Vex 2

TEAM

Zeb Smithson Jon Boyd Shane Sharp Corey Thomas

“I got it made…”

What I s A VEX Robot?

• A system comprised of various

mechanical, electrical and

software constituents

• All parts are premade

• Can be modified and

manipulated

• A budget robot made from a

platform that enables students

to learn and apply various STEM

(Science, Technology,

Engineering and Math)

attributes.

Challenges

• Closely related to the real life challenges engineers face every day

• Challenges would end up governing how we would construct our system

• We implemented various system and management processes to tackle these challenges

Project Management

Budget

Time• 6 hours a day for 5 days

• Additional work would be done on our own time without the physical robot to refer to.

• Biggest challenge (in our opinion).

• It was a race against time!

Resources• Us

• Mentors (Technical, Software, Project lead, Project manager)

• Limited, but Various vex materials

• Any tools to help modify VEX materials

Budget

• Governed by our project manager.

• Determines the amount of materials

and resources.

Project Objective

Design

Build

ProgramTest

Production

Analyze

• Although the SDLC (System/software Development Life-cycle) model is tailored towards software and engineering, it can be used in a variety of fields aimed at accomplishing a specific goal.

• Ours is the RSDLC (Robotics System Development Life-Cycle)

On your mark, get set… Go!

Objective

“Build a robot from the ground

up with VEX materials and

program the robot to run

autonomous to complete the

challenge. The two teams will

have the challenge to capture

their flag and return to their starting positions.”

Design

Brainstorming & In i t ia l

Concepts

Challenges

• Conflicting Ideas

• Limited materials

• Lack of Experience

Solutions• Team effort - Constructive criticism,

Patience, Respect

• Competitors

• Mentors

=

The Final Result…

Hermione

Build Challenges• Using the least amount of parts to cut down

on cost, weight and time.

• Gravity combine with weight posed

problems on individual systems such as:

Chassis, Axels & Capture lift

• Create an efficient capture/lift system

• Create an efficient and functional drive train

Solutions

• Extended axels across chassis for

reinforcement

• Devised gears for capture/lift system

along with drivetrain

Bi l l of MaterialsBill Of Materials

Total Sets Used Number Per Package Price Per Package Total $

MOTION

2-Wire Motor 269 4 1 12.99 51.96

Motor Controller 2 1 9.99 19.98

Gear Kit 3 2XL/4L/4M/4S 12.99 38.97

Rack Gear 1 16 19.99 19.99

4" Wheels 1 4 19.99 19.99

Drive Shafts 1 4 12" Shafts 8.96 8.96

Pillow Block Bearing & Lock bar Pack 1 6 Bearing/4 Lock 7.99 7.99

Bearing Flat, Delrin 3 10 4.99 14.97

Shaft Collar 4 16 10.49 41.96

Washer (Telfon) 1 25 4.95 4.95

Washer (Metal) 1 200 4.95 4.95

Spacers 8mm 2 20 2.99 5.98

Spacers 4.6mm 2 20 2.99 5.98

Structure

L Beam 2x2x35 2 4 17.99 35.98

Chassis Rail 2x1x25 1 4 14.99 14.99

C Channel Rail 1x2x35 2 2 8.99 17.98

Slotted Angles (Slide Rails) 1 4 14.99 14.99

Single Bar 1x25 1 8 12.99 12.99

Gusset Pack 1 6 5.95 5.95

Screws 1in 1 100 9.99 9.99

Screws 1/2in 1 100 7.49 7.49

Screws 3/4in 1 100 9.99 9.99

Lock Nuts 1 100 3.99 3.99

Keep Nuts 1 100 2.99 2.99

Power

7.2v Robot Battery 1 1 29.99 29.99

Battery Charger 1 1 16.99 16.99

Sensors

Line Tracker 1 3 39.99 39.99

Ultrasonic Range Finder 1 1 29.99 29.99

Optical Shaft Encoders 1 2 19.99 19.99

Bumper Switch 1 2 12.99 12.99

Logic

PIC Micro-Controller v5.0 1 1 149.99 149.99

Easy C Disc 1 1 74.99 74.99

Programing Hardware Cable 1 1 49.99 49.99

Total = 808.87

Programming

Challenges

• How to go from dead-reckoning to autonomous automation

• Organizing functions to make our system work efficiently

• Program avoid function to avoid objects

• Inexperience with programming software

Solutions

• Used trigonometry to

guide our bot

throughout course

• Spread sheet

Testing

Chal lenges

• Calibrate sensors

• Calibrate gears

• Clearance issues

Mechanism

• Lack of experience

with software

• Finding code that

works

• Distance calculations

• Sensor calculations

Program

Tes t ing Capture Sys tem

Solutions• Trial and error

Manually inputting data into functions

• Calibration

physically measuring line sensor data

• More trigonometry

Finding arc length of tires instead of dead-reckoning

• Collaboration

Pitching solutions to mentors team members along with the opposing team

Release / Play

• Demonstrate how we, as a team, have integrated our STEM abilities

• We expect our robot to function correctly autonomously

• Reveal how difficult it is to create an autonomous system within a small time frame

Analyze

• Reveal how we have been able to work together to create a fully functional system

• Re-think our weaknesses and strong points as individual and a team

• Re-think and find solutions to all faulty aspects of our system

Thank You…

Kumar and Mathabotics

Katlin, Frank and the B2E program

Our mentors: Alfonso, Ashley and Matt

Everyone who encouraged us to pursue a path in engineering