Day 21: Keep Working!

Today’s meeting started with Corey addressing everyone, letting us know that we need to work on our shooter, because some parts of it are wrong. We have done the design, prototype, and testing, so the hard parts are done. However we still need to get stuff done, NOW. Also keep in mind when someone criticizes your work it’s constructive, and not meant to be taken to heart. Everybody on the team is equally helpful. As we start working later, don’t forget to clean up at the end of the day so everyone can go home faster.  Media team didn’t have much to do today, however tomorrow they will start to prep for printing the spirit wear shirts/crewnecks. Animation team made an asteroid field and space background for their ongoing challenge. Business team printed out the many certificate of appreciation pages onto cardstock, and put them in respective folders for all members of team 4296. Mechanical team tested the shooter arms for the final design to make sure it works. They also made a tool shelf, and got the wheels and chains onto the chassis. Controls team wasn’t needed much today. Programming continued vision targeting by testing the robot going up a ramp, to see whether or not the vision targeting was precise. If it is accurate, a bell will go off to signal something is in the path of the robot. CAD team researched other team’s robots, and plans on Chief Delphi. Safety team put another coat of paint onto the pit, and finished up the robot cart. Lastly and but certainly not least, a quick thank you to the parents that provide dinner for the team members staying late. We couldn’t function without your help!

Day 20: Monday Meeting

The meeting started with Corey telling everyone that we need to change the gears on the ball shifter, and the size of the intake roller. Once post-season starts we have the capability of bringing in 40lbs of material for our robot, and we plan on taking advantage of that. Hopefully, we can bring in the entire shooter if it weighs less than 40lbs. Again anybody not working is encouraged to go home, if you are of no use to any other teams. Most importantly, teams are not encouraged to pick on other teams. All teams are equal. Media team perfected their spirit wear logo for printing on Thursday. Animation team almost finished their animation challenge. Business team was not present today, but will return on Tuesdays and Thursdays. Mechanical team is finishing the FINAL intake roller, and building the 2^nd chassis for the post-season. They are also drafting out different cradle designs to see which would work best. Controls team worked on the new control board, and made a CAD drawing of it. Programming worked on vision targeting. CAD team worked on the gear guard for the chain, and worked on the new grips for the wheel. Safety team started painting, and tried to find a way to attach the wipe board with the tool box.

Day 18: Execution

There is officially twelve days left and our robot is nearing completion. From here on out our intake roller won’t be changing much. We can make this the easiest or the hardest part. We just need to execute. Also an important factor is going to be doing everything right whether it takes a little more time than planned or not. Everyone is encouraged to ask questions, and have people check your work. We don’t want our final product to be average and competent; rather, we want it to be “really good”. Media team took photos, while Animation team progressed on their mythology challenge. Business team made grade sheets for Mr. Greene. They also called more businesses for raffle donations, and sent out email requests for donations. Mechanical team made bumpers for the robot and the final intake roller for the robot. Controls team formatted acrylic for the final controls board. Programming didn’t have much to do so they spent their time learning new things and practicing. CAD team worked on the intake roller and new shooter design in Autodesk Inventor. Safety team worked on the cabinets. Saturday will be a day full of progress, and we’re going to start prepping frames for our spirit wear shirts/crewnecks.

Day 17: Picture Day

The meeting started with Mr. Greene distributing everybody’s competition shirts for the yearbook photo.  He then told us that we have a good kicker but unfortunately it is too big for the robot. In order to fix it, the CAD team needs to help to scale it down. Again at this point in the season we’re stressing the fact that if you’re not doing anything, go home. Unless you can help another team, we don’t need people crowding the rooms and getting in the way. Also, nobody is allowed to pass through Mr. Greene’s office to get through to other rooms. Food is also strictly prohibited from the lab and office. Everyone has to sell their raffle tickets by February 13^th, and if you don’t you won’t be accepted for the team next year. Then everyone shuffled into the lecture hall to take the team photo. Once it was done we went and took photos on the staircase of the team, individual sub team photos, team leaders, seniors, and of the last original members from three years ago. Some of the team left at 5:30 pm, but others stayed till 8:30pm to work on the robot.

