In December of 2013 we had to submit a survey of technical
skills we have learned. From there, seniors who were already on teams would
select who they want on their team. I was selected by the Making Melody team
which was a part of the National Robotics Challenge Work cell competition. The
robot was to fill wine glasses and play a song then record it and put a digital
copy of the song on a portable drive that anyone can take home and play. The
robot had performed the task in front of judges in Marian Ohio at the
competition successfully. It had won first in its category and then later was
nominated and won the Honda Innovation Award.
I had a major role in the making of the robot. Within the first few weeks one of the team’s leaders, (she was the programmer), had gotten injured and I was working a little with her. I ended up taking over the whole programming of the robot and teaching myself the “works”. I never had any experience with programming before. After a few days of learning programing, I realized there was a lot more that needed to be done. I worked with one of the other leaders of the team almost constantly, figuring out different ways to fill the glasses, positions for the glasses and the electrical programming of the thwackers hitting the glasses. They were so far behind and “lock up” the deadline for which we had to get the project done was coming fast. I gave up an entire weekend to working on the robot. It was different because I was the only one from the team there. So I had to make appropriate and conscious decisions that would help benefit the team. I worked a lot on the structure and the frame of the robot that weekend. I realized many problems that the team had to overcome in order to work properly. Some things were subjects I had no experience with. I had to work on Solid Works and change many of the measurement of the parts and even print some prototypes. I had to work independently throughout the project because I was the only one who fully understood the programming. After that weekend, I gave up many more hours from academic classes to get the robot done. I had to do a lot of programming and perfecting the movement of the robot towards the end. The day before competition the robot finally worked.
The Robot wasn’t my project, I was graded on doing three hours of work for the team, every hour I spent past that was volunteered. In return to all that hard work I learned a lot of new technical skills.
Technology Skills
I used many of the skills I learned at MTA on the robot as well as learn new ones that will be used in my senior year. Working on the Work cell, I used many tech skills, as well as English, Physics, and Math. Applying all my knowledge was crucial for the success of the robot being that I played such a major role.
I had a major role in the making of the robot. Within the first few weeks one of the team’s leaders, (she was the programmer), had gotten injured and I was working a little with her. I ended up taking over the whole programming of the robot and teaching myself the “works”. I never had any experience with programming before. After a few days of learning programing, I realized there was a lot more that needed to be done. I worked with one of the other leaders of the team almost constantly, figuring out different ways to fill the glasses, positions for the glasses and the electrical programming of the thwackers hitting the glasses. They were so far behind and “lock up” the deadline for which we had to get the project done was coming fast. I gave up an entire weekend to working on the robot. It was different because I was the only one from the team there. So I had to make appropriate and conscious decisions that would help benefit the team. I worked a lot on the structure and the frame of the robot that weekend. I realized many problems that the team had to overcome in order to work properly. Some things were subjects I had no experience with. I had to work on Solid Works and change many of the measurement of the parts and even print some prototypes. I had to work independently throughout the project because I was the only one who fully understood the programming. After that weekend, I gave up many more hours from academic classes to get the robot done. I had to do a lot of programming and perfecting the movement of the robot towards the end. The day before competition the robot finally worked.
The Robot wasn’t my project, I was graded on doing three hours of work for the team, every hour I spent past that was volunteered. In return to all that hard work I learned a lot of new technical skills.
Technology Skills
- Demonstrate the effect of resistance
- Identify series, parallel, and combination
circuits
- Apply knowledge of AC and DC systems
- Identify the uses and types of inductors and
capacitors
- Identify the difference between analog and
digital signals
- Discuss information and communication
technologies including the inputs, associated with sending and receiving
information
- Demonstrate the effect of resistance
- Identify six simple machines and their
applications, lever, incline plane, screw, wedge, wheel and axil
- Solve problems using appropriate units in
engineering systems
- Identify what causes resistance in a fluid
system
- Apply fundamental laws and principles relevant
to engineering and technology use the laws of conservation of energy, charge,
and momentum, to solve a variety of problems involving mechanical, fluid,
chemical, biological, electrical, and thermal systems
- Identify principles of the problem solving
process
- Translate word problems into mathematical
statements
- Analyze solutions, identify strengths and
weaknesses
- Develop details of a solution
- Develop test, and redesign prototypes
- Utilize a standardized troubleshooting methods
for diagnosis
- Analyze elements of a problem to develop
creative solutions
- Create ideas, proposals, and solutions to
problems
- Evaluate ideas, proposals, and solutions to
problems
- Generate new and creative ideas to solve
problems by brainstorming possible solutions
- Demonstrate flexibility in using independent and
collaborative strategies for planning, drafting, revising, and editing complex
texts.
- Write, speak, and create artistic
representations to express personal experience and perspective (e.g., personal
narrative, poetry, imaginative writing, slam poetry, blogs, webpages).
- Reflect on personal understanding of reading,
listening, and viewing; set personal learning goals; and take responsibility
for personal growth.
- Select appropriate human/material resources
- Prioritize work
- Display confidence in self and work
- Assess/evaluate criticism
- Evaluate and monitor personal performance
- Set realistic goals and plan to achieve them
I used many of the skills I learned at MTA on the robot as well as learn new ones that will be used in my senior year. Working on the Work cell, I used many tech skills, as well as English, Physics, and Math. Applying all my knowledge was crucial for the success of the robot being that I played such a major role.
I wired the solenoid to the system and crimped the connecters to the wire. I also Soldered Diodes to the wire to help distribute the voltage so it didn’t trip the relays and cause the system to shut off. The diodes would allow some of the energy to transfer over because due to the sudden switch, the voltage would jump too high too soon causing a jump in the relay making the robot to shut down. This was a major challenge that the team faced and we had gotten it addressed just a few days before competition.
I had no experience with programming. I learned as I went; subroutines were confusing. The code never seemed to work, but then I realized there was some old labels after 445 lines of coding. I had not known that it would affect the program but I do now. I had to program the pumps, delays of the solenoids and movement of the robotic arm, as well as know the difference between analog and digital outputs. The pump had to be hooked up to the analog output because the pump ran off of A.C current and the Digital output was D.C.
The walls and the doors of the work cell had to work accustom to the product we were making. I created a dispenser in the door that would allow an easy pick up of the flash drive that would have a digital copy of the song. To make the dispenser the door had to be cut, and the dispenser had to fit precisely in the cut slot and be glued to the door. The Robot, glasses, thwacker, and the laptop also had to be fixed to one position so the programming would be accurate. I had to drill holes into the black board and bold the robot to it in order to do so.