How's everyone doing?
 

I write this post to see how is every team doing in this season(so far what have you guys done).

Week 1 (around 5 days of meetings).
So far we have been doing various designs, also we dismantled the top part of out old robot to use him to test this year's bonus.

Week 2
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Week 3
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Week 4
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Week 5
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Week 6
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Re: How's everyone doing?
 

Heres what team 422 has done so far:

-We have examined many different strategies and decided on what we want to pursue.
-we decided on what type of drive and the basic frame to use this year.
-we are nearly finished prototyping a few different ring manipulators
-we are nearing a final decision on our lifting mechanism

id also love to hear how far some teams have gotten in just a few days

Re: How's everyone doing?
 

We have look at strategies and ideas. Our design is almost done. However not much building has been done. Tomorrow we will have a drive system up and running hopefully.

Re: How's everyone doing?
 

So far weve gotten the basic drive train design done, but were still conjuring on whether we are going to use 2 or 4 omni wheels on a six wheel drivetrain, we also have the overall arm design done, and were debating on how many joints are going into the arm, for simplicity reasons. other than that were are just starting on programming and fabrication, though not much has gotten done

Re: How's everyone doing?
 

from 1392

- We got our frame built
- Transmissions mounted
- Idea of arm still being developed
- Electronics mounted and wired:)

Re: How's everyone doing?
 

team 612

working on camera tracking
built a frame
almost done with the drive system
designing ramp

Re: How's everyone doing?
 

We are flying! We have a grabber and arm almost designed we have started building the base and drive system. If we can keep this fast pace up it will be an incredible build season for us. The only problem I foresee is keeping the fast pace up and not letting how far ahead this year we are get to our heads. Good luck to all teams!

Re: How's everyone doing?
 

Team 1565

-We can up with a basic design for almost the entire thing
-We have the programmers try and figure out the camera
-We have pnematics testing there supplies
-And we did started cutting metal for everything

Not much yet, but a lot faster than last time we did this (two years ago) as a rookie team, in which we never got anythign done until Week 4 because we were debating over ideas lol. I'm overall happy. Maybe we can actually compete with some of you guys this year haha!

Re: How's everyone doing?
 

Team 321:

Week 1:
Saturday - Came up with basic design.
Sunday: Started CAD model of the chassis.
Monday: Back in school. Finished model of the chassis, added improvements. Brainstormed on the details of the manipulators. Went through kit, organized it in our "KOP Closet".
Tuesday: Began modeling manipulators. Started to build the field. Ordered some parts. Educated freshmen about the game. Programmers started working on the programming for autonomous mode and the CMU cam.
Wednesday: 80% of the robot is modeled. Continued work on the field. Cleaned up our old shop, installed cabinets and put our tool chest into our new shop.
Thursday: Finished robot in CAD. Ordered 80/20 and other parts. Talked to Drexel, sending out mentors to look at our design.
Friday: Half-Day. Ordering cut-off date, so any last minute ordering is done. Probably heading to Drexel's machine shop after school to talk about machining parts and our overall design.

Re: How's everyone doing?
 

We have almost figured out how difficult it is.

Re: How's everyone doing?
 

So far this week we worked on our design - drive train, superstructure, and scoring mechanism. We also started machining the drive train and building a prototype of our scorer. Our strategy team started working on its software for this year, and programming started laying groundwork for coding the bot.

Re: How's everyone doing?
 

This is the best we've done as long as I've been on the team.

We have a design finished, we are working on making dimensions for that design. We plan on fabricating a software bot so they can play around with drive code this weekend and we prototyped a manipulator today. Some tweaks have to be done for it to work right.

Re: How's everyone doing?
 

The general design has pretty much been agreed upon for us; we are just working out exact arm placement/lengths and joints, and what is actually powering the various pieces (pneumatics vs. motors). Our drive system is all but designed and ordered, the only question remaining is whether or not to add a set of wheels in the middle for 6 or stick with 4 this year.

Re: How's everyone doing?
 

Our hovercraft generators just need a little more tweaking...

but seriously from what i have observed we are still prototyping grabber mechanisms and debating between a ramp-bot or a score bot. As far as strategy goes, we have two plans for whichever direction the mechanical team decides to go. the software team is awaiting a robot model and playing with labVIEW and various sensors at the moment

Re: How's everyone doing?
 

We built a very good simulator that is still being advanced and will aid in scouting. From this we have backed up our decided strategy.

We think we know what mechanisms we want to use, are starting to finish conceptual design and officially started fabricating some components (that are less likely to change, but can be re-fabbed later) today.

We will know our decided system this saturday when we have our preliminary design review.