Day 16: Take Initiative

Corey started the meeting off by telling everyone that we need the robot done by February 18^th and no later. We have fallen behind, and now is our time to push. These next two weeks will go by fast, so everyone is urged to do something. We don’t want anybody sitting around on their phones. Business team leader, Becca, then took over to let everyone know we need to sell raffle tickets. Everyone is to sell 15 tickets at $5 each and the money needs to come back ($75 each member) by February 13^th. We will be having the raffle in April, in order to raise money for our hotels and buses so we can successfully make it to the Regionals as a team. She also mentioned that she’ll be handing out forms for our spirit wear: grey crewnecks, car magnets, and travel mugs. Leftover items from last year will also be sold. The forms are to be filled out and returned by February 8^th. Then Safety team leader, Nick Friedl, took over to let everyone know that he has a list of things each team has to do for clean up before leaving for the day. Mr. Greene also told everyone if they take safety goggles, it is their responsibly to put them back where they got them. Also, it’s time to start taking initiative, because Mr. Greene knows what everyone accomplished each day, and this will weigh heavily on your membership next year. Media & Animation team finished finalizing the logo for the spirit wear items. With that logo they made the spirit wear order form and pit banner. Animation team animated characters, created more scenery, and did some special effects for their mythology challenge.  Business team continued to call businesses for raffle items, scoring a Tina’s and Pizza Hut gift card. They also distributed the spirit wear order forms and raffle tickets to the team. Mechanical team put wheels on the robot, and tried to figure out how to hook up the linear shooter to the cart so they could test it. They also set up the kicker for testing. Controls team worked on their intake roller issues and how they should place the kicker. Programming team got the mid-intake roller to spin, and they worked on the scouting program. Most of their day was consumed on re-installing their software to their computers. CAD team made adjustments to the Aerial Assist field in Autodesk Inventor with regards to defensive strategies. They also brainstormed for ways the intake roller can stay in contact with the ball so there is clearance to shoot into the high goal. Safety team continued building the robot cart, and finished the cabinets for the pit. Once the meeting ended, the team leaders got together and decided that we are ditching the kicker idea. Our main idea is a catapult with a back-up idea of a straight line shooter. The kicker was our best idea but could not fit with the design that we have for the intake. Approaching next week, meeting till 8:30pm will be necessary for the progression of the robot in these last two weeks. Make it count!

 

Day 15: Till 8:30

Today’s meeting started with Corey reminding everyone that we will now be focused on meeting Tuesdays and Thursdays from 3:30-8:30pm. Again we need to stay focused on shooting, picking up, and driving. Media team helped design a banner for the pit. Animation team created a factory and a pyramid for their mythology challenge, in Autodesk MAYA. Business team continued to call businesses for raffle donations, and they prepared tickets for the raffle. Mechanical team figured out the spacing for the gears of the robot in order to line up the chains correctly. Controls team tested the prototype to reduce the problems they have had with the wires smoking. Programming team made sure the old robot works so that they could re-wire it in order to know what to do for the new one. CAD team researched the ball shooter and looked at other team’s ball shooters on Chief Delphi. Safety team made cabinets for the pit and made final adjustments on the robot. Next on the schedule: make serious progress on Saturday.

Day 14: 3 Weeks Left!!!

The meeting started with Mr. Greene telling everyone that this is time to maximize our work time while other mentors start coming during the week. Therefore, we will be shifting our schedule to Tuesdays and Thursdays from 3:30-8:30 pm. When the last week of the season comes to build, the team will be needed every day till around 10-11 pm. Also it has been determined that our team photo will take place on February 4^th at 4:05 pm in the auditorium; hopefully we’ll be able to wear our team shirts. Then Corey took over to tell us, that because of the winter weather cancelling school, we have missed much needed opportunities to progress on the robot. We need to focus on is Driving, Pickup, and Shooting/Passing. In order for these things to be accomplished we need to strip down the chassis, do drive testing, and figure out how we’re going to shoot. For shooting it has been determined that we can get more power by changing the angle and pulling the shooter back farther, hence we will be exploring three different shooting systems we will potentially choose from to see which one will effectively help us. At this point in time, it is also advised that if you think you can help in any way, speak up. We only have three weeks left and as Corey said “you’ll want to be able to say you did something” when everyone is at the regionals and the robot is presented. In their subgroup Media team finalized what design would be used for all the spirit wear items. Animation finished a scene for their challenge. Business team called local businesses for raffle donations and finalized Media/Animation’s designs for the spirit wear. Mechanical team worked on the chains for the track chain and worked on the chassis to get the spacing right for the gears. Controls team tried to get the old robot to work, organized the new material they got, and cleaned the middle room. Programming fully programmed last year’s robot and got it to function. CAD team worked on one of the shooters, and learned how the vex-2 CIM ball worked. Safety team put together their cabinets for the robot cart. From here on out everyone is needed to fully perform to advance the robot in these last three weeks.