Blog | Black Thunder

Framework Building We are also continuing to build the x, y actuator which is more efficient as it can move sideways. We have also modified our funnel as we realised that we need to remove a cable that is attached to a blue block for the crane. That cannot be done whilst we have full cuboid structure as before we had a bar to strengthen the structure.The structure is attached to the front of the robot by 6 pins  Core Values We are editing our posters as they don't provide up to and date interesting information. That we can add to our posters that will impress the judges more. We have changed a lot of the details to improve our posters. We have also changed our lines so that our script isn't directly from our poster. Project We are reassessing how parking bot can be used in the real world so it can be improved. This is because we think its usage as a dash camera would be limited as the driver should be able to see parking space that are at eye level for the drive...

Reconsidering our run plan. FLL We are reconsidering our run plan as we don't think it is as effective as it could be as we aren't scoring enough points. We wan't to do short runs that score a lot points for us and that will work consistently so that if we don't complete a run we won't have wasted a lot of time. The runs are becoming shorter  so we get more runs in our two and a half minutes. We are also modifying our linear actuator so that it not just moves vertically it also moves laterally this means we can complete the missions that use the linear actuator more easily.This is because the robot doesn't need to tun it just moves the attachment sideways. We are also designing a funnel for the blue block that comes off the crane. So that we get 50 points more.    

Core Values For Core Values, we had to do a task and answer questions. We entered the judging area with our impressive banners and begun with an initial introduction. We then did the task which was to make the tallest free-standing structure possible with paper and paper clips. We split into different roles, such as leader, time keeper and builder. We then folded each of our pieces of paper in to triangular prisms and solidified them with paper clips. We then stacked them horizontally, 2 per layer, in a cross. Using this technique, we manged to make a rather tall and definitely strong structure out of paper. Finally, we answered some questions and were on our way.

Robot Design Robot design went extremely well for us as we ended up winning overall! We first began with a physical presentation of our bot, our attachments and our code and answered all questions the judges asked. We went through all the specifications of our bot such as our sensors and gearing system. We also showed them our attachments and a sample of our commented code. We also gave them our Pseudocode document, which said exactly what our code did and Robot Design Executive Summary, with all details of our bot. Project Parking Bot was our project; it is an app available on the Google Play Store that uses a convolution neural network to identify parking spaces. We presented our Project to judges and gave a working example of the app. We also explained how Parking Bot and convolution neural networks work. We finally gave the judges a document explaining parking bot in further detail.

Robot Game We scored 120, 240 and 210 in each of our Robot Games respectively. For each of our games, we had an order, for what we were aiming for; first we would go on a run to the bottom right area of the mat using line-following, using the the linear actuator attachment. We then would make a turn and align our bot with the Safety Factor mission and knock down the 2 beams on the right, making sure the structure would not fall and rest on 4 beams. We then reverse, turn and drive straight, releasing the swing. After that, we would turn on the spot, and knock the safety factor to the left, resting it on the 2 beams on the left. We then would turn and reverse into Traffic Jam, lifting it, and return home. In this run, we aim to knock 4 beams down, release the swing and raise the traffic jam. In our second run, we would go to the top right area, using the scaffolding attachment and fixed arm with an 8-tall tower of beige blocks with an upgrade. In our next final 3 runs, we would use th...

Brainstorming FLL First session back and we have a lot improvement on, we split our thoughts into the four categories; Project, Robot Game, Robot Design and Core Values. We looked at our Rubrics systematically and thought about what to change to get more points. We also started to put our tasks that we need to do onto a website called Click Up that allows members of a team to see what each other is doing and if the task is completed or not. I am sure you have heard of Monday.com, this website very similar to that. For Core values, we need to make sure that all of the team members speak and contribute to the discussion with the judges, although the judges were impressed by us in robot design we need to make sure that their is something unique about our robot so that it is something new and different form the other competitors. We are also looking at different ways that we can do runs in different combinations. We are deciding that maybe if we incorporate the bridge mission we coul...

