RC Prop Car

Here's Israel, Chase, and I's RC Prop car! It steers in the front and blow in the back. 

Programming

Programming

We started probably the most basic form of programming this week. We started off with the robopro program on our computers, an interface, an a motor. We told it to start for 3 seconds, then stop. After that advanced to switches and a lamp. On Wednesday, we made the lamp go on, until it had been on for 8 seconds or more. This is a really cool topic. 

Basic Programming

Basic Programming

Open Closed Loop System

Open Closed Loop System

Branch Functions

Basic Programming

Variable Functions

3.1.7

Delivery vehicle control

We did the activity on 3.1.7 called delivery vehicle control, where we were to create a system that would transport goods between 2 point, based on an pentameter input. Eventually with some program tweaks, we were able to activate it.

The Smokey Sorter

The Smokey Sorter

Along with our short programming section, we launched ourselves into the capstone project, Marble Sorters! I worked with Kyler Smith, Israel Dedina, David Carroll, and Chase Fischer. We worked a long time on this and eventually came up with a working model that sorted 3 marbles.

We Earned 20 Achievements.

Our Sketches

Organize it!

Brainstorm!

Enter the Matrix

Data Matrix

Design Solution

"I've Made a Few Special Modifications..."

Final Implementation

Final


Reflection
+: We successfully sorted 3 marbles
We sorted the marbles very quickly
It was efficient
-: We only were able to sort 3 marbles
Our funnel/hopper didn't work completely, had to adjust it
We were unable to drop the marbles from 6 feet
?: Make a larger funnel
Try to sort more marbles
Use more fischertecniq products
!: Attempt to use the light sorters
Make more of an upward facing hopper
Add a more definite wood/metal marble sorter

Reference:
Our prototype was based off a trash sorter, shown here: reference


--------------------------------------Product Achievements------------------------------------------

Sorting Speed (15 marbles total: at least 3 different types):
Process 15 marbles in less than 2:00minutes. 
Process 15 marbles in less than 1:45minutes.
Process 15 marbles in less than 1:30minutes.
Process 15 marbles in less than 1:15minutes.
Process 15 marbles in less than 1:00 minute.
Process 15 marbles in less than 45 seconds.
Process 15 marbles in less than 30 seconds.

Marble Delivery (may use non-fischertechnik materials to create a "hopper" to drop marbles into for "Drop" achievements):
Drop marbles from 6" above machine 
Drop marbles from 1' above machine
Drop marbles from 2' above machine

Systems (not including motor or piston used to charge your pressure vessel):
Use at least one motor

Marble Sorter

We finished our marble sorters last week and they were put to the test. We performed quite well and earned several achievements. Here's some pictures:

Flowcharting

Hey guys! This week in class, we made flow charts as a Segway into robotics and programming. Here are a few pictures of our flow charts.

Week 8 Update

This week was all about the Bridge Building Contest. We are given 3 Manilla Folders and 3 feet of tape to make a bridge that spans an 18 inch gap. Whichever bridge holds the most weight in magazines wins. Our design is 6 triangular beams that interlock together and use gravity to hold up. We were also given 10,000 Engineering bucks to bet for and against other bridges.

Week 4/Seaperch Challenge

This week we finally competed with our Seaperch robots. It was a lot of fun and hopefully we'll do it again. I've attached a model of the sumo wrestling ring that David and I designed and built using pool noodles and string.

Week 1 of Semester 2

For our first week into the new semester, we started with Seaperch on Monday. Our team (David, Jesse, Rafael, and I) put our device in the water for the first time and had great success!there was one other team with us so we decided to race around the pool a few times. We won 2:1. On Wednesday, we were introduced to the new leadership system. We were broken into group teams and each elected a manager. I am the manager this week. We took notes on leadership with the main 3 points being Direction, Alignment, and Commitment. We then did an exercise where we organized ourselves in the classroom according to a diagram of dots on the board. We then had to pass a ball around to each person but with certain constraints such as only passing to someone not directly next to you. This has been the first week in the new self feedback system and this blog is part of that. I just earned a point!