We finally fixed the intermittent problem with the odometry system. It seems that the fluctuations in the encoder readings were somehow caused by the latest version of the PicAxe software. We didn't see the fluctuations during the bench test on Thursday night because we were using a different laptop with the older version of the software!
The team is realising now how much time even the simplest change like that can set you back. The only reason we changed the software was because of the problem with the 'new' chips not working, but this week has emphasised how wise the words are: "If it aint broke, don't fix it!"
It's been a very trying week this week, particularly after the huge progress last week. It's such a relief to see it working again, we can now carry on developing the obstacle avoidance system, and doing some odd jobs making the robot look more presentable for the competition.
The Mighty Morphin Tower Arrangers are:
Chris Barlow
Darren Lewis
& Ted the Robot
Darren Lewis
& Ted the Robot
About Us
The Mighty Morphin Tower Arrangers are a team entering into the competition, Eurobot 2009: Temples of Atlantis (see www.eurobot.org for details).
Darren Lewis and Chris Barlow are both BSc Engineering Product Design students from Middlesex University in North London, UK.
Although the task for this year's competition is a complex one, the Tower Arrangers' philosophy is to use as few moving parts as possible, and to use natural forces wherever they are available. This should result in an economical, reliable system designed to score a realistic number of points match after match.
This site will follow the team's progress from initial design to final build and our progress through the competition itself.
Darren Lewis and Chris Barlow are both BSc Engineering Product Design students from Middlesex University in North London, UK.
Although the task for this year's competition is a complex one, the Tower Arrangers' philosophy is to use as few moving parts as possible, and to use natural forces wherever they are available. This should result in an economical, reliable system designed to score a realistic number of points match after match.
This site will follow the team's progress from initial design to final build and our progress through the competition itself.
The Contest
"Eurobot is an amateur robotics contest open to groups of young people from around the world, organised in teams."
"The aims of the contest are to favour the public interest in robotics and encourage hands-on practice of science by young people. Eurobot is intended to take place in a friendly and sporting spirit."
"More than a simple championship for young people or a competition, Eurobot is a friendly opportunity to unleash technical imagination and exchange ideas, know-how, hints and
engineering knowledge around a common challenge. Creativity and interdisciplinary is necessary. Eurobot values fair play, solidarity, creativity and sharing of technical knowledge,
whether it is across technical realisations or project management."
"Eurobot takes place in Europe, but is open to teams from other continents. Countries with more than three teams interested in participating must organise a national qualification in order to select the three teams which will participate to Eurobot finals."
"The aims of the contest are to favour the public interest in robotics and encourage hands-on practice of science by young people. Eurobot is intended to take place in a friendly and sporting spirit."
"More than a simple championship for young people or a competition, Eurobot is a friendly opportunity to unleash technical imagination and exchange ideas, know-how, hints and
engineering knowledge around a common challenge. Creativity and interdisciplinary is necessary. Eurobot values fair play, solidarity, creativity and sharing of technical knowledge,
whether it is across technical realisations or project management."
"Eurobot takes place in Europe, but is open to teams from other continents. Countries with more than three teams interested in participating must organise a national qualification in order to select the three teams which will participate to Eurobot finals."
[www.eurobot.org, 2008-2009]
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