|
2019 FRC 238 Bits and Bytes:
Build Season Week 1
|
|
Build season is a six week time period in which teams from across the world build a robot to adhere to the current game’s rules.
This past week we attended Kickoff at SNHU, where we learned about the game. We then came back to the shop and began strategizing, designing, and prototyping.
|
|
SNHU Kickoff
Kickoff is an event that unveils the new season’s game and how it works to the world. Teams from all over New England come to the Manchester SNHU campus to see the game reveal. Sadly, some teams do not get the chance to view the game reveal in person so the FIRST Twitch account goes live so that teams who did not get to make it, can watch the reveal.
New Hampshire governor, Chris Sununu, gave a speech on the importance of FIRST in the community. Woodie Flowers, also known as the “Father of Gracious Professionalism® ”, showed us what the foundations of life are through the use of a pyramid. The biggest component, of course, being Gracious Professionalism®. The biggest name of all was Dean Kamen, founder of FIRST. He talked about companies who are looking for FIRST alumni to come and join their workforce.
|
|
The Game
This year’s game is called Destination Deep Space. Each alliance starts on their HAB platforms and for the first 15 seconds of the game drivers are prohibited from seeing the field. This new mode is called sandstorm. During sandstorm, drivers choose to either rely on their autonomous mode or use a camera on their robot to drive.
|
|
|
After 15 seconds, the cargo ship and rockets dispose of any cargo in slots without a hatch panel covering it and the teleop period begins. In teleop, drivers bring hatch panels and cargo to the cargo ship and rockets with their vision intact. If one rocket is filled with six panels and six cargo that alliance receives one ranking point.
|
|
|
Strategy and Design Sessions
The CAD subteam is currently designing the drive train.
The whole team got together to decide what we felt was necessary on the robot. We went with the majority opinion of what to prototype and the ball was rolling.
|
|
|
Prototyping
When using a new mechanism or revisiting an old one, we construct a test model. The purpose of prototyping is to teach the fundamentals of the mechanism and to see if it will serve its purpose.
|
|
|
|
Spatula: We had the idea of scooping the hatch panel and intaking it using wheels. After many iterations, we decided the spatula would not work out.
|
|
|
Vacuum: Another idea we tested was to attach a plunger to a vacuum hose. From there, we turned on the vacuum, and tried to pick up both game pieces. The vacuum pick up was very effective at holding the hatch panel and was decent for the cargo.
|
|
|
Velcro: We originally wanted velcro that would stick to the entire panel. We started with an equilateral triangle design, but it was too bulky so we condensed it by using smaller pieces of wood. Instead of a whole triangle, we made a trapezoid without a base. It was very effective like its predecessor, but it did not have the same grip as the other due to the lack of surface area. To prevent our velcro from sticking to the carpet, we added small wooden wedges around the perimeter. This method looked very promising.
|
|
|
Center spread: The idea for this method was to hold the hatch panel through the hole in the center. We used a piston with two finger-like prongs that spread out when extended.
|
|
Community
In addition to working on our robot and strategy for this season, the team continues to work on fundraising activities to help decrease future travel costs. Since November, students have been selling prize calendars. Upon buying a calendar, the purchaser’s name was entered into a raffle. Each day in January, a ticket is pulled and the winner receives the prize described on the calendar.
|
|
|
Sponsor Spotlight
Millennium Precision has supported Team 238 for several seasons. This season, they were generous enough to donate 282 pounds of metal. In past years, we have been given the chance to present our team and demonstrate our robot to the dedicated people over at Millennium. Millennium Precision is a manufacturer of precision Swiss style machined components. Their process of manufacturing turns a bar or blank of material into high quality and durable products that span multiple markets. Thank you Millennium Precision!
|
|
|
|
We would like to thank the following donors for helping to make this raffle a success: 99, Backyard Brewery, Battle Games, Buffalo Wild Wings, Chill Spa, Claws and Paws, Common Man, Days Jewelers, Envy, NH Fisher Cats, Float, Georgio’s, Granite State Escape, Jacques Flower Shop, Ignite Bar & Grill and Hooked Seafood Restaurant, Longhorn Steakhouse, Masa Sushi & Hibachi Grill, My Salon By Dawn, Palace Theatre, Portland Pie, Real Meals, Sustain Massage Therapy, Sweet Kiwi, Turning Heads, Spare Time, Cactus Jack’s, Copper Door Restaurant, The Foundry Restaurant, and Planet Fitness.
|
|
|
February, 16th
Week Zero, Merrimack HS
March, 17th-18th
North Shore District Event
March, 30th-31st
UNH District Event
|
|
February, 7th
Parent Group Meeting, 6:30 pm
February, 19th
Stop Build Day
|
|
|
|
|
