Expieriences of Robotics

Robotics is FUN!!

In the start, I thought the class would be basically programing and building, but throughout the semester, it seemed to get more and more interesting by the second(s). Although there were some confusing parts at first (with the programing), the class helped me to understand more and more about the robot(s). In the class, we studied Mathmatics, Science and Mechanics. Mathmatics basically involved calculating the ratio and average of speed/time. Science invovled using the Scientific Method, using hypothesis and conclusion. Last but not least, mechanics involved building the robot itself, inducing parts, rotating gears, and programing the robot to move.
In the start of the year, we would have to keep switching partners to coop with one another as we learned how to work with different types of sensors. After learning all gears ratios and sensor, I paired up with Bart as a partner for the rest of the semester. Of COURSE!! Without telling it was FUN!!. We had build our major robot (and its still the biggest one of the year) name the "Goliath" for some reason which I still wanted to rename it. Utilizing the kit, we had barly pass obsticle courses and some sensor usage. Each sensor had its own use:
Ultrasound Sensor: The ultrasound sensor is the sensor which senses what is ahead using the ultrasound (same as the bats).
Touch Sensor: Touch Sensor is basically relying on bump, press, or released. It's the most simplest sensor.
Light Sensor: The Light Sensor detects the lights off the ground which is determined by the threshold put. High or low would change the movement of the motors.
Sound Sensor: The Sensor is basically attracted to sound. It reads a sound whether it's high or low. Then it moves the robot.
the end, we had a race between speed and pull. The speed is basically making the robot run fast, and the pull was to lift the biggest amount of weight past an amount of space.
All in all, WE had a very fun Time!!!!

Tracktor Pull

Our Idea of the Tractor Pull is to increase the Driven Gear since with a smaller driving gear, the driving gear could push the driven gear harder with more friction, although this might be hard to push the wheels, it has the best way of friction and reducing slip. Instead of wheels, we decided to use belts, they are similar to tank wheels, hope we could use the the produce a high amount of friction to pull.

Gears and Speed

During the Gears and Speed Investigation, we measured speed differences, and using the speed differences and the gear ratios, we then could find how to make our bot faster. We knew that by having a larger gear in the driving area, the movement speed would increase, but if we were to get more friction and power, we would need to use the gears the other way, meaning if the driven gear is bigger, the robot would move slower but with more power. Out of our investigation, we made a table with a 1:1 Ratio, 2:1 Ratio, and a 1:2 Ratio. With those 3 ratios, we timed the movement for 3 seconds, and the results were averaged later on.

Draggy Drag Race

Pretty much, the speed challange is just about gaining the fastest speed. For us, we are using the 40 teeth gear, and 8 teeth gear, which makes it a 5: 1 Ratio. Using that, our speed would be 5 times faster than the original. The original was 2 x 16 tooth gears, meaning it was a 1: 1 Ratio. Using the 5: 1 Ratio idea, we think we could be able to succeed.