DEWBOT VIII Build
From DEW Robotics
Build season is the heart of the FRC year. It is the 45 days during which the team's students and mentors put their hearts, minds and hands into designing and building a great robot. Paradoxically, the time seems both far too short and much too long.
This page contains a day by day breakdown of what we did. Dates hyper-links go to the corresponding photo gallery.
Kickoff
- On Saturday, January 7th, team 1640 students, parents and mentors drove to Upper Darby High School on to watch the events from Dean Kamen’s home in New Hampshire, see the objectives of the 2012 game revealed, examine a mock-up of this year’s play pieces up close, and pick up our kit of parts.
- We attended seminars immediately following the Rebound Rumble Kickoff.
- The Team returned to Creamery Way following Kickoff for a read-through of Rebound Rumble's rules.
- Set up the field and ran Student-bot simulations
Week One (1/8-1/14)
Sunday 8-January - Brainstorming
- KOP Inventoried
- Formed Product Teams
- Set key game-play objectives
- Identified and prioritized prototyping plans
- Product teams began prototye planning
- BOM set for Bridge (field priority)
- DEWBOT VI is getting some extra wheels! (to get over the barrier)
- DEWBOT VII deux's arm and mimibot deployment come off to turn it into a testbed chassis
- Drive-train Team
- Discussed substitution of RS540 steering motors at 256:1 reduction (not an available choice this year) with RS395 motors at 132:1. Alternative is RS550 motor at 256:1. RS395 provides 0.94 lb mass savings vis-à-vis 2011 whereas the RS550 option adds 0.57 lb to the robot. Decision to move forward with the RS395 option. Parts ordered.
- Demonstrated that 8" undriven wheels ½ - 1" above grade cannot enable the Pivot Chassis to cross the Barrier. Results were close enough (at maximum offset) to make it over with marginal human upward assistance. Landing was very violent (especially for pivots) and resulted in a non-negligible "jump".
- Examined "skids" for the pivot wheels that may protect them during Barrier traversal. As designed, would not compensate for the "jump" present in the undriven wheel test above.
- Examined math for 4-6wd wide over the Barrier with 8" and 10" wheels. Results allow for further pursuit.
- Examined different steering and drive linkages available and their associated attributes.
- Bridge Team
- Concept developed for a straightforward arm to quickly lower the Bridge (and possibly the traverse the Barrier). Need to test. Started to fab a prototype.
- Second screw-type concept also under review
- Scoring Team
- Started assembling a prototype shooter
- Discussed possibility of a PTO to power both the drivetrain (specially a linked-drive pivot) and shooter via CIM motors, if CIM motors prove necessary.
- Control Team
- Discussed ramifications of RS540 to RS395 motor change. Determined RS395 are acceptable.
- Flow-charted Hybrid mode strategy options
- Discussed potential methods to select option and delays
- Tested a catapult concept
- Flex Team
- Started Bridge-building
Wednesday 11-January
Plan:
- Flex Team
- Complete Bridge
- Drive-train Team
- Update drivetrain requirements (both with and without Barrier traversal)
- Test driven 8" Pneumatic Wheel w/ DEWBOT VI (kicker removed) to cross Barrier <-- test postponed pending arrival of wheels (preparation can begin)
- Assemble 6WD-Wide chassis w/ 8" Pneumatic Wheels in front to determine whether this can cross the Barrier. Use either kit-bot frame or DEWBOT V chassis for this test.
- Bridge Team
- Prepare Bridge Manipulation appendage for test. Test, specially for time required and any impact upon landing.
- Update Bridge (and Barrier) manipulation requirements.
- Scoring Team
- Continue to assemble prototype Shooter
- Start work on ball collection and lift (at least conceptual)
- Update scoring and collection requirements (both with and without Barrier traversal)
