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A few members of the team went to CCSU to receive the materials for 2021 - A Robot Odyssey. There, they learned about the game rules, heard presentations about engineering, and met other teams for the competition.
The rest of the team was explained the rules and began brainstorming ideas that wouldn’t be breaking any of the game rules. The team had an agreed decision to not have a leader for the moment and work together as a team.
After quickly looking through the box of materials, the team brainstormed ideas of the main frame of the robot. An idea the majority of the team concluded on was using the “aluminum paint grid” as the frame because it was light. The team had ideas of using the “legs” of it to wrap around the motors for the wheels, and they decided that if it was not going to be the frame, perhaps it would be used as a “scooper”.
The individuals compared his or her drawings and discussed the possible flaws of each one. They took the highlights of some of the ideas and combined them together. The team also took out and looked at all the parts that were given in more detail.
Some of the team began to look at the electrical parts. Meanwhile, the others continued to draw ideas and tried to visual the overall ending of the project.
Using a compass, drawings of the wheels were free-hand sketched. Then four wheels were cut and made out from wood; two wheels were 2 inches in radius, and 2 other wheels were 3 inches in radius.
The meeting started off with a debate on whether to use 4 wheels or 3. The 3 wheels option was decided upon because it would allow the robot to have a better turning radius. The team brainstormed on how to attach the wheels to the motor without breaking the rules. A center whole was cut using the intersection of various lines method, and the metal inserts for the wheels were made. The questions of if the bigger wheels were in the front or the smaller ones came across and were left unanswered by the end of the meeting.
With many new members, it was time to split into small subgroups.
In the robot build team, the wheels were sanded and evened out to become completely round, and using a screw, the wheel’s inserts were held in place to the motors. Meanwhile, in the school spirit group, a team name was thought of. The team finally decided that it was time to elect a leader; Gosia Dymerska was the perfect person for the job!
The robotic build team began to work on the electronics for wheels of the robot. Some people also continue to brainstorm ideas for the body of the robot. The school spirit team continues to think of a name.
The electronics team was trying to make the electronics of the robot operate correctly, while the build team thought of new designs for the body. The school spirit team still thinks of a name…
After a team vote, MarsFX was chosen as the team name. The electronics team continued to attempt making the controller work. The build team finishes up the decision matrix for the body. The school spirit team starts to design a logo for the team and begins to create the website.
The electronics team wires the robot and tests it around the hallways. The school spirit team begins to make posters for advertisement.
The robot build team began to build the frame of the body, and they attached the wheels to the body. The school spirit team continued to make the posters for advertisement around the community.
A speed control fried. The build and electronics team brainstormed what could have happened. The school spirit team finished up the posters.
A speed control was replaced. The build team cut out some plexy glass to be used as a brace for the 3 rd wheel, and it was also used so that the screws wouldn’t rub against the wood. They also cut out a rod to act as an axel for the 3 rd wheel and bolted and taped it so it would stay centered.
There, the team talked to other teams about designs and parts. When testing our robot, we came across many flaws regarding our 3 rd wheel. They way we had it before (diagonally), it caused the robot to hinder. After altering the small 3 rd wheel so it was now in the back edge of the ball bearing, like the back wheels of a shopping cart. They also decided that the big wheels were in front. This worked really well and fixed the problems with robot’s ability to go up the ramp and turn. For the newer members, this experience was influential to their knowledge of the competition. Fixing our robot. Listening about the competition rules.
The robot build team split again. This time, having some of the team begin to build a replica of the competition ramp and track. While the rest of the robot build team continued to fix other problems they came across from Mall Day, at CCSU. They brainstormed how to pick up the boxes and bottles using only one motor. The school spirit team began discussing their ideas for the table display.
The robot build team continues to brainstorm their ideas on how to pick up the box and bottle. Some ideas included using the bungee cord and aluminum paint grid. They decided to come up with two main designs and make them to see which one is better. They also replaced the 2 front wheels with 2 bigger wheels with a 4 inch radius and cut the frame of the body to 12 inches by 13 inches from 12 inches by 19 inches. The team began to organize themselves setting calendar dates to have things due by for creating the notebook.
Divers were assigned and spotters as well. The marketing informed the band director to ask for their appearance and support at the competition date. They also hung up the posers all over the school. In the build team, they were deciding whether or not to cut holes into the wheels to make it lighter.
The build team was improving the design of the robot. They continue building the replica of the ramp and track (3/4 of it). They also drew their final sketches for the claw and made a decision matrix. The marketing team ordered t-shirts for the day of the competition hoping to receive them on Friday, October 26 th, and bought materials for table display.
The marketing team began painting and making the table display. The build team fixed the wheels of the robot after finding out it did not go straight. The notebook team started putting everything together and starting the final notebook portfolio.
The robot build team begins to make their two designs for the claw, while the school spirit team began to gather their materials and plan the table display for the competition. The replica of the competition track was finished, and an official name for the robot was created: Awesome-O.
The robot build team decided to stop making two designs for the claw and focus on the one that was more successful, while some people drew the robot on Autodesk’s Inventor. The school spirit team continues to paint and decorate the table display. The notebook is being finalized for the due date of the next morning. Team pictures were taken.
The t-shirts arrive and are few adjustments are added. The Robot team continues to build the fork-like claw. The school spirit team tries to ask the school band to come to Sunday’s competition - the request was unsuccessful.
The team went to Central Connecticut State University for the northeast region’s 2 nd Annual Connecticut BEST Robotics Competition. There, students socialized with many other students of other teams and competed against towns all over the Northeast.
MarsFX Placed:
It was an overall amazing experience for the team, and it was just remarkable.
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