12/14 - Mastering the Midterm

     Today we're finalizing our attempt at the midterm. We've created a coherent strategy for the rubric. For near autonomous, we're not going for the flag at all. Instead, we're taking our 15 points and going for perfection in every other challenge. We're doing a good job at programming, and now that we have a strategy we have hope.
     We feel like the scrappiest group. Every time we have a problem, we're forced to solve it in the least janky way possible. The problem today was the sideways shooter being difficult for autonomous. The solution? We're dropping the sideways shooter in autonomous instead of dropping the picking up mechanism and making a forward shooter. This gives us an opportunity at a 95 instead of a maximum of an 80. Hunter thought of that strategy, good on him. As for our plans, we're looking to finish up the midterm's requirements, collect our grade, and beat every other team in competition. See you then.

Until sometime after winter break?,
Diego.

12/10 - Persisting Practice

     Today, and the rest of the week, we'll be practicing and doing autonomous. We won't be doing anything other than those two activities. Unfortunately, while I pride myself in making the best blogs, that means my blogs are going to be boring this week. I also can't do much for the team, as Hunty is programming autonomous while Samuel and Brandon work on the robot. Thus, enjoy a meme.

Until Friday,
Diego.

12/6 - Successful Sideways Shooter

     Today we finished the sideways shooter. It's a success. It's the hardest hitting shooter in the class, but that comes with a couple drawbacks. First, it takes a ton of battery. Second, it takes forever to fire. The idea now is we program our autonomous and practice the rest, and we're done. Days like this in engineering are revitalizing. I feel as if we actually have a chance at doing well. The feeling is a good one. Hopefully when I write next we'll have our first go at the midterm finished and know exactly what we need to do for the future.

Until Monday,
Diego.

12/4 - Capricious Code

     Today we're working on the sideways shooter some more. Hunter has been ripping the USB out of the port for the last two months, and the code broke today because of it. We're an hour and ten minutes into the class and he's still remaking it. Brandon is testing a stabilizing component for the front extending parts of the robot to have less shaking and fewer variables during autonomous. I'm helping rebuild the code and writing fire blogs. Samuel is probably building something. We should be ready to code autonomous by next class.

Until Thursday,
Diego.

11/30 - Fundamental Folly

     We're nearly done. This week we made our disc mechanism, tweaked our ball picking up mechanism, and finally, today actually, started practicing a bit while tweaking as we go. We're actually learning now instead of being perpetually frustrated at our failure. Engineering is starting to become fun again, largely due to our sideways shooter working and us actually working on the robot. Hopefully we can finish up the midterm, collect or A's, and return to permanently doing well in and enjoying engineering for all it's worth.

Until Tuesday,
Diego.

11/26 - Annoying Alliteration

     We're still attempting to innovate with the sideways shooter, but life is hard. We need fundamentally need a grade, yet we're trying to make something new. Again, the easiest thing in the world is to copy a senior design, and we should, but we'd like to shock the world with a new design. It's hard for us too, with fewer resources and less hoarding than other groups. Hopefully we'll be done by the end of the week and ready to start trying this new midterm challenge. It shouldn't be too bad as long as we can get consistent in every aspect we need.

Until Friday,
Diego.

11/19 - Slingin' It Sideways

     Brandon, Hunter, and I are working on completing the sideways shooter. It'll likely be done by next class, but we still have to do the claw mechanism to pick up discs. Samuel is chilling with another group, but we've decided over the last week that the cost of making him come back is not worth what he contributes to the robot, so we'll operate as a three person team while he's gone. The sideways shooter is like any other engineering project: it seems dumb unless it works. Our problem is we're discouraged to make new, innovative designs because our grade is dependent on our physical progress. We may have the best fundamental understanding of the robot and how every mechanism works, but we're punished via grades for not copying a senior design. Honestly, I would prefer to copy a senior design, as it's more likely the sideways shooter is another waste of time than a crazy success. Hopefully we can beat the odds.

Until Monday,
Diego.