Members: Mishan, Nikunj, Joshua, Anurag, Akshat, Brent, Michael C, Eva, Jackie, Raphael, Tony, Achilles

Season Debrief Agenda – April 10, 2012

Lynbrook Robotics FIRST Team #846

Start Time: Tuesday 7:00 PM

Notes: DRI = Directly Responsible Individual

Agenda

1. Mr Xie’s Presentation (7:18)
   1. Robot Design Process
      1. look back on our design process
         1. concept
            1. Hybrid: fender shot, key shot, top level w/ middle level shot
            2. Tele-op: 6 wheel vs 8 wheel, long design, go over bump, two speeds, servo shifter, roller belt design, double belt to avoid ball jam, belt guide with notch and tie wrap, position open/close loop control with encoder and camera, bring target coordinate back to driver, tilt sensor
         2. decision
            1. Hybrid: key shot w/ fender shot; top level w/ middle level
            2. Tele-op: 6 wheel w/ idler, long design, two speed shifter, same as concept for ball handling, no target coordinate back to driver station, red/blue to beige line detection, followed concept for bridge titlt
               
         3. implementation
            1. Hybrid: Key shot and top level, move back and bush bridge down
            2. Tele-op: same as decision & pneumatic shifter, add ball centering plate, ball collector and auger, drive train control system has been tested on 2010 robot with camera, no final demo, drive train encounter instability, carpet sensor seems to work, no final performance report to team, solutions like dynamic braking and low pass filter are not implemented until problem happens, shooter speed control with dynamic braking algorithm, auto balance is tested on testing bridge, pulsing input control to window motor with relay to avoid severe impact
               
         4. effect
            1. Hybrid: Key shot is winning strategy, particularly when we need to move back to push down the bridge, middle level shot is necessary to work in harmony with other teams, alignment or shooter speed inconsistency, robot can not go straight back, not able to climb the bump
            2. Tele-op: instability of 6 wheel configuration in fast movement, pneumatic  shifting works well after fixing shifting block failure during demo, low speed is sufficient for qualification, not for elimination, performance as good as predicted, most of other robot use ball diameter deep groove for ball guide. Design is simpler, robot width collector over bumper by other teams is more durable and effective, camera image detection encounter hoops shadow issue on field fixed at NYC, robot can not go straight, shooter speed control encounters instability, manual balnce
         5. lesson
            1. Hybrid: long shot has sufficient accuracy, our design concept should aim at high performance robot which is in line with our team goal, our design concept have missed pushing cooperation bridge, our game analysis is not thorough, our design has not reached top performance robot level, particularly in control system
            2. Tele-op: use 8 wheel design if possible, use pneumatic shifter as the fist choice, servo the second, bearing block failure need to be addressed. New servo should go through off season life test, We have spent too much time on drive train and shifter. Can we just standardize super shifter in normal game to save time and effort, center of gravity location importance, adopt deeper groove design. need off season test, ball centering is critical for ball shooting direction, did not think about collectors and wider collector over bumper at earlier stage, analyze the game a little deeper, control system is chronic problem for team, see troubleshooting section for details, team should adopt a right design process, team should solve the problem before CalGames, jaguar speed controller linearization algorithm should be included in any close loop control, standardize window motor pulsing control, need to improve dynamic analysis
         6. compare our robot design with the top performing robots
            1. shifting (encoder vs pneumatic), shifting vs no shifting,
         7. emphasize on identifying weak links
      2. Improve efficiency of our design process
      3. improve ROI (return of investment) of members and team
      4. Perform experiments on software, hardware, etc. and build a database where future members will be able to go to to learn more.
         1. test robots, outreach groups, test materials, test ideas, etc.
   2. List of Problems with Known Solution
   3. List of Open Problems
   4. Problem Solving Approach – 7 steps
2. Competition Improvement
   1. Reliability problems this year
      1. on robot: wires damaged (bound too tight); air leaks; broken connectors on pneumatics; e-clips on chain idler shafts; loose control wire on spike; calibration (bring ultrasonic distance measure)
      2. on field: game pieces not loaded; robot moved; 2CAN;
   2. Robot Checklist [DRI: Diane]
      1. How to keep the check list working: [dg]
         
         1. Problem: checklist goes unused when robot is operated successfully several times so that the importance of the checklist is forgotten.
         2. Possible solution:  Combine checklist with log of performance and hardware/software changes for debugging and “permanent record”
      2. Proposed Checklist format:
         
         1. header: match#, sched time, players
         2. precheck | field-check : code/hybrid routine/pressure | pressure/game pieces/alignment/refs/2CAN/
         3. post: comments on robot performance for debugging
   3. Competition Tasks
      1. Robot Rescue Team [DRI Brian]
         1. Walk around the pit to help other teams
         2. restaurant buzzer
      2. Learn about other robots
         1. Photograph closeup details of robots
            
