Is your arm controller a scale model of the arm programmed so when the model is moved the robot arm moves in the exact same way? That’d be cool.
wow, you are the 1st team I have seen that could use their control system to chock their wheels, or to ramp their Segway up onto their truck :c)
…“ya think he’s compensating for something?”
Try “Oh my…” 
Most of the neons that ahve found their way into the computer mod sector, are made by the same companies as their automotive counterparts. Many are identical with the exception of the connector on the end.
Our team has two electrical/controls/programming mentors. I was the one that helped with the controls board. I told the students not to make it too heavy and not to make it too complex. As you can see, they listened to my recommendations.
Other than that, I didn’t touch it. Please remember that what you say is not only a reflection of yourself, but also your team.
beauty job.
im sure the students has as much fun building it as everyone else has had at looking at and drooling over it =D
Hey guys. Great job on the controls. I can’t wait to see how the robot matches with its controls.
hehe, the catalac badge is a nice tough, very very nice!
I bet you’d love to see what our arm controlls look like…
Why, yes I would!
do you want a cookie or something?
What?
As for the other, more straigntforward commets/questions, it is an automotive neon light, bought for a cheap 15 bucks at a local walmart.
Let me clarify the drill housing. We broke a drill, or took one apart at the very least. So, we were left with the plastic case that everything goes into. We trimmed it to fit, and wired connectors to the teminals. so all it really is, is a housing that a battery slides into.
We also wired a switch on the dongle/battery which allows us to switch between AC and DC power. Long story short, we can use the battery to power our operator interface. This should make tethering a lot more “wireless”.
Thanks again for all the comments
What do you use the ignition switch for? To turn on/off the power to the LEDs, Neon lights, OI?
The Ignition is a disabler for the built-in dongle. When the key is not inserted, or turned to the right, it acts as “diabled”, otherwise, it enables it.
Next to it is a safety switch for autonomous testing, which is more or less a joke on our programmers.
Here’s the story…
We were showing some of the high-up engineers who wanted to see what we had done so far the robot. And, this happened to be the first night that it could move. SO, we had it on the field, and we had it wired correctlly (this time) and everythign was great. Well, Aucther, one of our programmers, told me to flip a dial on the joystick (filter), all the way down, as i would get ore acceleration. Whups. As i tapped the sticks to see which way the bot was facing, it flew towards our team leader and the group of engineers. another tap in the oppisite direction sent it into the wall. I pulled the key, and almost strangled mike. Your a good guy thou, aucther!
Anyways, the switch is “on” when we are testing our very dangerous robot, and it moves on its own, so we have to take extra caution!
OH NO I’M EATING YOUR COOKIE!!! :
The tether cable powers the OI. If you’re tethered to a live robot, you’re powered.
Yes, however, for robot demonstrations, you require an ac adaptor to run the robot without a thether. We no longer need to have the controlls plugged in while doing demos. This means that we can drive the bot at parades much easier.
Very, very SHINY!!
/me stares into reflection
Are you trim adjustments exposed? If not, you may want to make the joystick openings a little bigger.
And does that think have a handle? I feeel very sorry for the driver that has to carry it all the time. Way to much responsibility trying not to damage it.
I felt bad handling the painted board ours were on. 