Robotics
Teams, seasons, subsystems, and what I learned building robots under pressure.
Teams & Roles
CPSLO & 920B
Roles: Mechanical Lead & Driver • Years: 2021-Present
Favorite Builds
Subsystem: Intakes
Designing intakes was one of the biggest parts in the past years of robotics. It involved fine tuning geometry with precise prototyping. My team and I constantly iterated through different wheel sizes, geometry, desgins, derometers, and materials to find the best solution for our robot. I learned a lot about how to design for different game pieces and how to make our intakes more efficient.
Subsystem: Drivetrains
Drivetrains in robotics and in the real world are the most important subsystem of a robot. I learned a lot about how to design and build a drivetrain that is both fast and reliable. I also learned about different types of drivetrains and how to choose the best one for our robot. I accomplised this by simulating different drivetrains, calculating gear ratios, touque, and real world testing after CAD. Optmizing weight and center of gravity was also a big part of designing a drivetrain. It got to a point where every single screw and nut was carefully chosen to optimize weight and performance.
Subsystem: Autonomous
During my time in robotics I assisted with programming and debugging a lot. I learned how rotation sensors, optical sensors, distance sensors, encoders, gyros, and much more work together to make a robot move and perform tasks autonomously. Fine tuning and odometry system comes down to understanding where error comes from, how to optimize routes in code and IRL, makin the odometry system extremely accurate, and how to make the robot perform tasks with precision. While writing autonomous routines I master the concepts of PID, tracking, exit conditions, error time outs, and so much more.