new robot

11/24/09 Meeting notes

We have completely redesigned the robot to shoot the balls by using a baseball like arm swinging vertical. We also finished a prototype of the ball feeding mechanism. This is a V live pace of cardboard to direct the balls to a central point (right under the the arm). We ran some test on the shooting and it was a success, the balls shot out like a gun.

Crunch Time

OK Guys we learned about both the competition and our robot at this weekend's scrimmage.  Like last year, we'll need to modify our design a lot and we have three weeks until the MD competition on 12/5.  While there is a lot to get done, I'm very confident we can and will be successful.  We are going to need to expand the working sessions and will be having build sessions on each of the following days:

I don't expect everyone can make all the practices - please make the ones you can and remember school does come first.  I am hoping to take advantage of the time from half days in the Howard County School system during the thanksgiving break.  I'm also happy to schedule other session if requested

Mon 11/16, 4 -6 pm

Thur 11/19, 4 - 6 pm

Sun 11/22, 6 - 8pm

Mon 11/23, 2 -4 pm

Tues 11/24, 2 -4 pm

Wed 11/25, 2-4 pm

Fri 11/27, noon - 2pm

Sun 11/29 6 - 8pm

Tues 12/ 1, 4 -6pm

Thur 12/3, 6-8pm

Fri 12/4, 6-8pm

Sat 12/5, The MD State Championship!

Thanks

11/13/09 Meeting notes

Tonight we discovered a new way on getting the balls into the goal by using a metal pole attached to a motor. This would spin 360 degrees and as the balls role in it would catapult them. We also worked on programing. We broke the telop program in to 4 parts (movement, arm, bucket tilt, and Lego arms on the side). Using that we could test part of the program without working about a glitch in another part. Once all the separate parts work we combine them in to the one telop program. Currently we have a working drive and arm programs.

Longer Build Session on Sunday

Guys:
Given all we need to complete, I'm going to have practice start a bit earlier next Sunday.  Please confirm via the comments button if you can come earlier

october 25 meeting

In the last meeting we worked on completing the main arm, arm to release the balls, and bucket/scooper. The arm to release the balls sounded like it was going good. i think we completed a scale model of the ramp. we are making a lot of progress with the robot. Thanks to Mr.Reidy we have plenty of gears to complete the arm.

Friday Practice (10/30)

As we discussed last night there will be an optional build session on Friday from 4 - 6:00pm.  Please respond if you are able to attend

thanks
Mr R

FTC Announcement

Guys - we received the following announcement from FTC.  It details some of the feild control and other software we need to use for this year's competition.  Scott / Sean - lets make sure we've downloaded the correct versions.

Here is the email w/ links

Hello Teams!

This is team email blast number 8 for the 2009 FTC Season.  You should expect to receive weekly email blasts from us.  The Team Email Blast is generally the way we communicate information about the program to you.  That information could include competition specific news, software updates, trainings, or anything else we think you might like to know.  This email is intended for FTC teams and is sent to the main contact listed in your team record.

1.       Field Controller Station – The FCS is now available in BETA version on the USFIRST website. Please download it, use it and send any feedback you have about the FCS or the FCS Manual to us at ftcfeedback@usfirst.org.  Put FCS Feedback in the subject line and make sure to tell us which version you are working with (full version, Win Executable or Mac Executable).

http://www.usfirst.org/roboticsprograms/ftc/content.aspx?id=14925

                Load the FTC FCS Program if you don’t have LabVIEW loaded on your computer.

Load the FTC FCS Windows Executable if you do have LabVIEW loaded on your computer.

Load the FTC FCS Mac Executable if you are using an Apple product.

2.       Competition Templates – Download your competition templates from here: 

http://www.usfirst.org/roboticsprograms/ftc/content.aspx?id=6650

Remember, you must use the official competition templates to pass the software portion of the robot inspection at tournaments.

3.       Countdown to FTC Events – The competition season is fast approaching – How are you preparing?  Now is a great time to learn more about the programming languages available to FTC teams:

                http://decibel.ni.com/content/community/first/ftc?view=overview: for your LabVIEW needs

                http://www.robotc.net/ftc for your ROBOTC needs

                http://www.tetrixrobotics.com for tools to help you get started

Go Teams!

~FTC Support

FIRST ^TM (For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology)

http://www.usfirst.org/roboticsprograms/ftc/default.aspx?id=968

Being a Gracious Professional involves respecting yourself, your team, other teams, and everyone around you. It is a way of doing things with a competitive spirit, without making anyone feel like a loser. Gracious Professionalism is a way of interacting with other people respectfully, doing excellent work, and promoting teamwork and appreciation of others.

Ramp dimensions

I was plotting out the dimensions when I found they were too short and at too much of an angle
for our robot to go up but our trap door design may fix that problem {:-) also I might build a wood ramp that is almost(as close as possible) to the ramp used again might (need to check for supplies)

Brad A.

Meeting Notes-10/18/09

Attended by: Jordy, Colin, Sean, Brad, Connor, and Matt

Tonight we didn't accomplish as much as we would have liked, but we still got a fair amount done. We started working on the actual arm with the new design, and added a servo to the end. We also looked at the gearing for the arm, and decided we would have to change it.

Also, we agreed that each team member should do some individual research on what other teams are doing to try and get new ideas, or refine our own.

To the team members that couldn't make tonights meeting: Feel better!