Server: cherryblossom.homelinux.com

Port: 8767 (default)

Server Guest Password: thornlearobotics

Team members who do not have access to a Teamspeak client may obtain one at http://www.teamspeak.com/?page=downloads .

Hope to see you all there!

They need to make a decision by Wednesday, so if any of you are from a school that’s interested, go contact them!

Details: http://www.computerstudies.ca/

6500-module-spec.pdf

217199_ds.pdf

http://www.acroname.com/robotics/parts/R11-6500.html

http://www.robofest.net/game.htm

http://www.aurorahigh.ca/robofest/index.html

http://admin.robofest.org/sites/08/aurora_can.htm

Of concern:
1) Only Vex branded NiCd batteries are allowed. No other batteries are allowed, identical or otherwise. (Uh oh.)
2) Morning inspections may take a while. Do we want to consider the Friday evening inspection? (It’s not like anyone will work on the robot between Friday night and Saturday morning anyway… lol)
3) We need a tether cable. I have been saying this for-ever. What are we going to do? Who’s bringing one? Cyrus is bringing a tether cable tomorrow. Yay!

All members are expected to demonstrate their driving ability to Mr. Fernandes and the team tomorrow or they probably won’t be driving.

This is a reminder that all the forms are due tomorrow:

• Parental Permission for the Transportation of Students
• Informed Consent Agreement
  Field Trip – Single Day
• 2007-08 Consent, Release, Hold Harmless and Authorization to Reproduce Physical Likeness

For the Parental Permission for the Transportation of Students form, check 2a and 2b (“parent volunteer” and “teacher or other YRDSB employee”). The first two forms are required by the school board, and the third is required by FIRST. All three need to be signed or you won’t be allowed to participate.

Other issues:

• Drivers – See post below by William. Drivers must be trained to avoid damaging the robot, as limits are NOT in place to preserve parts and it is likely that merely turning or reversing will tend to destroy the gears in the drive train the way the robot is currently configured.
• Michael on Field Trip – I won’t be at school after 9 AM tomorrow — I have a history field trip.
• PVC Rings – Someone needs to bring the PVC pipe to the tech department during 2nd or 3rd period with the specification sheet and letter that I have written. I forget who, but one of the teachers I spoke to did say that students in his Grade 11 class should be able to cut the one inch rings en masse very quickly without major issue. Bring the stuff and ask around, and hopefully a staff member in the department will know what I am talking about. We need these rings if we plan on doing any serious practice.
• Robot Turning Problems – The robot accelerates VERY slowly and has problems turning. Is it possible to use smaller wheels anymore? Failing that, can we lighten the robot in any way?
• Yearbook Photo – Jonathan wants to take a new one. ‘Nuff said.

Anyone who has any other things to mention, please feel free to comment on the site or something.

Notes: Should there be a “Competition For Driving”, But not enough time.
Give the people who are able to drive; to drive?
Some type of Compromise?- William Zhao
P.s If I have misinterpreted anyone’s opnions tell me or Michael to change it.

• decide on robot/team name (???) (nominated by Michael)
• two new consent forms required by the school board will be distributed. These must be signed and returned ASAP — preferably on Thursday morning. (nominated by Mr. Fernandes)
• finish major work on robot — install top bar on front of ramp and non-slip “hood” for bucket (nominated by Mr. Fernandes)
• bring Engineering Notebook up-to-date (nominated by Jonathan)
• cut a full set of 50 rings (can we do this during the day?) for testing and practice (nominated by Michael)
• update manual program to latest revision, perform stress testing (nominated by Michael)
• develop (and test where possible) autonomous code (nominated by William)
• develop strategy for event (nominated by Michael)
• decorate robot (nominated by William)

Personally, I’ll try to make sure DWITE doesn’t take too much of my time. Since I’m no longer the sole programmer on my DWITE team, I should have time to actually do things this time around. ^_^
(This notice was sent to all members via e-mail.)