Robotics has Started Again

    We have learned what the game will be for this year. Now it is time for building our robot. We have our plan and this year we should be a very good team, if everything goes as planned. We have the design mostly done and now we are building the prototype and programmer robot. This allows my team of programmers to try to build the software that will make the robot successful. This years game will include traversing across different obstacles. Some are rough and bumpy. Some you have to move a door out of the way. There is a mote, teeter totter type things that you have to go across, A castle door to open, a gate to open and go through and many other things to figure out. Another part of this game has us shooting bolders at the castle to weaken it. We have to get these bolders through a window just bigger than the ball. then the last part of the game is capturing the castle and climbing the walls. There will be a lot going on this time.

William Having Fun

    We are well into our build for the programming. We will be using a vision system to find the castle window to throw the bolder. If everything is working well, we will be able to find the target and have the robot automatically target and shoot the bolder. We are in the early stages but right now the vision system is working very nicely. Next we are going to be using a PID control system to change the speed of the shooter to accurately shoo the ball through the window. We can get the distance to the wall from the vision system. Then we have to make it all work together.

    At the beginning of the game there is a 15 second period where the robot has to play the game all by itself. We are going to have to get the code written for that and get his working as well. There is a lot to do and I am having a lot of fun teaching these students how everything works. I really wish they had something like this when I was in school. Two weeks to go on building our robot. I will let you know how things go as we move along. 

    We like to have fun along the way. One of the mentors on the team bought a Rafiki head a while back for the students to wear at the competitions. The were going to dye it maroon to match the team colors. They were going to call it the maroon baboon. Everyone was taking their turns wearing the head. I had William stand still long enough to get this shot. 

I am glad you come along for the adventures my wonderful son,

Your Loving Dad