DEWBOT IV Build
Our build process is divided into the following five stages:
- Brainstorming & Strategic Goal Setting
- Prototyping and Tactic (Game-Play) Development
- Designing
- Building
- Testing & Training
We prototyped the following features:
- Trackball capture using Forks
- Catapult from Forks
- Drive-train arrangements
- Fast Trackball removal from Overpass
Team 1640 faced a number of daunting challenges during the 2008 build season.
The most severe of these was the temporary loss of the Team’s founder, leader and head-Mentor, Paul Sabatino, following essential back surgery early in the season. Mr. Sabatino is recuperating and we are all looking forward to his return.
The team also had to deal with a Teacher’s strike, which forced us from our home at Downingtown East High School for a full two weeks during the build season. The night before the strike, we all assembled at the school and loaded Robot, parts, supplies and essential tools (including a drill press, belt sander and a band saw) into parents’ mini-vans to relocate our operations. Fortunately, a local family, the McFaddins, became aware of our plight and very graciously loaned us the use of their stable as a workshop for the duration of the strike.
Two weeks after the exodus, we remobilized the mini-Caravan to return the now-assembled DEWBOT IV to Downingtown East.
category: DEWBOT IV
