Animation started experimenting with lighting in this year’s animation. The programmers started working on the smart dashboard, making a customizable dashboard instead of the default one provided by FIRST. Along with the dashboard the programmers researched on how to use the plethora of sensors that we have at our disposal. The CAD team finalized the chassis of the robot along with the shooter. Electronics team finished the final electronics board to be used in competition. Build team constructed the base for the shooter. The shooter is extremely important; it’s the main way to score and a key part of the robot. The community outreach team started making Valentines Day cards for the elderly. Also a food drive of peanut butter and jelly was started for Lee’s Summit Social Services.

Students makes valentines cards.

Programmers converse with Coach Ms. Griffith as to what to do with the camera tracking system.

CAD team creates digital robot parts.

Build team works on mock-up of robot shooter.

Animation captain, Adam S., works on lighting and camera positions.

The programmers continued working on the camera square tracking. They have been facing many challenges trying to track squares “real time”, but they use their mentors and even other teams for help. Animation continued working on this year’s animation by setting up scenes for it to take place. Along with the senior member of animation, the brand new members are making substantial contributions. The electrical team completed the electronic board base. This electronic base will become the “brain” of the robot, telling which wheels or “muscles” to move. Build started the ball uptake and shooter. They improved upon and lightened the robot chassis. They finished and tested the wood mock-up of the shooter. The final thing the build team started doing was the practice robot started to take shape, this practice robot allows our team to keep learning how to drive between the ship date and the Kansas City Regional.

Programmers try to tackle the camera and square tracking.

The animation team continues the frame of this year’s animation.

The build team checks the size of the electronic base.

Steve E. tightens bolts and makes sure the practice robot is assembled securely.

The build team mocked-up ideas for the robot drive train and shooter. They worked on how to get the robot over the bump and have come up with some awesome ideas! They prototype the shooter and feeder designs in wood. Build also started the actual robot and created their own practice basketball hoop. The Lunacy shooter was used to find the angle of trajectory for scoring goals. The electrical team layed out the the eletronic board to create a “rough draft” of the robots layout. All basic parts of the robot were put in CAD. The programmers started working on the camera and how the camera would be used to track the retro-reflective tape on the basketball goal. They also discussed how to send the signal of where the goals are back to the robot. Animation team continued to work on this year’s animation. They also started developing the skills of new members, the future leaders of the team.

The build team works on getting over the bump.

The Lunacy robot is used to find the best angle for firing foam balls.

The programmers work on the camera and square tracking.

The electronics board for the robot is layed out on paper using cardboard.

Newer team members learn how to make animations.

This season’s game has been revealed! This year our team will be playing Rebound Rumble. More information, including the animation, can be found at http://www.usfirst.org/roboticsprograms/frc/2012-rebound-rumble. This has been a super busy week for our team! After our Kick-Off Pancake Breakfast, the team began brainstorming. After much discussion and debate, basic decisions about our robot were made. After a few days of brainstorming, the team began building. Throughout the week, the team accomplished a lot. Public Relations began working on their tasks for the season, animation began brainstorming, and CAD began working on CADing the robot.

At the pancake breakfast kick-off, Brendan S., Thomas G., and Steve E. catch pancakes.

The team brainstorms ideas for the robot.

Groups of team members work on sketching their ideas for the robot.

Team member Alex W. works on creating parts for the robot.

The Broncobot’s first week of their level 1 robotics camp just came to a close! The team really enjoyed getting to work with all of the campers to help them learn how to build a robot, make a website, and market their teams using flyers! The kids all had so much fun. To check out the camp newsletters to learn more about what we did this week, click here:
Day 1
Day 2
Day 3
Day 4
Day 5 (Coming Soon!)
Click here to view our camp slideshow!
To view the camp webpages, click here. If you want to see links to all of our webpages and flyers this week, click here.

The Broncobots still have one more week of camp! Registration and more information can be found here on the Lee’s Summit North High School website (scroll down to where it says Robotics Camps) or here at Team Driven’s camp page!

All of our AWESOME campers!

Also, the Broncobots will be attending Maker Faire Kansas City tomorrow! We will be bringing and demoing our 2011 Logomotion robot. For more information about Maker Faire Kansas City, click here.