Design Process

Define the Problem - design a robot that is capable of traversing through obstacles created by human or natural disasters

Generate Alternative Solutions - the robot should be compact, yet aesthetically pleasing. it should also be able to follow the code we programmed easily without any problems.

Evaluate and Select a Solutions - we believed that the robot would be successful if the tires was snugly attached to the wheels so that it would not fall off while moving on uneven terrain. in addition, we think that adding a cover to the top of the tracking robot would not only provide protection to the robot's systems but also make the car look good visually.

Detail the Design - we set up the configuration on the platform of the tracking robot that is able to hold all of the necessary components. in addition, we were able to make the tires smaller to fit the wheels better by replacing a 10-long part, originally used by the instructions, with an 8-long part. as for the hood to cover the wires, we cut out rectangles out of Styrofoam and glued them together perpendicularly.

Defend the Design - after considering the requirements each robot needs to have in order to be successful in the test, we came to the conclusion that the things we decided to include will benefit the overall design of each robot

Manufacture and Test the Design - for the Redbot, we assembled it according to the instructions we found online and with the packaging. we also coded it with bumpers so that when it hits a wall or obstacle, the robot can go around it. for the Tamiya, we split assembly into the platform and the motor. once we combines the two, we coded the robot to move forward using both wheels. then, we added the ultrasound sensor and coded that into the robot. to help with the space and make the robot look aesthetically pleasing, we added a second level out of Styrofoam and placed the circuit board and breadboard on top. we left the battery pack on the original platform so that the roof would not collapse.

Evaluate the Performance of the Design - for the Redbot, it was successful in moving along the white line of our course. it was also successful when the bumpers touched an object. it performed very well according to what it was supposed to do. on the other hand, the Tamiya robot was able to move forward as intended, however on the day of testing the ultrasound sensor did not work. we believe that something could have been wrong with the wiring from moving the robot around, or we coded it incorrectly. if we had one or two more days, this problem would have likely been resolved.

Prepare the Final Design Report - we spent the last half of Thursday and an hour on Friday to prepare our project for submittal.