Blog 13: Push Your Mind to Work

Our fourth Saturday meeting started with Corey letting us know we are halfway through our build season, and we’re now entering the hardest part of the season. From here on out we need to stay focused on execution and how we, as a team, behave and perform. Mr. Greene also met with members interested in being leaders next year. He also told us our main focus today is to see if the intake roller works, and to prototype for shooter ideas. In their sub group, Media team finished their t-shirt design for the spirit wear. Animation started and finished building another scene for their mythology challenge. Business team wasn't present today, because there wasn’t much for them to do. Mechanical team ran through different methods of the kicking mechanism and proceeded to test them. They also continued building the second chassis. Controls team spent their time looking for breakers to buy on the internet. They also wired the digital side car, and drew circuit board diagrams. Programming team tested the mapping of our controller so we could move the robot around easily on the floor at competitions. CAD team brainstormed for the defensive side of the Aerial Assist challenge. Safety team made a stop at home depot to buy wood for the pit and cart, then continued building. Next week we’ll continue making strides on building and testing for the robot.

Day 12: Be Patient

The meeting started with Corey telling us we’d spend our time focusing on device testing to make sure we aren’t doing anything wrong. Media team worked to make logos for the spirit wear they decided on with Business team. Animation worked more on their challenge by researching mythologies and designing the scenes. Business team finalized what spirit wear they would end up making this season. They also called more companies for gifts for the raffle. Mechanical team worked on how to pull back the firing catapult which turned out successful. Controls team worked together with Programming team to troubleshoot the robot from last year. They focused mainly on the shooting device. CAD team worked on aligning the sprockets for the intake roller in Autodesk Inventor. They also created the shooting prototype. Safety team researched the cost of pieces for the robot, and created its bumpers. Everyone’s gearing up to conclude the week with a productive Saturday meeting.

Day 11: First Optional Meeting

Today was an optional attendance day. Again we were advised to ask our team leaders if they would need us. If not, you were allowed to leave. Once in sub groups Media team got together with Business team to put all of our team member’s names onto their Certificate of Appreciation. Animation built part of the first scene of their animation. Business and Media teams drew up a list of possible ideas for spirit wear that we could make and sell to families. Mechanical team developed more on the shooter, and made the intake roller swivel better so they could hopefully solve the chain issue. Controls team researched on the internet and cleaned up the controls board. Programming tested programs made for last year’s robot. Other members taught their fellow teammates how to program. CAD team stayed on the computers to do research on Chief Delphi, and to design the robot in Autodesk Inventor. Safety team worked on designing the cart for the robot. Tomorrow we plan on having a more productive outcome with all members attending.

Day 10: Testing the Shooter

The meeting started with Mr. Greene announcing that February 4^th at the O’Plaine campus at 3:45pm we will be taking our team picture. He also said that going forth in the season, Tuesday’s, Thursday’s, and Saturday’s are required for attendance. Everyone was also advised to talk to their team leaders about when they would be needed to attend the meetings. Corey said today we would start finalizing and testing designs. Media team took video of the Mechanical team launching the ball from the shooter. Animation looked up Mayan and Egyptian buildings on the computer for ideas. Business team wasn’t needed today, but team leader Becca Kouba came to prepare for tomorrow. Mechanical team worked on the prototype for the shooter and helped the Controls team. They also proceeded in building the second chassis, as well as getting the intake roller working with the robot. Members also carried around the test shooter to see how easy/hard it would be for the regional competitions. Controls team built their second pneumatic circuit for the launcher. Programming spent their time getting the program from last year’s robot. CAD team researched on Chief Delphi for the robot. Safety team went on the computers to CAD the pit in Autodesk Inventor. The leaders of each team also logged onto Skype to talk to Team 5133 from Aguascalientes, Mexico. We shared with them ways to get more money for their team by getting sponsors, and we gave them advice on how to design their robot. They were shocked to hear that it was 5°F here. Overall, research and development was today’s main focus.