Re: How's everyone doing?
 

Well this is the rookie year, so we have no idea what we are doing. We have designed the basic idea of our arm, but as for the driveline we are lost somewhere in the abysis. Am I allowed to request help on this website?:confused:

Re: How's everyone doing?
 

We are down to a couple things on our strategy radar. We hope to get or requirements down this weekend. Initiating prototyping.

Re: How's everyone doing?
 

ALLOWED to ask for help?? Forget allowed, try ENCOURAGED!! Start a thread in the Technical forum (ideally the Technical Discussion subforum) with as clear a description of the problem as possible. (General Forum might work, but the thread is likely to be moved.)

Re: How's everyone doing?
 

2186 reporting in!!

Week 1:
After much deliberation on what we want the robot to do, we decided to continue deliberating in hopes that it will solve itself. The design has evolved, devolved, evolved again, been lost, found, and turned into beaurocratic compost. The leadership can be found weeping in the corner, engineers trying fruitlessly to get a grasp on the problem and the programmers, the programmers seem complete unaware of what is happening.

Seriously, we have started the drive system to find out a transmission is not performing to proper standards, our frame base has been constructed and we have our wheels. Still not quite sure what the robot will do (my hopes are a coffee machine:D ) but it will be worked out today.

McKenzie out.

Re: How's everyone doing?
 

Team 125:

So far this week the arm people have been working out and finally decided on a design and got that cadded up. We also have been deliberating on what kind of end-effector would be ideal for our team and came up with 2 designs and will be constructing them both to see what is most effective.

Our drive train team has been ridiculously busy at work but has made a signifigant amount of progress and is about half way done with our 100% custom drivetrain which everyone will have to come check out come build season because its going to be NICE.

Other than that the programmers have been telling us to put sensors everywhere so were going to be doing that and hopefully we'll keep up with this pace!

Re: How's everyone doing?
 

Team 1054, Buckingham Virginia:

We just finished our electrical, drivetrain, and most of our frame, so we have a very basic and small, robot.

Re: How's everyone doing?
 

team 1676

This week has been a lot of brainstorming and designing. We have set up our shop and put in orders for materials. By the wed of next week I hope to have a finished and perfectly working drivetrain and chassis. The manipulator design discussion is about halfway done and we plan to start building manipulators by mid next week. Our programming team has been searching for useful already developed code to use and gathering and setting up new computers we obtained from the school.

This is the first year we haven't been winging it and its been working out really well.

Re: How's everyone doing?
 

Lots of brainstorming done
We have the design of our arm/claw, and a nearly completed CAD version
The defense/endgame team still has a few kinks to work out in their ramp design, but it's basically done.
We started building the chassis out of the KOP and last year's robot today

Re: How's everyone doing?
 

We have designed and begun construction of our lifting system.
We have constructed our frame and drive train and should be driving within ten minutes. We have several ideas for the end game but have not finialized them.

Re: How's everyone doing?
 

Our 6 wheel drive system is complete. We should be done with our "lift" mechanism in a few short days. We are beginning to build our "arm" to score ringers.
We anticipate being able to score 45 out of the 60 if it was up to our team out of the 3 in our alliance, in addition to being able to score on any level on the spider. The back however, will be very difficult to see.:D

Re: How's everyone doing?
 

Team 611:

We've basically finalized a design for our robot this year. We're finished drawings of our chassis and transmissions and are working on the others. We're going to start chassis construction and ordering necessary parts on Monday.

Re: How's everyone doing?
 

We have prototypes of the robot lifter, arm and grabber. Most of the brainstorming is done. After this weekend, the drive train should be built. We have the basic code and tracking working. Electrical has been working on sensor mounting.
This is REALLY good for us. I'm so happy with the progress.

Re: How's everyone doing?
 

1745
game plan:
we have figured out what we want to do and what we dont want to do

Mechanical:
we have finished building the kit frame and assembling the kit transitions.
were currently working on modifying the kit bot to make accommodations for what we have dubbed the "two-fer drive"

we have also come up with the detals for most of the mechanical systems, and have a good idea on the rest.

Electrical/programing
we have finished building the camera and are waiting on the mech team to finish the chassis enough for us to install the bulk of the electronics.

most of our auto modes are decided upon and psudo code is written for half of them.

the UI is not started yet(still waiting on the 140$ for the chicklet)

chairmans

the chairmans award team is done with their first draft and is re writing it, I also hear they are getting close to some one out side of the group to proof read it before re writing it again. . . were very surprised at the speed those guys are working at.

all and all I would say thats a good week, still alot of work left but it will get done

Re: How's everyone doing?
 

the video speaks for team 2200

We have crossed a tremendous step in our work after classes today.

http://video.google.ca/videoplay?doc...03903782519296

- Bochek

Re: How's everyone doing?
 

