Week 3 Build Season

Week by week, success draws closer. This week, Team 4909 has pushed our boundaries and delved deeper into a continuous cycle of improvement across all channels. Our dedication and collaborative efforts continue to drive meaningful progress toward our goal.

​​​Mechanical:

It's been an exciting week for mechanical developments of the robot. By Saturday, the team began testing the ball intake system.  After evaluating the intake on version four of the robot, the team determined that an additional motor was needed to increase intake power. Mechanical also focused on refining the components that improve the robot's ability to accurately launch and aim balls to score points, the spindexer. The team is enthusiastic about beginning drive practice next week!

The mechanical and software teams continue to work in close partnership, developing two robots simultaneously for efficient progress. While the mechanical team advances one version of the robot’s physical design, the software team develops code that enables the prior robot version to follow commands, recognize obstacles, and make decisions. Then, as software milestones are reached, the evolving robot body is handed off to the software team for movement optimization and performance tuning. The ladder development method enables incredible progress in a short time.

​​Software:

This week, the software team has embarked on several projects. First, they updated the turret code from last week and built improvements on that front. They also troubleshot the camera to ensure it can coherently scan AprilTags while running. Finally, to accommodate the multiple robots currently in development, they began coding for an additional motor. This will allow them to continuously adjust and affirm their action plan for the upcoming competition season.

​​Operations:

The operations team has been especially focused on prepping for Minuteman, creating merchandise for sale and promoting the event. As part of this effort, we've been more active in purchasing materials for pins and recently received a new pin maker, which will make production more efficient. Additionally, our team has prioritized outreach, connecting with parents and schools to arrange visits where we can show kids what robotics and STEM are all about.

​As we close out another productive month, our crew continues to push boundaries and redefine what's possible in our field. From innovative design solutions and collaborative problem-solving sessions to strengthening community partnerships and refining our competitive strategy, our collective is proving that dedication and creativity go hand in hand. We're excited to share more milestones as we charge forward into the next phase of our journey!