This seasons game, Reefscape, was made up of 2 primary game components: the coral, a white PVC pipe; and the Algae, a big rubber ball. This Robot had 2 primary end effectors, the Coral end-effector which would score on the first 3 stages of the reef, varying in height and angle of placement depending on the corresponding position. While the Algae end-effector would drop down and collect an Algae, which would then be scored through either a compression underhand serve into the goal, or an overhand server into the goal.
The primary project I worked on throughout this season was the secondary end-effector, the Algae intake (Left images). I coordinated a small team in the designing, prototyping, programming, and manufacturing the end-effector. The end-effector was on a pivot which was connected to a sprocket and chain to allow for the motor, which is quite a heavy component, to be more centered allowing for a more centered CG. The intake was motorized using a belt and pulley, motorizing the front row of wheels via the motorized shaft. The ball would be taken in and be moved against the free spinning roller (white roller) and then be held via compression until it needed to be released, in which the motors would reverse.
We only had a tested cycle time for the alpha bot because the final bot was finalized the day before our final competition