Team 1714 finished designing last night. Our chassis team finished the basic frame, drive team should be finished with transmitions tomorrow, and special functions has mocked up multiple designs and selected one last night.

we also start exams in 3 days ^_^

Re: How's everyone doing?
 

Glad to hear of the great progress! And to the rookie teams out there, if you need anything, 393 will help you as much as we possibly can!

~as for our progress~
We have decided on a chassis design and will be gathering materials tomorrow with hopes of beginning construction Monday. Our arm (forklift) is in the design stages as of now, but tomorrow should see some serious progress and we should be starting construction mid-next week.
Wiring and Programming have been hard at work, the wiring guys are setting up the circuit board and the programming guys tell me we'll be able to start driver selection as soon as we have a chassis and satisfactory drivetrain.
This is the best starting season we've had since I joined. I hope that this pace keeps up. If it does, we'll really be able to get things tuned before the first competition, which would be a first for us. (I know this hope is almost completely futile, but if I don't hope for it it definitely won't happen :) )

Re: How's everyone doing?
 

We've agreed on the basic design, and the individual teams are working on designing their parts. Who'da thunk a ramp would be so hard?!?!?!?!:confused:

Re: How's everyone doing?
 

Our first design meeting took place, and now we are schedualed to have a design picked out by monday at 6pm.

I gave most of the programmers someting to play with... and we are goign to get it set up so we can hook sensors up to a functional RC controller by mid next week... And we are gonna asymble the pan-tilt mount tomorrow (I estimated 2 hours max for assymbleing that...)

Rookes + 15-18 credit hours of college cources = hard to get people in the same room @ the same time!

Re: How's everyone doing?
 

To Bochek, and the rest of team 2200. I'm impressed that you've accomplished so much in so little time. Congratulations! Now that you have a working drivetrain, I highly suggest that you find a carpeted floor to test your robot on. The new grippier kitbot wheels do a great job at giving you forward traction. I think you'll find that they also do a great job of preventing your robot to turn. You may find that you need to go to 4wd to reduce your turning radius and to overcome some front end friction. Also, be sure to add some weight to your drive chassis. Doubling the weight will also double your difficulties.

Otherwise, the bot looks great. Can't wait to see how quickly you're progressing on everything else!

BEN

Re: How's everyone doing?
 

Thank you! its been lots of work! 7 am every morning for 2 hours, lunch every day and usually 3 hours after school.

Our manipulator is designed.

We have the parts to do a 4wd setup on order. Hopefully they will be in soon.

- Bochek

Re: How's everyone doing?
 

I agree, thanks a lot. Today we will build our half-rack set up :) .

Re: How's everyone doing?
 

I severly suggest that you lay down the tools and pick up the pencil and paper (or AutoCAD). Last year, 675 proceeded to take the path you're on right now. We had an overweight, under-supported robot that only performed it's task to a mediocre level, with no autonomous mode. We shipped an unfinished robot to San Jose, and didn't get any practice when we got there.

This year, due to some planning, we have a design and are in the process of making it a reality. However, due to the fact that our Team Leader (Mr. Greg Weaver) or one of the higher-ups (Blake or Robin) said we aren't to divulge any information, and the fact that I'd much rather not say, that's all you're going to know for now.

Come March, our secrecy will all be obviated. Stay tuned.

Michael Baker, Team 675, Phantom Robotics, Chassis & Pneumatic assembly and design team, 2007 Season.

Re: How's everyone doing?
 

We're doing well.
Everybody like to lay comparison to the 1997 game but we're leaning on the success was had in '05. Same drivetrain and a similiar arm. We're considering a ramp. Week 2 will be a critial week for us.

Re: How's everyone doing?
 

Progress! one week into design, we have a handle on how far away we are from being able to meet the weight spec.

And we also have an idea of some of the many ways there are going to be to mangle our half designed machine. This is so much fun!

Re: How's everyone doing?
 

well Team 2106 has started out fairly well for our rookie year. as of Thurday we have
1. a basic idea of what we are going to be doing
2. a baisic idea of what we WOn't be doing.
3. The frame finished
4. Mock up of 3 arm designs (thank God for legos!)

week two i hope to have the basic bot driving. *crosses fingers*

Re: How's everyone doing?
 

Welcome to the FRC and the best of luck to you and your team!

Re: How's everyone doing?
 

Our team got so much stuff done this week it was crazy. I think its our best first week since I've been on the team...

