Tuesday, February 22, 2011
Happy Robot-ing!
Wow! the kids have really taken my challenge and run with it - find the time to add the last two missions! They have already combined two missions and have that working perfectly. They also are totally rerouting the robot so that the overall mission flow is smarter and more efficient. New modifications to the robot, more attachments, James is working on programs to ramp up and down the motors for smoother start/stops in order to maintain the repeatability of the robot. He is also tasked with writing the pseudo code for the tissue identification mission. Kayla, Jacob, and Caleb are on task for continuing to make the overall run more efficient. Teamwork in action! Lots of brainstorming and discussion, successes and failures, all great learning opportunities! Carry on BOTS4HIM!
Tuesday, February 15, 2011
Presentation Video - Kinda... and update...
Yes! We have the video of the presentation completed... but with technical difficulties. James' computer isn't wanting to format the video to get it online... so be patient we are working it... keep checking back...
On another front, we are brainstorming the order of our missions in order to find the time we need - to add the two missions we did not complete in the Pittsburgh competition.
Why didn't we complete those missions? Well, to make a long story short, we were a rookie team and I kept our goals somewhat challenging but achievable. We just kept adding missions as we went along. My main goal as a coach was for the kids to learn how to work as a team (being from the same family didn't make us an instant team! we did need to work at that!), to have fun and to spark a love of robotics (ie science and technology in disguise!).
Now, knowing how amazingly capable these kids are at their robotics I would have pushed them maybe a little harder and had them brainstorm how to accomplish all the missions from the start. But I didn't know that then!
So, we have a dilemma... the kids want to shoot for a 400 score (right now we get 365 on a perfect run). To get that perfect 400, they will have to dismantle the current run they have, reorganize it, find extra time, and add those two missed missions which most likely means making changes to the robot as well. Hmmm... tear apart what is working... what are we thinking? They're all saying YEAH! Let's go for it!
So, off we go to do just that! These kids are crazy! GO BOTS4HIM!
On another front, we are brainstorming the order of our missions in order to find the time we need - to add the two missions we did not complete in the Pittsburgh competition.
Why didn't we complete those missions? Well, to make a long story short, we were a rookie team and I kept our goals somewhat challenging but achievable. We just kept adding missions as we went along. My main goal as a coach was for the kids to learn how to work as a team (being from the same family didn't make us an instant team! we did need to work at that!), to have fun and to spark a love of robotics (ie science and technology in disguise!).
Now, knowing how amazingly capable these kids are at their robotics I would have pushed them maybe a little harder and had them brainstorm how to accomplish all the missions from the start. But I didn't know that then!
So, we have a dilemma... the kids want to shoot for a 400 score (right now we get 365 on a perfect run). To get that perfect 400, they will have to dismantle the current run they have, reorganize it, find extra time, and add those two missed missions which most likely means making changes to the robot as well. Hmmm... tear apart what is working... what are we thinking? They're all saying YEAH! Let's go for it!
So, off we go to do just that! These kids are crazy! GO BOTS4HIM!
Wednesday, February 2, 2011
Whew! We're finally back!
Hello Everyone!
After various Team members being sick with a bad, bad, very bad, did I mention that it was really bad? respiratory sickness for the past few weeks, we are finally getting back to normal! Yeah!
Now we can make some forward progress towards St. Louis! We got the perfect run video taken and James is working on uploading it right now. So keep an eye out for that real soon. Also, check out the Tabs above "Our Project" and "Our Robot" - we'll be adding more to both of these over the next couple of weeks as well.
We have contacted several potential sponsors and hope to be encouraged with some responses soon.
An official great big BOTS4HIM! THANK YOU to those of you who have deposited some encouragement bucks in our Thermometer! God Bless You!
Keep checking back as we keep adding to the blog - next time a good look at what else we need to do...
After various Team members being sick with a bad, bad, very bad, did I mention that it was really bad? respiratory sickness for the past few weeks, we are finally getting back to normal! Yeah!
Now we can make some forward progress towards St. Louis! We got the perfect run video taken and James is working on uploading it right now. So keep an eye out for that real soon. Also, check out the Tabs above "Our Project" and "Our Robot" - we'll be adding more to both of these over the next couple of weeks as well.
We have contacted several potential sponsors and hope to be encouraged with some responses soon.
An official great big BOTS4HIM! THANK YOU to those of you who have deposited some encouragement bucks in our Thermometer! God Bless You!
Keep checking back as we keep adding to the blog - next time a good look at what else we need to do...
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