Hands-On Session: Mini-Competition Kat Baker July 20-21, 2017

Overview Quick and simplified exposure to what your student team will experience Engineering Design choices Building decisions Limited schedule & materials Writing an Engineering Notebook We hope that this will make you a better coach and mentor! Multiple 3 Minute Matches Frustrations Working as a team

Caveats This guide has a suggested procedure for building your robot. You may vary from this procedure so long as you: Do not endanger yourself or anyone else Do not permanently attach anything to the Returnable Kit parts Do not attach any duct or electrical tape to the Returnable Kit parts Do not damage the room or furniture in any way Clean up after yourself

Be courteous to our hosts! Please DO NOT scratch the tables, other furniture or floors, or snag any carpet or furniture fabric Please use the Drill Block when drilling Keep a ceiling tile protector between your work and the furniture or floor

Platform (1) Construct/Attach: Plywood base Motors Skid Make sure the platform is stable and can roll in various directions.

Platform (2) Attach Cortex

Wheels Attach hubs to wheels Attach hubs to motor shafts Attach motor to platform with pipe strap – on ends of motors

Connect Motors to Cortex (1) BEST requires the use of motor ports 2-9 Motor Ports 1 & 10 – Built-in motor controller. Not allowed by BEST. Motor Ports 2-9 – Require external Motor Controller Balance motors between ports 1-5 and 6-10 Motor Ports 1-5 share same circuit overload protection Motor Ports 6-10 share same circuit overload protection Use Screw Terminal Motor Interface cables to connect to wires attached to motor tabs

Connect Motors to Cortex (2) Cortex Motor Port Motor Controller Screw Terminal Block Motor wires with Quick Connects Motor Tabs

Create Program, While Loop, & Arcade Function easyC: File -> New Standalone Project –> Joystick Project -> OK Program Flow -> While Loop Joystick -> Arcade - 2 motor into While Loop Forward/Reverse Channel = 3 Rotate Channel = 4 Left Motor, Right Motor: (look where you plugged these in to the Cortex; our example shows motor ports 2 and 9) Add Deadband for both Channel 3 and Channel 4 to eliminate motor squeal JoystickAnalogDeadband -> between “Variables” and “While”

Test Drive Go to Build and Download menu. Compile your program. Fix any errors. Connect USB cable between laptop and Cortex. Download your program to Cortex: Build and Download -> Build and Download. Tether joystick and Cortex with the USB cable. Turn on Cortex first, then joystick. Wait for VEXNet LED to turn solid green. Test each wheel motor forward and backward. If either wheel moves in the wrong direction, double click Arcade2 icon, change value of Invert Direction for appropriate motor, and try again. Untether the Joystick and Cortex. Turn them off. Insert the 2 VEXNet keys and turn Cortex and joystick back on. Drive the robot without the tether.

Arm Build and attach A-frame to hold arm Make and attach an arm that is the right size to: Reach to the ground Be pulled down by the winch

Winch and Motor Build and attach winch Mount and attach winch motor Wire winch motor to Cortex Edit your program to include winch motor Test Add spool and string to winch and test again

Claw and Servo Disconnect the servo from Cortex. Design and assemble claw, including servo. Make sure it can move properly. Assemble “door” so that its starting position coincides with the servo’s “zero” position. Reconnect the servo to the Cortex. Turn Cortex on and test claw.

Servo Programming Connect servo to Cortex with a Servo Function In your program, add a JoystickToServo, and use Channel 5 or 6 (Servos don’t need a deadband) Turn on Cortex and Joystick. The Servo will rotate to its “zero” position. Make a note of it.

Mount the Claw Attach the claw to the end of the arm. Make sure it reaches to the ground and can open and close. You may need to add a servo extension between the servo controller and the servo.

Mini-Engineering Notebook Resources provided 2016 Scoresheets in your school’s TMI Notebook Engineering Notebook + Software Design & Simulation WORD Engineering Notebook Template file based on Reports and Papers Folder – Outline for School Report Outline - Customized using above 2016 Scoresheets Body, Works Cited, Checklist, Tips Specifications Use template file outline to enter information in 3 areas Brainstorming Approaches Engineering Design Process Safety Prior to 2 PM, complete and score your 3 Mini-EN sections You may choose to use this template with your students as a teaching tool. Remember to make any changes for 2017

Why is an Engineering Notebook Important? Engineering and Technical Careers need to communicate Technical requirements, Operations concept, Design, Test approach and results, Quality assurance, Maintenance & user manuals, Business Careers need to communicate: Response to request for proposals, Marketing Approach, Sell your ideas, Justify your concepts,

Competition Approach Create a team Create a Mini-Robot Identify team and pick name Team Number is the TMI Kit number on the red tote Assign responsibilities: strategy, design, build, software, test, Engineering Notebook (EN). Identify drivers & spotters. Create a Mini-Robot Compete at 2 PM We will be keeping score and awarding a game trophy Create a Mini-EN Required for robot to compete Score your own 3 sections using 2016 Engineering Notebook scoresheet in your school’s TMI Notebook Score will be used as a tie breaker

The Competition Two robot teams per 3 minute match - multiple matches. Game Field: Bounded by PVC Small & big balls Two buckets (one per team) Score by placing balls in your bucket. Small balls = 1 point each Big balls = 2 points each

Example 2014 Mini Robots