Manipulator

In preparation for Championships, we have been brainstorming different ways to improve our robot. We plan to modify our bridge arm, add an additional shooting position, and add a way for us to triple balance, even though our robot is oriented in the not ideal way for a triple balance.

SO! Triple balancing. We came up with an arm design, similar to what we saw on youtube on 599′s robot, that will go on our shooting side. This arm will be relatively small, and it will sit about 1 or 2 inches off the ground when extended out. Its purpose is to allow us to have our front wheels off the bridge without worrying about tipping. It will sit under the bumpers of the robot next to us, and so if we start tipping, it will hold onto the other robot to ensure anti-tippage.

PROBLEM: We have no room on the power distribution board for another motor for this arm.

SOLUTION: Rat Replaced Motor (RRM). This solution uses Robby, who is a rat, and Roberta, who has a mutual interest in Robby. There will be a hamster wheel enclosed by lexan (with air holes, of course) with laser pointers on each side of the lexan. The lasers, commonly referred to as the LPDC (Laser Pointer Direction Control), will be turned on and off by the drivers, controlling the direction the rat runs on the hamster wheel. The wheel has a string on it that connects to this arm, and as the hamster runs one way or the other, the arm will either go down or up. The two rats allow for breaks to be taken when necessary, as well as a way to provide incentives, since they are interested in each other. The rats will try to impress each other as they move the arm when told to do so. When the arm is completely placed down, a piece of metal will slide off, distributing a treat to the rats. We at Cougars Gone Wired do not believe in animal cruelty.

NOTE: no rats have been or will be harmed in the making of this device.

We will keep you updated on the process of this device.

Signed,

The Triple Balance Team

(Abby, Sami, Cassie, Alicia, Leah, Gabe. Special thanks to Jenna, Lindsey, Dr. Wood and Murphbomb for their contribution to this plan of action.)

So, KC went, interestingly. Some things went well, some didn’t. Somethings need to be changed, some things don’t. Luckily, no major chagnes (i.e. new holes, shafts, wheels, or added motors) need to be applied. The ball must be centered upon insertion into to the shooter, otherwise the balls will travel in unpredictable arcs, which is highly undesirable for accuracy. Additionally, the drivers need more practice with the shooter, for we need some set distances and loctions on the key in order to fire accurate shots into the highest basket, much like to more advanced teams at KC (Team 16- Bomb Squad, Team 1986- Team Titanium). Additionally, the drive needs to be edited in order for a smoother transition between turning and aiming to pick up balls. Otherwise, competition went somewhat well, and hooray for the Spirit Award! The team definitely deserved it. The team and I have some pretty high hopes for Denver.

In order for us to properly utilize the fabrication of this second robot, it had to have been completed by today, or rather, yesterday. Ohhh well… But I’m excited for testing and driving tomorrow, it should bring copious amounts of enjoyment into my rather boring, busy, restless life. I’m just kidding =D I’m all goooooooooooood.