Nationals - Robot Design 1st Place! Yesterday, on the 22/2/2020, Black Thunder went to compete in the National Championship for England and Wales, at the University of the West of England. When the 9 of us, along with 4 mentors and coaches, arrived, we unloaded our minibus and headed to the pits. We then attended the opening ceremony and a member of our team proudly carried out banner proclaiming us to be the Champions of the North London Regional. The first event in our timetable was our first Robot Game at 10'o'clock and though we went in with high hopes, we only scored 120 points. This was disappointing, but we still had more events to compete for and had more opportunities to improve our robot score.  Next, we had our Innovation Project, which was the Parking Bot app (available on the Google Play Store). Our presentation went quite well and we received some feedback that would come in very useful for internationals. Following that, we had our second robot game, in whic...

Nationals are near... FLL Feels like we've been here before! Once again, the FLL team is running their project past the FLL rerunners. Some key points of improvement were that we talk too fast, talk too quietly and need to clarify some points. Parking Bot also decided to act up mid presentation, creating some phantom car parking spaces on the classroom floor. With the project presently done, we swiftly moved on to the Robot Game - with the clock furiously counting down, we raced to finally implement our innovative colour sensing system - essentially color-coding our attachments so that when we use them, the colour sensors detect which attachment is being used and run the appropriate mission - saving us valuable time! Easier said than done however, as several of our mainstay challenges such as Crane and Beams also decided to act up - it looks like it'll be a close one... again. FLL Rerun Once again, the rerunners were working on their bots after they witnessed Parki...

Bridge FLL In Today's, session we have been mainly testing our code for our final mission; the bridge. Getting our robot up the bridge and staying there will give us a good amount of points and will be a great way to finish of our runs. To do this, we are using our excellent line-following code till a junction, make a turn and racing up the bridge. This will greatly advantage us. We have also been making plans for a team meet-up during half-term, so that we are fresh for nationals on the Saturday. We are going in very confident and have a target of achieving over 400 points. FLL- Rerun Today, the Competitors continued to improve their bots, to better suit the missions. Changing the size of their bot is of paramount importance, as if it is too big, it might not be able to complete some missions such as swing (Mission 7), and if it is too heavy, the bot might not be able the make the climb up the bridge. They have also been making the attachments they require for doing each ...

Run Throughs Begin FLL Today, we started to test other missions such as Design and Build, but in different areas of the mat. We have also improved beams significantly and are able to get it working. We have also begun to run through all the missions in order to get a better understanding of our time efficiency and what we can speed up or even slow down. FLL- Rerun Today, the competitors have been continuing to construct their bots to better suit them for the FLL Rerun. One team as added a series of attachment racks to be able to add more attachments and make adding and removing them easier. Also, a team is making their bot's exoskeleton stronger and more accessible so it can support the biggest or heaviest attachments.

 Hoodies! FLL The Black Thunder hoodies finally arrived today at lunch and were handed out. Since regionals we have refined our presentation, made it easier to understand as one of the judges had given us feedback that only one of them understood our process of building the app. The reason she understood it was because she had worked with the YOLO neural network before but the other judge had not. We have made sure the presentation is understandable by presenting it to a random group of students from the school and 8/10 said they understood the process. I think that armed with our code and project we have a chance of winning nationals.

Nationals Registration! FLL In today’s session we have been filling out the registration form for the national competition on Saturday 22nd February. We have included details like the name of our robot (it’s called Eric), our highest robot game score, our most successful mission, a paragraph about our project and some interesting facts about the team. The team has also been working on some of the final code for mission 9, testing it out a few more times before we have full run through on Monday. FLL - Rerun Today the year sevens and eights have been continuing to build and improve their FLL robots. Some of them have started work on the gearing and wheals mechanisms, to ensure optimal ranges of movement around the board. One team has already nearly completed their robot, and is now working on the later stages of development, such as how the attachments are going to fit on and be used.

Mission 9 Perfection FLL The FLL team has been perfecting mission 9: safety factor to be ready for tonight. We are still attempting to put the prongs of the linear actuator in the top windows of the building. We have been finding that MicroPython still allows the robot to drift. However, we have also discovered that dust and dirt on the wheals and board can cause the robot to drift off coarse. A cog for the front attachments has worn through the cable for the colour sensor, which means the robot cannot follow the black line that runs from one side to the other side on the mat. We are going to have to change the cable as soon as possible to rectify this. FLL - Rerun The FLL rerun teams are still perfecting their robots using the spare pieces. The robots have strategically placed their mix of  4 sensors on their robots. Most teams have made a team decision on what types of motors they are going to use. They have ruled out the possibility of using a gyro as they think i...