FIRST Robotics 2020 - Report 4.0

Weather cooperated so we got our full week of work in on the robot.  In the traditional six week build season this is where we would look around and ask ourselves....is this half way done?  Even with two weeks "extra" it is a very fair question.  After all, you need a little time to learn how to drive the robot.

CAD design.  More features being added all the time.  More than 50% complete?  Oh yes.

The annual weight control tally board.  There's a lot that is not on here yet.  More than 50% to goal.  Oh no.

Ball transfer unit.  It turns out that it is harder to convey multiple balls versus one, and the new design has a weird bend in it to get more capacity in less space.  We are being vexed by feeding issues.  More than 50%?  Yes, but a ways to go.  Switching back to surgical tubing and perhaps making custom rollers.

I can't say much about software.  It seems they are getting things done. They have adopted the open office-standing work station policies of one of our sponsors.  Some team members do better standing on a cinder block!

One of the pulleys that will let our robot go sideways on a suspended bar.  It has been "Swiss Cheesed" for weight reduction.  Also it makes it look really cool.

Custom frame this year, laser cut from sheet metal.  This will probably not be the final version...we need to see how this all comes together, but time to burn a 1.0 version.

Robot frame coming to life in the harsh, stark lighting of the welding shop.  

And so it goes.  We have one eye on the calendar, one on the weight tally board.  Most subsystems sorta work and software has been doing assorted arcane things.  Stay tuned....the pace picks up shortly.

Going now to sacrifice a chicken to the weather gods....