Rapid React #3: Day 15-21

Woop Woop! Third week! Oh god…

Well, mech has a version of drive train close enough to completion for electrical to finish connecting motors so that programming was able to get their hands onto it. The mech team continues to produce field elements and finish up the CAD models. Things are being done!!!

Rapid React #2: Day 8-14

Mechanical is now done with prototyping and focusing more on the CAD and building of the robot parts. Most of the CAD will hopefully be done during week 3. Drive train parts will be delivered next week so only then will electrical and programming really kick-off. Electrical is helping mech with CAD in any way if they can but otherwise continuing the practice board so that they are prepared for when the real drive train is supposed to be done being built. Programming is starting to work on using the gyro and how to extract data from it, with many more sensors to be learned soon.

Rapid React #1: Day 1-7

With a slow but steady start, the mechanical team is well on their way to finish the drive train. At the same time, we continue to develop the CAD models for all the subsystems we plan to use. After prototype presentations, the team will split into their respective subteams and design choices will soon be finalized. Our programming subteam continues to build proficiency in PID testing to prepare themselves for the completion of the conveyor, shooter, and turret. The electrical subteam continues their training and assists our mechanical subteam until the completion of another subsystem.

Infinite Recharge #14: The End… For Now

Hello everyone! It is with mixed emotions I write what is going to be one of our last posts for a while. As I mentioned last week, the Arizona North Regional was canceled/postponed. Thanks to the hard work of members of our team, our mentors, and our Regional Director, we were able to get into the Central Valley Regional, to ‘replace’ the Arizona North Regional. Unfortunately, upon our arrival in Fresno, the event was canceled, with the health and safety of all in mind. On our drive back home, FIRST released a statement regarding the cancellation of both Championship events and the suspension of the duration of the 2020 FRC season. While this news was initially very hard to read, especially as our robot has not yet made it to the field, we applaud FIRST for making our health a top priority. Additionally, we are eager for the season to resume once it is deemed appropriate.

On Friday, our County announced that all schools will be closed for three weeks to help slow the spread of COVID-19, and today announced that we will be entering a “shelter-in-place” until April 7th. Needless to say, we will not be having any meetings, so there will not be any new updates to share. Hopefully (in my ideal dream scenario) my next post will be to share that all of our events have been rescheduled and that we are currently arranging plans to attend.

Until then, keep washing your hands and practicing “social-distancing”
-Team 2643

Infinite Recharge #13: Day 60-65

Hello Everyone! It has been a full week for our team. Firstly we wanted to give a HUGE thank you to all of our mentors for their time this past week, involving both adding an extending meetings so that we could ensure our robot would be competition ready.

This week, the Business team has been preparing for Arizona, practicing the Chairman’s presentation and printing out resources. Media has nearly finished the technical binder and the Chairman’s video is close to being completed.

On the robot, this meeting-filled week consisted of a few weight reduction measures, small robot tweaks, changes, and repairs, and A LOT of testing. This was a very successful robot week, and today members began packing our trailer for the Arizona North Regional. Unfortunately, today our team received some news, including that the Arizona North Regional has been canceled due to public safety concerns with regards to COVID-19. While this was a message we were hoping not to hear, we are very grateful for our mentors and regional director for working so hard to help get us into another event this week. We will provide updates to our competition status as they become available. Additionally, it was also released today that the Silicon Valley Regional is also being postponed due to COVID-19. As of now, the Monterey Bay Regional will proceed as previously planned. For the most up to date status on competitions during this time, check out this post on Chief Delphi.

We hope to post again very soon with good news about attending a competition this week
-Team 2643

Infinite Recharge #12: Day 45-59

It’s been a while!

We have been very busy, and now we leave for our first competition of the season in just ONE WEEK! Technically the robot is in the home stretch! Mechanical has a few final changes to make, and needs to mount our shooter, but otherwise the robot is good to go! Programming has been busy at work with our shooter, and is making great progress. Lastly, electrical is on standby, mkaing quick changes and fixes as aspects of our robot our evolving. We cannot wait for everyone to see our robot at the Arizona North Regional NEXT WEEK!

This week, the business team finished the business plan! Outreach has been busy working on preparations for the chairman’s presentation. Media has been working on the vlogs and making more progress on the chairman’s video.

Stay tuned for our final update before our first competition of the season!
– Team 2643

Infinite Recharge #11: Day 42-44

We are in the final stretch! With a week of no school ahead, we are looking for a big week of progress to come. This weekend our mechanical team has been working on the climber and putting all aspects of the robot together. Meanwhile, our electrical team has been preparing to put most electrical components and sensors onto the robot in the net few days. Programming has been testing mechanisms and preparing for their big testing day this Wednesday.

This week, the business team has been working away at the business plan. The storyboard for the Chairman’s video has been started by media, and vlog filming is being continued.

Until next week,
Team 2643

Infinite Recharge #10: Day 35-41

Hello Everyone! Just as a heads up, as build season is beginning to wind down, we will be shifting from posts every Sunday and Thursday to exclusively posting on Sunday’s going forward

Technically, we have been making leaps and bounds. Despite a few setbacks, we have completed both our shooter and control panel mechanism, both of which have also entered the testing phase. Our Electrical team has been working on preparing sensors for the robot, as well as wiring up mechanisms as they reach completion.

Media members have been learning Adobe After Effects. They have been working on the team directory, and the bi-weekly vlog editing (check out the latest one below!). The business has been busy working on the Business plan and have been looking for teams to come with us on the bus ride to the Grand Canyon in Arizona (send us and email at team2643@nullgmail.com if you are interested). We have been continuing contact with businesses and other potential sponsors.

Additionally, here is the latest Build Season Vlog!

Infinite Recharge #9: Day 31-34

Hello Everyone! Yet another busy week for Team 2643. After some setbacks from last weekend, we worked to adjust some deadlines and determine some solutions to help us get back on schedule. Our CAD is nearly complete, just receiving some finishing touches and changes as we test and experiment with our “final” mechanisms. Fabrication has been working nearly nonstop this week, and will continue to do so for the next few weeks. Our electrical team completed their CAD, and is now off to work on the electrical board for our robot. Programming is entering the testing phase with quite a few mechanisms, and will continue to test whenever possible until the robot is handed off to them by the Mechanical and Electrical Teams.

This week, Media has continued to work on and edit the vlogs (new vlog coming Sunday!). They have sent out the apparel orders, and started our team banner design. Outreach has been quite busy working on and submitting awards (yay!). The trip to the Grand Canyon during our trip to Arizona for the Arizona North Regional has been finalized. Business has made a list of potential sponsors to contact in the coming weeks.

Lastly, as mentioned above, our team has finalized a trip to the Grand Canyon, on March 15 following the Arizona North Regional. Our team has rented a charter bus, but does have 22 extra seats on the bus. We are currently seeking out another team (sending 22 or less people) who would be interested in joining our endeavor, and splitting the costs of the bus with our team. If your team is interested, please shoot us an email at team2643@nullgmail.com