incorporating the sonar light into a medium range ultrasonic sensor.

Driving practice also took place their from 8 AM - noon. Afterwards, our driver trainees resumed their work within their respective sub-teams.

Design (CAD) Division 

Max and his cohorts continued to tweak the practice robot's (Robot v1) drive train length to optimize manipulator maneuvering and center of gravity. They also incorporated gussets to make the aforementioned tasks easier to implement later on by the build teams.

Towards the end of the day, noticing that assembly of the manipulator's rotating arms was taking too long (we haven't even started on Robot v2 after all), they tried to create a tighter (more efficient) framework in said area.

Mechanical + Electrical Divisions

Electrical disbanded for the day to assist mechanical with assembly of the manipulator's new, adjustable front arms. Both sub-teams spent the day on that task alone, although some were re-tasked towards the drive train and even some basic components of Robot v2 (final competition robot). 

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[see pictures above]

1/30 - For the record...

For those of you disappointed in our lack of build logs in the past few days - there's good news on the horizon: Build logs will be resuming, with almost daily posts from here on out to the end of the 2015 FRC season.

{Mason's Timelapse Video Insert Here}

Today's log documents the awesome work we accomplished on our Robot v1, a.k.a. the Practice Bot.

Design / Prototyping Team

Here's a first look at Robot v1, with the manipulator being heavily modified to combat some things we noticed with Betelgeuse (unstable when carrying 3 totes) and the lift-catch mechanism (very hard to aim, latch on and remain latched).

Max was able to complete a fully detailed CAD module of our robot, including its manipulator and drive train. His sub team will now focus on optimizing performance of the entire robot. They are currently experimenting with tweaking the length of the chassis prior to the competition robot build, set to start here at Carnegie within the next few days.

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Please note that, due to server issues for the last 10 days or so, this Build Log may contain images from unpublished days to showcase the team effort throughout.


Electrical + Mechanical + Programming 

 


Perhaps the busiest team thus far, electrical sub team has been cooperating with mechanical & design teams to (a) design and implement an upside down electrical basin to house our competition robot's electronics grids (Talons, Vectors...) (b) install a sonar light on Betelgeuse and (c) complete drive train electronics wiring for the competition robot (v2). Pictured above are both Mechanical & Electronic sub teams. Programming has been focusing on adding limiting switches to Betelgeuse's manipulator lift, in cooperation with the aforementioned teams. They are also continuing their work on autonomous game brainstorming and coding.

1/27 - Back to the Drawing Board

       

Today was a quiet Tuesday here at Carnegie Vanguard High School, where a special session was held for CAD & Prototyping teams. They are developing a few ideas in CAD starting with a clamping encoder mount for the clamping gearbox. We are also considering a chain tension mechanism with a turnbuckle.