Day 9: 1/3 Through Build Season

The meeting started off with Corey telling us we were 1/3 of the way through our build season. Today our main focus was to prototype and build, so we could then try to shoot and drive. We needed today to figure out how we wanted to drive, so the CAD team had to finish their final design. The entire team was told to make sure they had safety glasses on behind the red lines where Mechanical and Controls team often works, just in case. There was plenty to get done today, so, asking questions if you had any was a must. We were also told there would be an optional (but highly recommended) meeting on Monday from 9-3:30pm, but if you attend you need to bring your own lunch, as it will not be provided. Media & Animation team sat mostly at their computers today. Media team helped design the Certificate of Appreciation that would be handed out at the end of the season. They also went around taking numerous pictures of all the teams. Animation team worked in Autodesk Maya to continue their character design. Business team measured tables in the cafeteria to make sure we can fit everybody needed in there for the end of the year banquet, and they also managed the making of the Certificate of Appreciation. They also made raffle tickets in Photoshop to sell for money for the banquet, as well as called companies to donate gift cards for the raffle. Mechanical team finished prototyping for the ball pickup system, and shooter. They also spent time getting the wheels set up for the second chassis, and mounted the intake roller. Controls team tried to reorganize the board and make it more compact for the pneumatic system. They also put new tanks in the pneumatic system, and got the pistons to work. Programming team spent their time waiting for the mechanical team to finish so in the mean time they made up little projects they could do on the computers. CAD team built the ball picker upper on the computer, as well as other pieces of the robot. Safety team finished building the high goal, and started building the truss. Most teams today were busy throughout the six and a half hour period. Progress is key as we get farther into the build season. 

Day 8: Gracious Professionalism

The meeting started with some words from Mr. Greene about members being on time (3:25 is preferred). Corey took over to tell us today we needed to test the shooter with the ball, and get the pistons on the robot so we can finally perform a systems test. In their subgroup, Media finished the final designs on their competition t-shirt as well as got some good photos of the Mechanical team at work. Animation brainstormed character ideas for their challenge, and started to create models in Autodesk Maya. Business team worked on our budget and senior gifts for the end of the year. Business team leader, Becca Kouba, started to plan the end of the year dinner. Mechanical team spent their time prototyping for their shooter and drilling holes so the pneumatic pistons could be attached to the robot in order to get it tested. Controls team accidentally broke the solder iron, so they had to get a new one before starting their workday. Their main focus was attaching the solenoid breakout and finish setting up the board in order for programming to figure out the movements of the robot. Programming team spent their time researching while waiting for the robot to be ready for further programming. CAD team was brainstorming motor ideas in Autodesk Inventor. Safety team split up to work on the low and high goals. With a few pieces of wood cut, they were focused on gluing them together. Today was an effective day for production of the robot.

Day 7: Efficiency and Effectiveness

Today the meeting started off with Corey dismissing Media & Animation, and Business team from the initial announcement period. He continued to talk to the other groups about their good progress, but minor lack of efficiency, which is needed at this time. Once in sub groups everybody got down to work. Media & Animation team continued the brainstorming for their new challenge. They've been watching videos for inspiration for a new mythology. Media team took photos of the groups working in their respective habitats. Business team started working on the dean's list award applications. Also, they went around having people check their names on a list for whether they'd be able to attend the February 28th-March 1st competition. They've been making progress on our competition chotchkies for the other teams. Using a personalization website they took our multiple t-shirt design ideas and incorporated them onto the water bottles, lanyards, and drawstring backpacks. Mechanical team continued the prototyping of the shooter and tried to make the intake roller work. Controls team hooked up pistons for programming to use, to later be attached to the robot once they were working. Programming team patiently waited for Controls, and then proceeded to try to get the pistons to move; which proved to take up more of their patience. CAD team spent time designing and modeling ideas for the intake roller and shooter in order to decide what method would be best. Safety team continued working on the low goal with rapid progress, nearly finishing it. Moving forward the team plans to follow Corey's advice, leading them to be the strongest team they can be.