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This weekend, the team participated in the Week 0 event at Merrimack High School in New Hampshire, and new members gained valuable competition experience. We played three qualification matches (Matches 1, 6, and 11) and won all three, showcasing our robot’s capabilities.
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With Week 0 approaching, the team is finalizing robot improvements, refining automation, and training drive teams and strategists. Competition etiquette and pit judging prep are also in full swing to ensure smooth performance on and off the field. With continuous testing and practice, we’re getting ready for a strong showing.
Key advancements were making replacement wheels, fixing coral intake, making an end-effector slip, and constantly improving the robot. Meanwhile, other members of the team were further improving on the field elements, and we used these to practice with our robot in shop. The drive team has taken full advantage of this by taking hours of their days to practice in and out of our weekly meetings. Software: This week, the team made significant strides in both software and electrical systems, pushing our robot's capabilities even further. The algae manipulator program has been successfully completed, and we are now focused on testing and refining its functionality. The team is also actively working on autonomous routines, improving auto-align and auto-cycles to enhance overall performance. On the electrical side, we resolved a critical issue with the VI system and successfully repaired the E-chain. Additionally, a new sensor was installed on the end-effector to improve precision and control. The end-effector itself is undergoing modifications to further optimize its efficiency. As testing continues, we are committed to refining these systems to ensure smooth operation and peak performance.
With these preparations, the team is ensuring smooth communication, professionalism, and readiness for upcoming events.
Looking ahead: Week 6 has been a week of progress and preparation, with major advancements in strategy, automation, and competition readiness. As we head into Week 5, the focus shifts to final refinements and finalizing our approach for the Granite State competition from February 28th - March 2nd. With momentum on our side, we’re ready to take on the challenge—let’s keep pushing forward!
Week 5 Update – Team 4909: Building Momentum! As we wrap up Week 5, Each sub-team has made remarkable progress, and the excitement is building as we edge closer to competition readiness. Here’s a breakdown of what we’ve accomplished this week:  Software Team: The Software Team has been laser-focused on refining our robot’s capabilities. This week, they conducted extensive drive practice to ensure smooth and precise control during matches. They also tuned autos to optimize performance during the autonomous period, ensuring we can execute scoring strategies with consistency. A major milestone was achieved with the successful auto-align system, which now allows the robot to autonomously align with targets with incredible accuracy. Additionally, the team developed code for the algae manipulator, integrating it seamlessly into our autonomous and teleoperated routines. Work on vision and auto-align continues, with the team making strides in improving reliability and precision.  Mechanical/CAD Team: The Mechanical Team has been hard at work this week, pushing the boundaries of innovation. They improved the design of the V3 elevator, making it more efficient and reliable. A standout achievement was the design and construction of the algae manipulator, which is now fully functional and ready for testing. The team also began assembling the V4 elevator, a critical component for our scoring and endgame strategies. Another highlight was the design, assembly, and mounting of the climber, which has been successfully tested to perform a deep climb, ensuring we can maximize our endgame points. Operations Team: The Operations Team has been busy laying the groundwork for the team’s future. They’ve started planning for the next fundraiser, ensuring we have the resources to continue our ambitious projects. Preparations for the next season are already underway, with the team revisiting and updating the 5-year plan to guide our long-term goals. In addition, the team has been hard at work preparing for the robot reveal, an exciting event that will showcase our hard work to sponsors and supporters. Creativity is also in full swing, as they’ve begun designing a team avatar and exploring potential team merchandise to boost team spirit and engagement. Looking Ahead:
Week 5 has been a week of breakthroughs and forward momentum. With the successful auto-align, new mechanical prototypes, and strategic planning for the future, Team 4909 is in an excellent position to tackle the challenges ahead. As we move into Week 6, we’re more determined than ever to refine our systems, strengthen our teamwork, and prepare for an outstanding competition season. Onward to Week 6 – let’s keep the momentum going! Week 4 Update – Team 4909: Progress Continues! As we head into Week 5, Team 4909 is more focused than ever. Each subteam is making significant strides, and we’re one step closer to being competition-ready.  Software Team: The Software Team has been hard at work this week, making exciting progress on auto-alignment. The robot is now able to autonomously line up perfectly with the center of the field’s reef, setting us up for smoother and faster scoring. They have also been refining the auto-align system to target individual nodes (Rods that stick out of the reef for coral scoring) on the reef, ensuring that we can consistently score with pinpoint accuracy. Through many trials and errors with practice the camera placement has been tuned for optimal vision, and new autos for scoring coral and manipulating algae to enhance our performance during the autonomous portion of the match. Mechanical Team: The Mechanical Team continued to push forward with design and testing. They have been working on a new algae intake prototype, experimenting with different designs to ensure maximum efficiency in collecting game pieces. Additionally, they have been testing a prototype deep climb (Lifting the robot on the deep cage enough to get the robot off the floor) mechanism, a critical component for endgame performance. With each iteration, the team is getting closer to the ideal setup for both gameplay and reliability.  Operations Team: On the Operations side, the team has been busy preparing award submissions, preparing for the team's future, and connecting with and collaborating with teams from around the world. They have also been crafting Woodie Flowers Award Essay to highlight a mentor and their significant positive impact on the team’. Meanwhile, they’ve continued updating the team website with our current sponsors to recognize them as an appreciation to our team. The team has also revisited the old 5-year plan for the robotics program, beginning the process of writing a new one to guide the team into the future. Looking Ahead:
With the first four weeks behind us, we’re moving into Week 5 with a strong foundation. The progress we’ve made in design, testing, and team operations is already paying off. We’re on track to put everything together for an incredible competition run, and we can’t wait to see what we accomplish next! Onward to Week 5! |
