14th Post: 11/14/14

            End of the Week: Finishing the Finishing Touches

After we finished with the development of the "ball extractor" we tested it out to see if there were any "technical difficulties" with it and found out that there was barely any weight on the front of the bot thus causing it to be lifted while using the "ball extractor" to "extract" the golf balls from the holes and fixed it by acquiring a couple of weights to help the front of the bot. We have also begun to plan out and build the golf course in the mat currently located in the classroom.

Will and Adam celebrating the
finishing touches.

Planning to use PVC's for the golf holes.

13th Post: 11/10/14

Beginning of the Week: Finishing Touches

For this week, our group hopes to complete the rack and pinion system.  We have it somewhat secured on the robot and will be installing what we call the "ball extractor" in order to remove the ball from the hole.  We have also been testing out different sizes for the hole and ball extractor that would suit the robot and wouldn't make the game too easy.

Securing the Rack and Pinion System

Different "ball extractors"

12th Post: 11/7/14

End of the Week: Fresh Ideas

We have decided on how to make the game more complicated to be used.  The robot will have to pick up the ball out of the whole after the ball get putted in.  This will force teams to use a second device to get the ball out of a narrow hole.  We came to the decision of using a rack and pinion system to lower into the hole and take the ball out.  

Rack and Pinion System (Front View)

Rack and Pinion System (Back View)

11th Post: 11/3/14

Beginning of the Week: More Brainstorming 

So as we were practicing with the robot last Friday, Mr. Martin watched briefly and said that our robot was too simple and the robot needed another arm or accessory on it.  The game is a good idea, but needs to add more challenge to it because all the robot has is a drive train and spinning arm.  This week we hope to add another aspect to the game requiring a second arm or further complicating the game so that it's allowed.  Other than that we will just continue to make small modifications to the robot we find necessary.

Brainstorming new additions

Tightening/Checking Screws

10th Post: 10/31/14

End of the Week: The Little Things That Count

So for this whole week, we practiced with the robot even more.  We're slowly getting better and better at determining how to hit the ball and where it will go when we hit it.  A lot of the hits are very inaccurate mostly due to never playing put-put with a robot before.  One thing we did improve on the robot was the arm design.  Previously we had a small piece of Vex metal to hit the ball, but we now have a solid block of plastic which allows us to hit the ball farther. 

3D Printed arm

Practicing With new arm

9th Post: 10/27/14

Beginning of the Week: Put-Put Practice

We plan to practice our put-put for this week and make any necessary improvements on the robot to allow us to hit it in the hole in a minimum amount of hits.  We might add an arm in the center because we designed the robot to fit a gold ball under the center.  This can allow us to get more accurate hits and prevent us from needing an extra hit or two due to inaccuracy.

Practicing Hitting the Ball

Not a Hole in one but it Went in!

8th Post: 10/24/14

End of the Week: Big Success

We were able to get the robot moving.  We have the wheels working on both sides and after going through several brains, we were able to finally find one that allowed us to operate the robot through wireless rather than having use a wired connection.  We drove it over to Mr. Martin for a grade and got 100%

Securing Battery on Robot Before Movement

Front View for Robot