pic: Exploding Tick Tigers

[wendymom]

Originally Posted by techtiger1

I will say that the collaboration went really well although as always there was a few set backs. Through our organizational/veteran skills 1902 and 1251 both sat down along with 408 to agree on this design. Meetings were held via video sometimes and in person as the inventor specialists went through each system of the robot mechanically the kids got a chance to ask questions, design on the fly and suggest improvements/ ideas. The teams held multiple conference calls to see what the status of parts, designs, and software where. JVN has a great spreadsheet on balancing deign issues and priorities as well which was referenced too. In short it is a large undertaking to make sure everyone has input on the design and I think everyone is happy with it.

Thanks for your comments on the robots,
Drew

'

The other really cool thing was how all three teams ended up working together all weekend at our mentors house. We basically had a huge 3 day slumber party (and you know bacon doesn't sleep) with kids from all three teams working together to get all three machines done. It was hard work, but a lot of fun

[mizscience]

Originally Posted by wendymom

'

The other really cool thing was how all three teams ended up working together all weekend at our mentors house. We basically had a huge 3 day slumber party (and you know bacon doesn't sleep) with kids from all three teams working together to get all three machines done. It was hard work, but a lot of fun

It was definitely one of the most intense, but best "weekend[s] before ship day" I've ever experienced.

Cannot wait for Florida Regional to get here! Lucky for me, its right across the street from my dorm - literally!

[Doug Leppard]

As lead 1902 engineering mentor I learned a lot from 1251 and their mechanical abilities. I learned what it was like to CAD it totally before any building, thanks Dave from 1251 for that. Our biggest problem was getting parts back from various machine shops.

It was crazy Friday-Monday with all three teams building all four bots the last three days. The Grajales home was filled with building teams going from driveway, to garage and to pool area with every room filled with people working on various issues.

This was definitely a high school/college mentor build. I seldom touched the bot and mainly coordinated things or did runs to hardware store.

We knew the final testing and especially the software would take longer that is why we built a test bot. Continental Airlines is letting us use a hanger for testing.

We have automatic traction control working but discovered a flaw to be worked out.

Proto type shooter shot 12-14 ft, production shooter had bad gear waiting on the part.

Using camera, but camera has issues as all those worked on them can tell you. The shooter can vary speed thus vary distance. It will be seen later if we can hit a target moving side to side.

The amazing thing to me was how well 408, 1251 and 1902 did together each bringing their strengthens to the table. There was no blowups between the teams even with 15 hour days.