This sample has be taken from the 2016-2017 report submitted for and awarded the Neil Armstrong Best Design Award.
*Any typos or grammatical errors appeared in the original document.
Testing has gone well. We have learned from experience to test each system as you progress. We began prototyping wheels in the fall of 2016. We took advantage of designing with CAD software to work out dimensions for our rover to insure it would fit in the 5 ft. cube. Our telemetry team tested that system as it was assembled.
The first real test of the rover itself was a load test of the frame and hinge and that occurred on February 14. Installation of the drivetrain followed and our first indoor test drive occurred on February 27th (3 day prior to the goal our team had set). The installation of the systems that make the rover function progressed smoothly this year due to lessons from previous years.
Where we were surprised to have to spend extra time was installing the seats; especially with all the research we did during the design phase. We mounted and remounted on three different occasions before we found what has become their final position. We had a small set back with our steering tie rod on our first test drive, the rover wheels had a very negative camber. We have trued up our adjustable wheel boxes and adjusted the tie rod to better align wheels. At the writing of this report we have not yet conducted on outdoor test drive. The outdoor more rigorous test drive will occur in the next couple of days once brakes are mounted and shifter cables are attached.