Yesterday I deliberately didn’t write a blog because there wasn’t much to talk about. Things are overall going according to plan with one small exception: software. So far they have gotten around 7 hours (on Saturday and Sunday) to work on autonomous and our options right do not include pathweaver. Despite this, we hope that with some extra time in a couple of days, software will be able to develop some initial autonomous routines to be ready for competition. All of yesterday was software time and there wasn’t any notable progress (right now we can move forward half a foot and shoot three balls in) and so there isn’t much to say about that.
Today we started our “pit stop.” The plan was to finish Wednesday after school but we seem to be ahead of schedule. Today the robot was disassembled (excluding the climber and drivetrain) in order to change out the acrylic plates we had for prototyping. The electrical board was taken off and a manifold was added so that we can wire the pistons for the climb. We were able to fully re-assemble the intake and start putting the electrical back in place today. In addition, the surgical tubing for the climb was added so that the pistons for the elevator can actually extend it. The tube has four of the eight plates put on and the other four will be completed tomorrow along with its attachment to the robot.
All this means that, if we work as quickly tomorrow as we did today, we should be able to do the work we planned for 8 hours in less than 5 or 6. If so, the extra time will go to software so that they can get some extra controls, macros, and positions coded for teleop and work on autonomous as well. We hope to be fully ready for non-stop (as much as possible of course) drive time before or by the end of Wednesday. That way we should have about a week to get into shape for the competition. With focus, the right strategy, and some upgraded software features that should be implemented on Wednesday, everything seems to be coming together for a great competition.
Now, without further ado, here are some pictures of the robot in its half-completed, but ever more metal-ly (yes I know that’s not a word but hey, it sounds kinda cool) state.
Team 2658 Blog 