      3. Volunteer on the field
3. Building Improvement
   1. Design Chat [ey]
      1. We do everything every year, no need to spend time deciding that
      2. We can start drivetrain designs way before build season and just repurpose
         1. Design components common to every robot in the off-season
            ie wheels [am]
      3. A doc like 2011 [ey]
         1. all brainstorm ideas, findings, suggestions, updates…….
         2. make a template
         3. take notes during build season
            1. what needs to be checked before matches, tests needs to be done, special tools……
         4. list of priorities
   2. More Experience Members
      1. teach over summer[DRI: Aneesh]
      2. have newer/inexperienced members “shadow” them.[DRI:Aneesh]
      3. Possible training [ey]
         1. Machining
            1. use of machine shop, CNC
            2. get some tricks from machinist to speed things up
         2. drive train design,  more design practices
   3. Template parts [ey]
      1. take what we are experience of, improve them during off season, and implement them (spend less time) during build season
      2. Drive train, Elevator, Conveyor System
   4. System management system
      1. how to not let it die?
      2. Officers need to use it
   5. Driving practice
      1. Consider additional off-season event – Madtown Throwdown [miles]

End:8:52

Members: Mishan, Nikunj, Joshua, Anurag, Akshat, Brent, Michael C, Eva, Jackie\

Officers: Eric, Michael L, Alric, Diane, Robert, Brian, Lucy, Miles,

Active Member Meeting – April 10, 2012

Lynbrook Robotics FIRST Team#846

Start Time: 6:00 PM This Agenda is closed to editing at 5:30pm.

Officer Reports

Notes: DRI = Directly Responsible Individual

Old Business

1. Mr. Lowd Interesting facts (6:03)
2. Sweaters (6:26)
   1. bringing them tomorrow to distribute
   2. will be giving a shirt to Mr. Erwin as soon as possible
3. Grants [DRI Diane] (6:08)
4. Demos [DRI Aneesh] (6:09)
   1. purchase a basketball hoop for demonstrations
   2. no water, sand, etc. weight for the base
      1. Budget: $???
   3. Build?
5. Because Robots! [DRI Diane] (Tabled)
6. Email system Update [DRI Vincent] (6:17)
   1. going to add to the website
   2. add to the emails (generic footer)
7. Teaching plans [DRI Michael L] (6:13)
   1. Expand workshops into different items
      1. CAD: Michael L, Miles, Anurag, Akshat, Eric
      2. Writing; Publisher, Grants
      3. Art: Photo Shop, Newsletter, Illustrator, etc.
      4. Software; CD Robot
8. Newsletter [DRI Jackie] (6:57)
   1. good job
   2. distribute this Friday (4-13-2012) after school
9. Photo Journal [DRI Eric] (6:20)
   1. do not need any help
   2. need some photos
   3. will work on it, will order the photo journal soon
10. Participation Pins [DRI Annie] (tabled)
11. Crab Feed quick update [DRI Anurag] (6:21)
    1. lots of fun
       1. met lots of teachers, board members, programmers, engineers,
       2. Fundraiser for the district
    2. No robot problems
12. Lynbrook Excellence in Education ($950) (tabled)
    1. https://docs.google.com/spreadsheet/ccc?key=0AlAfPypZj6Q1dGlSZzJPaEVQR2hVM1hFM1hwUmljNGc#gid=12

New Business

1. The Manual [DRI Diane] (6:22)
2. Articles for Summer Newsletter [DRI Jackie] (tabled)
   1. will be done through email, assignment of articles
3. Update website pictures [DRI Vincent] (as) (6:30)
   1. ill be handled by Vincent and Alric
4. Team Photo [DRI Akshat] (as) (6:33)
5. Year End Report (spoken)
6. Next Year Design (6:35)
   1. t-shirt [DRI Michael C]
   2. sweater [DRI Michael C]
   3. pins [DRI ]
7. Activities (6:30)
   1. Botball [DRI Mr. G]
      1. May 5 all day; Independence High School Gymnasium
         1. Interested helpers: Michael L, Michael C, Miles, Nikunj, Eric
   2. School
      1. Physics: Turntable [DRI Alric]
         1. Mr.G, Eric, Anurag, Alric are working on creating one.
         2. capable of withstanding 3kg weight
      2. Physiology/Biology: CAD Bone Stress Analysis [DRI Brian]
         1. going to speak with the teacher
         2. helper: Miles
      3. Art [DRI Alric]
         1. Soldering stations – getting the stations back into working order/condition
   3. Team Banquet [DRI Aneesh] (6:30)
      1. big event that ends the year.
      2. Usually end of May
         1. May 27/26, 2012 will be possible date for the event
      3. finding possible restaurants
         1. starting a spreadsheet
      4. Photo Journals
         1. everyone gets to sign photo journals during this time
      5. Team Photos [DRI Akshat]
         1. have to print from Costco
         2. handled from
   4. Summer Picnic/social [DRI Aneesh] (6:37)
      1. maybe invite other schools?
      2. June 9th, 2012, weekend after school ends
   5. Middle School Demo (6:40)
      1. Miller: Brian, Diane
      2. Hyde: Brian
      3. Lawson: Nikunj
      4. Speak with Alric for more locations
   6. Company Demos (6:57)
      1. Diane will contact companies
   7. US Geological open house (7:00)
      1. try to attend this open house, great learning experience
      2. Mr. Lowd will take students with him if they need rides
8. Things to do [DRI Anurag]
   1. Hex Broach, Year end Report, Chronograph, How to improve drive train (design new one), Various improvements to software, Gibbs Cam, Machine Shop sponsors search, deprony brake, constant force spring motor, schedule for build season next year (look at Trac), build season reports, Icarus ballooning, CD-bot, Because Robots!
   2. Senior officers need to work on officer applications
      1. Due: ~May

End: 7:05

End: 9:26pm

End: 8:46pm

End: 8:25pm