Steamworks invites two adventure clubs from an era in which technology relied on steam power to prepare their airships for the ultimate long distance race.
- Build steam pressure. Robots collect fuel (balls) and score it in their boiler via high and
low efficiency goals. Boilers turn fuel into steam pressure which is stored in the steam tank
on their airship – but it takes more fuel in the low efficiency goal to build steam than the
high efficiency goal.
- Start rotors. Robots deliver gears to pilots on their airship for installation. Once the gear
train is complete, they turn the crank to start the rotor.
- Prepare for flight. Robots must latch on to their airship before launch (the end of the
match) by ascending their ropes to signal that they’re ready for takeoff.
- Build steam pressure. Robots collect fuel (balls) and score it in their boiler via high and low efficiency goals. Boilers turn fuel into steam pressure which is stored in the steam tank on their airship – but it takes more fuel in the low efficiency goal to build steam than the high efficiency goal.
- Start rotors. Robots deliver gears to pilots on their airship for installation. Once the gear train is complete, they turn the crank to start the rotor.
- Prepare for flight. Robots must latch on to their airship before launch (the end of the match) by ascending their ropes to signal that they’re ready for takeoff.
Competition Results
Progress Gantt Chart
Team Members
Dylan $. (Programmer in training, Electrical, Mechanical) None of your concern
"I made this, I don't need a quote."
Logan T. (Programmer in training, Electrical, Mechanical) I do what is needed
"Do you think I can make that?"
Lilly B. (Mechanical, Electrical) I do what is needed
"It's trashcan not trashcan't."
David L. (Mechanical) I do what is needed
"Don't cry because it's over, smile because it happend."
Harley (Mechanical, Electrical) I do what is needed
"I'm not a motorcycle"
Sean B.
Tatum K. (Lead Chairman's woman lady female nonmale) I spread STEM through out the community.
"Don't call me chairmans lady."
Andre V. (Mechanical.) I help build the robot
"If it sucks it sucks so suck it up buttercup."
Sean B. (Mechanical) I no one
"Is that the solder?"
Zoe F. (I do things.) Mechanical.
"[Insert clever pun here]"
Andrew P. (program, C.A.D, electronics) I program.
"Calculated. Calculated. Calculated. Chat disabled for 4 seconds."
Jacob T. (A bit of everything) I do everything I am tasked with or needed to do.
"Goat Scream"
Jake V. (Electrical, mechanical) I do electrical thingz.
"I think I broke it."
Tyler S. (Electrical, mechanical, Pit boss, Safety captain) I clean and organize the pit while making sure everyone is following safety rules.
"Can you put that clip board up when you're done?"
Seth S. (Human Player, Mechanical, Pneumatics) Mounting Robots
"I don't care."
Brittany F. (Competition boss, Build, Design) I help with strategy
"Something Profound"
Matthew N. (Design, Build) Help out wherever needed
"There will always be a Matt on the team"
Riley H. (Team captain, mechanical lead, Build, Design) I help enforce the rules, assist mechanical and make sure everyone stays on task.
"Righty tighty, lefty loosey."
Andrew H. (Programmer, Team lead, C.A.D, Design) I program the robot, C.A.D the robot, design the robot.
"EZ goal, EZ life"
Tim (Build, Design) I help enforce the rules, assist mechanical and make sure everyone stays on task.
"Righty tighty, lefty loosey."
Ben Shuman (Coach) I Run the team, but not into the ground.
"I don't mean to sound like a salesman but i'm pretty excited about this."
Bob Baggerman (Mentor, Programmer) I help run the team
Albert LaRoe (Coach) I help run the team
Chris Niger (Mentor, Sponser) I help run the team
Reed Young (Mentor) I help run the team
Joe Sheehan (Mentor) I help run the team
Amy Sheehan (Organization) I help run the team
Jim Barnes (Mentor) I help run the team
Mike Fleischer (Mentor, Head Web Developer, Sheet Metal, Fabricator, CM) I help run the team
Robot Abilities
Name: Pb Zeppelin
Weight: 109 lbs.
Dimensions: 36 in. by 40 in. by 24 in. tall
Material: Aluminum and Lexan
Autonomous
Shoot 10 balls into the low goal and cross the baseline.
Ball Intake
15 to 1 ratio planetary gearbox and 775Pro Motor turns a hex shaft attached to a PVC pipe. Friction from yellow urethane (polycord) bands moves the ball into the ball tank. The front of the intake and bands are protected by Lexan.
Ball Shooter
27 to 1 ratio planetary gearbox and 775Pro Motor spins to force the balls around an arc. The shooter has been modified to aim for the low goal.
Ball Tank and Feeder
Lexan spokes are attached to a mecanum wheel disk, attached to a window motor. The motor moves the ball into the shooter channel one ball at a time a 3d printed cone is attached to the top of the feeder to prevent balls from getting stuck. A sheet metal shield guides the balls into the ball feeder.
Drivebase
Mecanum wheels, CIM motor (9 to 1 ratio)
Passive Gear Intake
Curved back allows the gear to bounce and fall into two free swinging arms. The arms open and close using pneumatics. The air tank is located under a shield, preventing the gear from getting stuck in the drive base. A detractable lip helps guide the gear into a gear trap. This will even work with debris on the field.
Programming
We are using IDE Eclipse to compile C++. The Raspberry Pi that controls our camera's is also C++.
Winch
Powered by a 90 to 1 ratio planetary gearbox and 775Pro Motor. Bent metal shields on the side guide the strap into the center of the winch. The winch is lined with the loop part of velcro, so it easily attaches to the strap and pulls the robot up. The winch is secured using a wratcheting wrench. A handle is secured to the wrench so we can unwind.