Today was the second Sunday, that we had off, after nine years of the program.
We’re already into week 3, which means we’re almost halfway through. Today, members of the documentation team writing the chairman’s had a meeting to discuss their final documents and planned presentation. Our graphic designers worked again through the day printing our team shirts. The construction team made the claw for the robot, which include two arm parts with a pneumatic actuator. This will help our robot hurdle the trackballs over the overpass in competition. Today was also Mr. Lee’s 90th? birthday and we surprised him with a delicious cake!
Today Mr. Lee, team captain Cody Smith, and web site designer Leia Lendio were excused from school to go to the state legislature to listen to the governor’s state of the state address where they gave their input on a proposed STEM initiative bill. Once Mr. Lee returned it was time to buckle down. The construction team made the top drive for the arm. Our animator added details to his video’s setting, while the rest of the documentation team continued to work intently on their separate tasks.
The construction team has a lot done on this early out. We are repairing last year’s crate to be used to ship our robot this year. The motor that will drive the arm was placed in the robot. Some of the chains of the transmission was removed so the master link can be used. We are making a new robot stand because we will be using boxed aluminum instead of astruded aluminum. We came across a problem when the robot’s lower motor stripped the plastic gear. Hopefully this small obstacle will be resolved promptly.
Today the construction team assembled the pneumatic pump and cylinder for the claw and we can now open and close it. They also made pieces of curved metal for the front of the claw that will help grab the trackball and put springs on the arms to help the motor lift it. Our animator worked on making the movements for the characters in is video. Our graphic designers finished printing the team shirts and have continued assembling and adding pictures from construction to the pitcrew booklet. Tomorrow starts the weekend so we will be preparing for a long night.
Today the construction team figured out how to make the arm stay up when holding the trackball by making a double reduction with the sprockets which will give it more torque. They also made a stand for around the mill so that it’s easier to machine parts, machined the hub for the step-down sprocket, and welded the front part of the claw that will actually grab the trackball. Our videographers interviewed Mr. Lee and other members of the team to send to George Lucas Films who will be featuring us in one of his educational projects. The rest of the documentation team continued to prepare for February’s open house by taking pictures and recording data that will appear in the introduction video and brochures. Thanks to the basketball concession, we were able to feed our hunger that resulted from the hard labor we put in today. The day begins tomorrow at 9:00 a.m.!
Today, on the last day of week three, the construction team made a bracket that will hold the motor at an angle so that it can drive the double reduction. They also started to make the battery box to hold the 12 volt battery and tested the height of the arm, to ensure it will be able to grab the trackball. The documentation team finished their first draft of the chairman’s award presentation banner as well as the executive summaries. Lunch today was chicken katsu, meat jun, and rice. Ms. Hirota saved the day by bringing the much needed forks and chopsticks!
