When and how do you create a whole-robot design?

[daniel_dsouza]

Our team usually has a general strategy nailed down within the first 72 hours, and we simultaneously brainstorm any mechanism that would achieve that strategy. Mechanism priority influences where in the build season we build it (we have a really small team. Building more than two things at once is not really possible.) Space and placement for each mechanism, based on said mechanism's functions is also allocated within the first 72 hours.

Next comes rough paper cad, then detailed computer cad (done mainly by 2 people...small team). The detailed cad is a ongoing process up to week 5-6.

After prototyping mechanisms (along with their detailed CAD), their compatibility is guaranteed by using standardized mounting techniques (gussets, brackets, axles, etc). Tolerances are handled in CAD, troubleshooted on the prototype, and built into the final.

Overall, there are a few changes we can make (adding more people would allow this technique to expand, reducing the approval bottleneck by having more experienced members). The only problem we really have with the DESIGN process is that sometimes we forget to try and combine mechanisms (like 842's intake/shoot/climb) and rather prototype individual mechanisms for tasks (like in an assembly line). The rational is that if we want to build 3 things, but only have the manpower for 1, we would rather have one thing done than nothing.

The hard part is building stuff in 6 weeks with only 4-5 dedicated members.