It is the end of another build season and as we prepare for the upcoming competition I would like to pause a moment and recognize everyone who made this build season possible.

First, the students who’s sweat and effort, with maybe a touch of blood here and there, put our robot together.

Next, our coach who sets the course for the team and makes sure that we all are marching in more or less the same direction.

Let us not forget, the mentors and teachers who patiently guided and assisted the students in their efforts, and gifted us with the knowledge we needed to proceed.

Of course there are the parents, who provided transportation to our meetings and food to eat on those long Saturdays.

Last, but not least, Fairchild Semiconductor and all of our sponsors. The funding you provide to our team makes it possible to register for competition, to buy the materials needed to build the robot, to travel to our regional to compete, and to purchase all those thousand and one other little essentials that keep this team running smooth.

Thank you to everyone who participated in this build season! Our work may be far from over with competition looming ever closer, but we can all take a deep breath and say: “Damn, that is one fine ‘bot we built there!”

I look forward to seeing you all at competition!

See our 2012 robot ‘Betty’ in action on our practice court.

Visit YouTube to see the full video and other videos posted by the RiotCrew.

A lot has been going on in the shop over the past few days. We have almost finalized the design of the arm. The bridge lowering device is done. Work on the second base continues. We have 2 fully functioning electronic boxes. The goal is to have a working robot by Saturday.

On Saturday Feb. 11 there will be a team picture at 12:30. All members need to attend and wear their shirts.

On Wednesday Feb. 15 we are having another fundraiser at UNO’s. UNO’s will donate a portion of their proceeds to the robotics team for every person that brings a coupon in. Coupons are attached. Please send them to all you friends and family and encourage them to eat at UNO’s.

SPHS Robotics 2-15 (link to UNO’s coupons)

- Gilead

Today, we had success. Sean and a few other people worked on how the robot would pick up the ball(s). They devised a mechanism that had two conveyor belts that suck up the ball and shoot it through the top. Wood shop worked on the “thing that brings down the bridge”. The tech guys talked about the storyboard, and continued on the animation. The transmission base of the final robot was being worked on as well. Mecanum Wheels will be here tomorrow!

FUNDRAISER: Willows is THIS COMING MONDAY from 4-9, so get your pizza loving side ready!

-Gavin

Hello and good evening everyone, here is your nightly email from the Riot Crew.

In the shop, the frame for the second robot is being assembled. Also the bridge lowering mechanism is getting its finishing touches. The ball pickup mechanism is also being worked on and from my understanding we are going to put it on the front of the robot instead of the side due to feasibility and time. We are using a similar approach to pick up the balls as we did on Sir Launch a Lot by using a belt rotating on two cylinders.

In the Animation room they are working on getting a story board and have completed their first models.

The spirit team is working on assembling the mini Jethros to hand out at the competition.

Jim and Gilead are working on the primary base and assembling a prototype version of the arm. They are also planning out where everything is going to be on the robot, like the fifth, center wheel for more traction when balancing on the bridge.

Also there is going to be a fundraiser at Willows on January 30th. Stop by between the hours of 5-9 pm. 15 percent of the money earned in those hours will be donated to the team!