Day 6: Getting The Robot To Work

The meeting started with an update from Corey on where we stand with the shooter and ball-picker-upper system. He also addressed the animations team's new challenge; "Depict a mythology from a civilization on a fictional planet". In their subgroup, Media & Animation brainstormed for the new animation challenge, to come up with a concept. As well as checking everybody's names for correct spelling on the back of the competition t-shirts. Business team spent their time looking up grants from Lowe's, in order to get money for our team. They also verified what they wanted for giveaways, including water bottles, lanyards, and drawstring backpacks. Also, they confirmed everybody's t-shirt size for the competition shirts. Mechanical team took to the whiteboards to brainstorm for the shooter, and they put bumpers on the robot. Controls team made sure the magnetic pistons worked, and gave them to programming to make sure they would work on the robot efficiently. Programming team waited most of the time for mechanical team to hand over the robot for testing the pneumatic system. CAD team finished making the shooter arm assembly, and started the base. Safety team continued building the low goal. Everybody has proved their dedication to the team as the robot moves towards actually working.

Day 5: Manic Monday

Today we immediately got into our sub groups. Media & Animation wrote thank you notes and signed them again for the Abbott Meet & Greet dinner. We also continued designing our Robotics website in Dreamweaver, and took pictures of the other subgroups. The Business team spent their time researching giveaway items for the other teams at regionals;including: water bottles, lanyards, and foam tridents (hopefully). Mechanical team crowded around a table in the lab to figure out how to attach the ball-picker-upper to the robot. Controls team was building a pneumatic circuit and soldering so they can put things into the circuit. Programming was waiting most of the time for Mechanical to finish the robot for testing. They also made a scouting program. CAD team made a holder for barring so the shouter arm could launch correctly. Safety team cut out proportions for the upper goal and started to build for the lower goals. Overall today was a good start to the week.

Day 4: Progress

The second Saturday meeting started with a group announcement from Mr. Greene that we had been accepted for two regional competitions; one in Milwaukee, WI and the other in Pekin, IL. Not all students are able to go because taking the whole team out of school is not acceptable. Team leader Corey Snyder talked about the focus points for today: Passing, Shooting, Safety. We split up into our sub groups and worked for the next six hours. Media & Animation worked in Illustrator to design t-shirts for the season. We ended up with four different designs that would later be chosen from for our final t-shirt design. Our competition t-shirt will be gold short sleeved with a devil head design, and our long sleeve shirt will be charcoal gray with the robot arm design. The Business team looked for hotels for the February regional (Pekin, IL), and addressed letters to our Abbott mentors. Also the budget was composed for the season. Mechanical team developed a cohesive prototype for the ball in-take system, while other members worked on different parts of the robot. Programming wrote the program for the robot to drive and tested it. The Control team tested the height the ball bounces by using pistons and a pneumatic system. They also used pistons to figure out how the ball will shoot. Other members spent their time soldering wire connections. CAD team sketched working drawing, and modeled the shooter arms. Safety team built the high goal for Aerial Assist, and took their safety tests. These Saturday meetings are proving to be very successful in continuing progress for Team 4296.

Day 3: Brainstorm

Today was another brainstorming day. Media & Animation spent their time making the field for the video game Aerial Assist. Business team spent their time trying to figure out how to earn the chairmen award, as well as submitting someone for the dean's list award. Mechanical team progressed in making the chassis, among many other parts for the robot.  Programming team analyzed how they could get the old robot to move. Controls wired up motors for the ball maneuver system, along with fixing a mini SIM. CAD team took to the whiteboards to draw how they want to design the robot. We’re ending the school week with a job well done by each subgroup. Everyone’s maintaining their focus while chugging along. “The challenge seems simple, but the process will be crazy, because we think we can do so much” says team leader Corey Snyder.

Day 2: Brainstorm

After postponing the meetings for two days due to harsh weather conditions we were finally able to meet again. The meeting started with our leader, Corey, rehashing our plan for this year's robot. We proceeded to split off into our subgroups to discuss our objectives for the build season. Media & Animation designed the website for our team, and also took pictures of the teams in action. Business composed the demographic breakdown and roster of the team. Mechanical built a chassis with little success. Programming tested the robot's functions. Controls brainstormed to figure out how to do the high and low game. CAD team spent their time figuring out how the robot should be designed. Overall we took gradual steps towards a rewarding season.

Day 1: Kick Off 2014 Season

The day started with the FIRST Robotics video releasing this year's challenge: Aerial Assist. Then the team of 60+ members split into three groups to read the manual and discuss possibilities. The following two hours were spent brainstorming strategies and functional designs. After two years as the Blue Devil Builders the team name changed to Trident Robotics. Proceeding the name unveiling the groups met back together to come up with their main proposal for the robot's function on the court. After heavy discussion as a group it was decided that two main strategies would be tested during the first week of build season. The results would determine the future of the robot.