So far we have:

-A week one completed video
-Almost the entire field assembly in CADD
-Drive train about half way done
-Prototypes for arms and other various secrets ;)
-Got the camera working
-Made a mock-up of our robot in VEX
-Got our 2005 robot up and running for practice/driver training
-Made a partial rack assembly
-Working on our website
-Ripping old video/photos from previous years




Keep up the good work, everyone! Good luck in the upcoming weeks!

Re: How's everyone doing?
 

I'm not going to tell you *exactly* what I've been doing, but I can tell you it will be sweet and involves at least 3 sensors.

And it is working now but needs some tweaks.

Auton will be incredibly cool for us this year!

I have been programming with the base of last year's competition bot. It appears I bricked the 2006 RC...uh oh...but the 07 one works. The chassis guys have the metal cut and are milling. I'm not saying anything else...

School, homework, robotics, homework, sleep, wash, rinse and repeat. I love my life.

JBot

Re: How's everyone doing?
 

Friday: Ordered Aluminum and other stuff. Dialed in manipulator design.

Sat-Sun: Rest and think about something else but robotics for a change.

Monday: No school, but going to Drexel's machine shop and talk with them, machine some parts, etc. Order some more stuff.

Re: How's everyone doing?
 

from team 1259

we have had several designs we sorted through and came to a conclusion on one last tuesday
today during our meeting, our engineers completly destroyed the idea, along with the team's moral. be sure to look for a post from austir shortly. he was one of the main people behind our master idea. since the engineers threw out our idea, we are just going to post it on here to show you all, hopefully somebody can get some good out of it.
best of luck to all!

Re: How's everyone doing?
 

I smell edge sensing with either Infrared or Ultraviolet...


All I can tell you guys is that 675 will have some stuff done before the competitions. I know, horribly specific, but that's all I can say ;)

Re: How's everyone doing?
 

Team 66 report:

-We have an idea on what we're going to build... no... scrap that... we know what we're going to build... :cool:
-Chairman's Award Planning has been constantly in the works since the end of last season, just got to get it down to a single document and ready a presentation for competition
-Other than that, we have been doing quite alright. ;)

Re: How's everyone doing?
 

I see you are a rookie. One of the things you need to learn, and hopefully quickly, is that team mentors are not out to "destroy" anybody's ideas and definitely not your moral. If a mentor is critiquing your ideas, that is what they are supposed to do. They have experience and knowledge. The reason they are with your team is because they want to teach you and lead you down a path of success. If they know something is not going to work, it is their responsibility to lead you away from those ideas. Do not take criticism personally, your team will not succeed if you do. Be greatful of the help your mentors provide, many teams do not have any mentors.

Re: How's everyone doing?
 

Hopefully we are going to have a prototype chassis this weekend.

Re: How's everyone doing?
 

Metal has came in for our chassis. We begin the mill work tomorrow.

Hopefully we will have a moving, competition-ready chassis by the end of this weekend if things go as planned. We'll be working tooth and nail (this is also midterms week...), and probably pull a few all-nighters this weekend getting this thing built. It's crucial that we start working on our manipulators by next week - giving us two weeks to get that done, and one week left for testing.

Re: How's everyone doing?
 

Once we figure out how manufacture 1/8" thick negative index of refraction material sheets, we'll be set with the first ever FRC stealth bot. ;)

Okay, seriously, our wheels are coming and we've got the chassis nailed down, but everything else is on hold until final exam week is over... :(

Re: How's everyone doing?
 

do you meam your bot can hover in midair

Re: How's everyone doing?
 

team 104

still deciding on robot design
have basic plan on what we want it to do
meeting today and tommorow at east
also saturday meeting all day at east too
might start building

Re: How's everyone doing?
 

Team 157 Aztechs
w:] e have pretty much settled on how we are going to play the game. we started many designs, and are beginning to prototype.

Re: How's everyone doing?
 

we had problems with design from our mentors and sponsers and stuff, but its finally nailed down now. Our frame is made (its a kitbot so no biggy) and tomorrow we meet to decide what metal we need for arm and hopefully get transmission done

Re: How's everyone doing?
 

Well i havnt been in the past 3 days [Flu :( ] but last time i was there we had our prototype tube lift/grabbing arms working, still deciding on a drivetrain however. I think im gonna call up EA and ask how the hovertanks from BF2142 work... :cool:

we're also starting work on a sort of FIRST commercial, we are the only team in the province as far as i know, so we're gonna try to get the local schools out of the local league into the real thing.

Re: How's everyone doing?
 

Team:1718

We have:
The transmissions done
The cameras working(so far)
Idea for the chassis done
Idea for the arm almost done
And the rack built

:yikes:

So far so good