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Our aim this week was to finish up the chassis. This meant that this week was very busy and productive. To finish the chassis we had to complete our modifications on the transmission. We swapped out the AndyMark “SuperShifter” transmission plates with our thinner custom made plates and also remade many other parts of the transmissions such as the encoder brackets and the piston bracket. We also got the CNC running to create the sprockets-hub hybrids that we need.
This past week was very eventful.
We continued to learn about optical encoders and its usage. After, we went over interrupts, polling, and how to write an interrupt. Then, we learned how to write a function and how to call them in a header file. Next we integrated interrupts into our default code and tested it with the IR board.
When testing it with the IR board, we encountered a problem. While troubleshooting, we realized that we were not downloading the correct program file we were testing and fixing.
In the end, we corrected all our IR sensor problems and are currently trying to integrate it into our autonomous/hybrid period.
We continued to use the cameras to compile a whole volume of pictures for the week 2 site and for preserving memories.
The media team also had to continue to update our Dreamweaver templates in order to make the website more convenient to manage and access.
We also attempted to upload videos of the CNC, but there are some size issues with the videos, so we won't have the videos out by the end of week 2. We are currently looking for alternate compression programs.
We started off the week with installing Autodesk Inventor Professional 2008 onto all of the computers. Using the kit of parts, we assembled the Kitbot, although we had trouble aligning the holes together because they were not the same size. After registering our accounts on the FIRSTbase website, we used the online training to improve our skills. We also watched a video to review skills.
To practice these skills, we created custom-made objects such as smiley faces, houses, and brackets. Some of the tools we used included center point, hole, mirror, and offset. We also completed part 1 (of 3) of our test. These tests encouraged us to use complex thinking to find the simplest method using the fewest steps. In addition, we learned how to use new tools like the three-point rectangle, angles, and an application of work planes.
Later on in the week, we started to replicate the robot wheel and after experiencing some minor problems, we were able to create the center plate using tangent circles.