Manipulator
Manipulator is responsible for designing the parts of the robot that play the game, which last year included a turret which we called the Shumper that held the balls and shoot them into the trailers. It also included the herder which we called the Shepherd, which herded the balls and pushed them into the fulling station. We work closely with mechanical and pneumatics to design, prototype, test, and build the robot.
Last season, the manipulator team designed, prototyped, and built the mechanism that let the robot shoot balls from a turret as well as collect balls from the ground in the Shepherd. The members of this sub-team will spend the beginning of the build season designing each part and also making sure that all of the parts can fit on the robot chassis. The members will then create prototypes to test forces. Then, finally the manipulator team will build and mount this year’s mechanisms on the robot chassis and make them work.
Tips for Rookies: Get rid of any fear you may have of asking questions. You will be taught the proper usage for tools in the shop. Even so, if you don’t understand something, or are unsure how to use any of the tools, a veteran or mentor will always be willing to assist. As well, don’t be afraid to contribute your design ideas to the team. Any ideas contributed could add a new perspective to our plan and improve the robot’s game play overall.
Leader: Nicole
