2011:2/3/2011

Drivetrain

Still waiting on spacers. Need to adjust chains. Bumpers need to be done also.

Arm/Manipulator

Got 2 boxes of sheet metal parts in. Need to cut down stock for legs and figure out a couple of sensor mounts. Lightening holes need to be put in the arm. Working on where to mount the minibot deployer and the tusks tonight. Some banner sensors need to go on the manipulator, and travel sensors on the arm. Sprocket guard will be designed after assembly - need to see where hands will need to reach etc., but need to guard the pinch point. (Probably a Lexan part will be sufficient.)

Minibot/Deployer

IDW'ing in CAD the last parts that need to be made in the shop. Prototyping a new tower finder instead of tusks: a vertical plate with a "V" notch at the top, which sits in front of the minibot during the match to protect it, and then flips down to act as a tower finder with the "V" notch in the last few seconds.

Electrical Main

Have battery box almost finalized, need to check with Mechanical mentors to make sure it's OK. Need to get corrugated plastic at Home Depot. Waiting to see if "tusks" are being used or not, before determining the placement of some panels. (They may be mounted on the inside of the legs, connected to 2" spacers, covered with protective Lexan on the outside.) Still waiting for banner sensors, but have the LED's and will test them.

Electrical Controls

Design layout is done. Working on wiring schematic. Got new buttons and keypad.

Programming

Got controls layout to Alex - should have code coming soon. Andy should test drivetrain code tonight if drivetrain's available, otherwise tomorrow. Programming needs from Electrical for testing: a gyro on the robot mock board, and to be sure that the encoders are correct.