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.