Day 1: Kick-Off

The excitement was palpable as we kicked off early at this year’s game reveal, hosted with great fanfare at St. Louis High School. Teams from all over buzzed with a mix of excitement and nerves, anticipating the intense six-week build season ahead. Upon arrival at Waialua High School, our team dove into a whirlwind of strategy discussions and creative brainstorming for this year’s robot. We split into dynamic groups, eagerly dissecting the strengths and weaknesses of our past robots to forge a path towards innovation. The day was a flurry of activity: Construction started by organizing files, brainstorming concepts/designs, and CADing a robot drive train base, while Control Systems laid down field markings and brainstormed potential autoroutes, paying special attention to intricate details like camera placement. They wrapped up the day by diligently wiring and updating software, laying the groundwork for upcoming tests. The Business, Media, and Documentation team sifted through photos and tirelessly updated our website, ensuring every moment was captured. The energy was infectious, with each subteam pumped up and ready for a groundbreaking build season!

Day 2

Day two saw our team hitting the ground running, with every student deeply involved in their tasks. Construction teams were hands-on, meticulously measuring and assembling field elements. The Control Systems group achieved a milestone, completing the taping of the practice field and triumphantly placing our first game element. A collaborative spirit shone through as Construction and Control Systems students united to construct a prototype shooter, while simultaneously brainstorming innovative climbing strategies. Over in the world of Business, Media, and Documentation, fingers flew over keyboards as they continued enhancing our digital presence on the website and magazine. They also captured key moments for the week’s recap video. As the second day of the build season wrapped up, our students’ dedication and swift progress were evident, signaling a promising path ahead!

Day 3

On day three, our team’s focus was laser-sharp on designing and prototyping a shooter and climbing mechanism. The Construction group was in full swing, machining parts for a practice bot, while brainstorming sessions had our students delving deep into programming nuances and past robot designs for fresh inspiration. However, the day threw us a curveball – a flash flood warning and power outage forced us to halt our work. Safety always comes first, so we took this as an opportunity to regroup and plan our next steps. Despite the setback, our spirits remain high. We are poised to bounce back stronger, continuing with the practice field, robot coding, and prototyping designs as soon as we can safely resume. Stay tuned for the comeback of Team Robotics!

Our Control System began the day by working on learning a new API; new students practiced coding with an old robot to better equate themselves with robot code. Due to the weather, our construction subteam focused on designing and machining parts for the robot instead of cutting field elements. Our design team worked on moderating previous design choices and creating new modifications for this year’s game. Our Business, Media, and Documentation team met with our online mentors and reviewed the magazine, FIA presentation, essay, and captured photos and videos of students for this week’s weekly recap!

Day 4

We are back and at it again! Today, our subteams worked extra hard on everything from building more field elements to testing a prototype shooting. Construction began by cutting and assembling more field elements for the scoring area of the field and started making the trap doors. Other students continued working on CAD designing, incorporating the recently added height limit into robot design and testing. Meanwhile, the Control Systems team was busy positioning April tags, with our newer members diving into programming autos using the path planner. The highlight was the joint effort in testing the prototype shooter, now against the freshly finished scoring field element by Construction. Our Business, Media, and Documentation team engaged in valuable sessions with online mentors, diligently working on the FIRST Impact Award Essay, Executive Summary, and Presentation projects. We are making quick progress and are excited to show everyone what we’ve got planned!

Day 5

We’ve hit the halfway mark of the first week, and the air is electric with our progress! The Control Systems team celebrated a major achievement, getting our swerve base up and running with the cutting-edge Phoenix 6 API, enhancing our motors’ efficiency. New students honed their skills by coding our 2022 off-season robot, focusing on understanding shooter mechanics. The Construction crew was a whirlwind of productivity, machining and water-jetting parts, assembling field elements, and collaborating with Control Systems on prototype designs. The Business, Media, and Documentation team were the chroniclers of our journey, organizing, photographing, and continuing their work on the magazine and FIA presentations. The day culminated with everyone congregating in the cafeteria, where we tested and adjusted our shooter’s speed and accuracy.

Day 6

Day 7

We are hard at work and determined to continue making progress! Our Control Systems continued working with Phoenix 6 API and testing the shooter with different wheels and positions. Over in Construction, the design team worked on machining parts and completed CAD designs while working on adjusting placements. Construction continued working on field elements and assembling them for the practice field. Business, Media, and Documentation students worked on the magazine, FIA essay, and presentation. They recorded student interviews on each subteam for this season’s first recap video!

Day 8

As we wrap up the first week, Control Systems relentlessly tested various shooter prototypes, with our seasoned members imparting coding wisdom about interpolating tree maps to the newcomers. Construction was a hub of activity, building components for the practice robot and refining CAD designs. The Business, Media, and Documentation team put the finishing touches on the magazine, engaged in correspondence, and polished the FIA essay and presentation. With week one behind us, our excitement for the upcoming challenges of week two is palpable, and we eagerly anticipate what the rest of the build season holds!

Checkout the Second Week of Build Season here!

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Week One