[Clem1640]

For the last three years, we have run a team summer project. In this project, we have focused on a technology area which we believed would be beneficial for the team to understand. We define the problem and scope. We build prototypes. We test these and develop the mathematics behind them based on these tests and first principles.

In the first summer project we explores "twitch" (biaxial tank) drive and 6wd tank. Hitherto, we had always built 4-wheel (either 2 or 4 wd) robots. As a result, we learned first-hand the benefit of 6wd over 4wd (and that 2wd with a 4-wheel robot was to generally avoided).

In our second summer project we developed a 4-wheel independent pivot drive-train. While this drive-train is motor-intensive, it allows a lot of very interesting fly-by-wire drive modes. Programming becomes first & foremost! We used this drive-train in our 2010 robot and have not been disappointed (It's our best robot ever).

This summer's program focued on our robot's shortcomings in preparation for competition at IRI. The main work was on the possessor which finally did). This was our first time at IRI. The team did well and we in no way embarrassed ourselves in front of this august group.