Week 7 Accomplishments

We achieved all we wanted to do this week. We won the competition. Kinda sad that we aren't doing tug-of-war anymore. But there is a new competition we have to get started with. Jeret and I have some good ideas for the shooter and ball intake. This competition is going to be a little more intense and the whole robot is due in 6 weeks. We are teaming up with another Vex team and our chances are pretty good at winning.

One final picture of the robot. Plus a look at our rubber band wheels.

      

We are the Champions

We won the competition for the tables inside. Using a unique weight strategy and rubber bands on the wheels we were able to come back from the losers bracket.

Week 7 Goals

This week is the table top competition. I am not exited about this at all. The tables have no traction and are super smooth. Jeret and I forgot to get some tape for the wheels so we need to do that before the first match. We believe the tape will stick to the table and keep our robot stationary. The wheels will have enough torque to move the tape but the other teams won't.

Week 6 Accomplishments

We are really disappointed. We didn't even make it into the final match. We went up against Brandon's Tetrix robot which beat us by half and inch. Their robot did a wheelie and when the motors stopped they slid forward. That put us in the elimination bracket and we were then beat by another team in the semi-finals.

The main problem we experienced was traction. The loss of traction caused our robot to pull ourselves toward the other robot. The winch is also really slow compared to the other robots gearing. At times they would accelerate faster and pull the slack in the line to their side.

Going to regroup and try to win the next competition. 

This is what happens when Engineering students get bored

We got bored with just pulling each other around on the tables. So we decided to make our robot hang off the edge and pull itself up. This is a picture of us trying to push Brandon's robot off the table.

Week 6 Goals

WE ARE GOING TO WIN!!!!!!!!

This week is the Tug-Of-War competition and I can feel it. There are only three teams that we have to worry about losing to but we have the most torque out of all the robots in the class. The only major concern is how our robot is going to do on the tables inside due to the smoother surfaces.

Week 5 Accomplishments

We are finally done with our robot. There really wasn't anything to do besides look at our amazing robot.
We did some trial runs with other teams and we won all the outside competitions. However inside we had problems with traction resulting in a few losses.
We are trying to think of ideas for better traction but nothing has come to mind.

Here are some of the robots we will be competing against

Blogging

Will working on the blog for the robot. Grades are due next week so we need to get the blog up and running plus we need more pictures

Week 5 Goals

I believe that we are finally done with the robot. Yes finally
Our goal is to relax and enjoy our hard work.
Our robot has a good chance to win as long at the wheel have traction and the axles don't twist.

Week 4 Accomplishments

We got the twisted axle out of the robot and replaced it with a new one.
Our robot is now prepped for the competition and the weight is currently at 19.8 pounds
The gearing was also changed to a stupidly low 114:1

Me and Jaret taking a selfie with the robot

I hate twisted axles!!!!

Well because our robot is so awesome we bent the axle on the right drive train. The drum that holds the line got caught on the frame. Thus when the motors spun the gears got rounded out.

Now we need to cut the axles to get the gear out

Week Four Goals

This week we are putting the finishing touches on our robot. We are make tread for our tires for when we compete on the table tops. We decided to use grippe tape for the different tread because we know that the tables will be slippery and dusty. When we compete outside we will use the large vex wheel with the most tread. The final thing that we are doing is switching out some of the bolts and nuts we used because they are getting in the way of the gears.

Will working on the grippy tires for the robot

Week 3 Accomplishments

We got the brain programmed for the robot.
The gearing is finalized and attached.
The ropes are wound and ready to go.

The only thing left is attaching some weight holders for the robot to weigh down the wheels and give us more traction. The more traction and weight we have the better the robot will perform.

Jeret working on attaching the weight holders for the robot.

Week 3 Goals

The goals for this week include

Programming the brain for our robot.
Get the drums for the winch system built and spooled
Fine tune the gearing and collars

Week 2 Accomplishments

We got the drive train assembled and finished
The drum mechanism is still in a working progress
We have narrowed our winch rope down to two types. String or steel braid.

Pictures of our robot

Week 2 Goals

This week we are beginning to learn how to use and program Arduino. We are finishing organizing wires and other parts that go with Arduino. (https://www.arduino.cc/en/Guide/HomePage)Link to tutorial page for Arduino. (https://www.arduino.cc/en/Guide/HomePage)Link to getting started.

Week 1 Accomplishments

What we accomplished:

We got the layout of our robot set and built.
We haven't gotten the drive trains attached yet. Our gearing was to low to move the wheels. Now we have to take out some of the small gears and replace them with bigger ones.
We tried to break some of the rules and might have found a way to get around the guidelines.

Here is our failed attempt at a drive train

  

Week 1 Goals

What we plan to do:

Figure out a drive system to use for our robot
Establish a way to win
Get our blog up and running