Second Front

The photo below is Emerson and Mike using a dremel to finish bolt ends for smooth operation of the robot arm. This particular arm did not make it to competition because it didn't meet the driving team's drivability requirements. This was one of many important and hard lessons - the users/customers' opinions really do matter.


 

Read more!

The picture below is representative of the robots in the Collin County BEST robotics competition this year. It is a pleasure to see the creative talents of high school and middle school aged kids unleashed.


 

Read more!

The BEST engineering program was developed to encourage engineering. This year, the students were given a large selection of raw materials, 6 weeks, and a very demanding task. They had to maneuver their robot to 1) throw the switch to open the warehouse doors, remove ground obstructions, remove airplane parts, assemble the airplane onto the airplane base, and then hang the airplane 4ft in the air. This competition was properly named 'Just Plane Crazy'.

Below you can see the field of competition. It is divided into 4 quadrants. Each quadrant is divided into a warehouse and assembly area. Once assembled, the robot is hung on the poles in the center.

The robot is in the starting position next to the driver. A spotter stands between the warehouse and assembly area. Points are awarded for exiting the starting square, opening the warehouse switch, removing parts from the warehouse, assembling the aircraft, hanging the aircraft and removing foreign/obstructing objects.

The overall effect of walking into this gym is much like walking into a rock concert. It is loud and full of youthful energy.

 

Read more!

This is Emerson. He is the Vice President of Engineering for Zen Assemblies.

 

Read more!

The fine little robot below was the product of six weeks of planning and testing. It was produced by Zen Assemblies, our make believe robot manufacturing company, a division of the SAIL homeschool group. Our team of kids ranged from 5th grade to 11th grade. This was their second year to compete. They were amazing. Last year they won the 'Blood, Sweat and Duct Tape' award. This year they won Most Robut Robot, Third in overall competition, and 4th in the robot competition.

I'm very proud of the whole team. They produced amazing ideas and exhibited a lot of courage to see them through. Everyone found a role where they could contribute their unique gifts to the team effort. We had specialized teams for marketers, chasis, arm, and gripper designers, fabrication specialists, microcontroller programmers and drivers.

Thank you to all of the homeschool parents for supporting their childrens' drive. A special thanks to the Tharps who lead the effort and let us take over their home and garage for six weeks.

 

Read more!