2011:2/8/2011

Drivetrain

Nothing new! No needs, nothing to deliver to anyone. Bumpers are coming along - need to cut pool noodles and figure out what to do with cloth.

Arm/Manipulator

Nothing new - making drawings and parts. (Parts are being made today at Harris.) Interfacing with electrical borad. Deployer is mounted on frame in CAD. The "facemask" guard for the minibot is in CAD. One structural plate needs redesign because the arm will hit it. Still working on how to fold down the "facemask" - probably with a gatelatch and servo (gravity should make it flop down when it's released, and it will stop when it hits the legs of the frame). Need to work with Electrical on what servo to use. Will need to make sure deployer won't go by accident if the robot takes a hard hit; also MUST have a pinning mechanism for safety, when the robot is being transported, in the pits, etc.

Minibot/Deployer

Minibot should be together by tonight and may be operational (wired). Need to test running it up the pole and see if it backdrives once the "off" switch is flipped at the top. Need to work with Mechanical on latching/releasing the "facemask."

Electrical Main

Have made 3 different trial control boards. Location of the on/off switch still needs to be fixed (will probably go near the battery). May move the gyro to integrate with the light structure. May need to move the Jaguars. Things are still a bit in flux! Also working on ideas for protecting the wires at the "shoulder" of the arm, where the large sprocket is. Will probably need to prototype some possibilities.

Electrical Controls

Parts from Digikey are in. Preset buttons are being soldered. Sheet metal should come in next week; interim controls can be set up to run the robot before the sheet metal comes in.

Programming

Have tested code for presets and manual arm control on Thunderplucker mockup. Need to know where the sensors for limits and calibration will be.