1/15/09

I have come a long way. Initially, I started with a basic STAMP. However, that was way too complicated for the amount of time I had. So, I collaborated with Brendan Connolly and Mike D'Amore. They had been working on robotically opening a CD drive. Seeing as I have difficulty building a durable robot, they fit in perfectly with my project idea. We were to build a racecar with a track. We were overly ambitious. We wanted to make a racecar with a wooden track. Instead, we modified our goals to meet our timeline. Nick Mann joined our group. Brendan and Mike taught him how to built a robot. I programmed his robot. We used Interactive C for the vast majority of the time. Interactive C became the bane of my existence. It is extraordinarily limited in it's capabilities. Not Quite C became the program of my choice. The symbiotic relationship between Brendan/Mike and myself became perfect. They build and modify the robots. I programmed the robots and led the project. Eventually, we perfected our robots and despite limitations placed upon us, we rose to the challenge and conquered the enemy that is light. I have led this ever-changing project and now we have a finished project. I am very proud of myself, Mike, and Brendon for coming such a long way.

1/13/09

I have successfully completed the robot. I taught myself NQC. We are preparing for the presentation. Apparently, we cannot turn off the lights. The robot will adapt to the added limitation.

1/12/09

I have written a program. It detects the light frequencies around it. It is very cool.

1/09/2009

I found a program entitled Not Quite C. Not Quite C seems far more simple than Interactive C. We are toying around with it. NQC has no apparent limitations. Finding this program has

1/07/2009

2009 is here and frustration has come along. The robot has lost the program, as has the computer. Interactive C is absolutely horrendous and is really frustrating. It cannot program a line following program successfully. I am searching for a new app to use.

12/23/08

What are we going to when we get back?

TODAY was a MASSIVE success. We successfully programmed a robot! Great success! We plan on refining the robot. We now need to construct a track and "jazz" up the robot a la Dan and Mitch. Today was truly a Christmas miracle! Or a Kwanzaa one. Really, it was just a holiday miracle. Our fruitful efforts have paid off.

12/18/08

What did we accomplish today?

Today was the big testing day. We downloaded (what we thought) was a working program. When we tested it, it worked for a while but then deviated from the line. I suspect that the program followed a straight line rather than the black line. We will need to figure out how to keep the robot on the black line. Programming the robot is our final test.

12/09/08

What did we accomplish today?

Today we accomplished the task of adding a line following program to our robot. This was a rather large accomplishment and currently we have a very simple two stage program. When the sensor senses black, it will go backwards. Other wise, it will go forward. Currently, I need batteries. We can use the QSP process for other tasks, such as any process in everyday life.  We will need to create more complex programs and/or cars.

Luke

12/16/08

What did we accomplish today?

We created a track and saw some innovative ideas online. We added a new program to the robot. It was a new experience. The robot is currently underpowdered and needs batteries.

The overall goal is to create a racecar.

I will create a racecar that will be able to race on a track.I will use a

basic STAMP

and create

a plastic covering. I will build an elliptical track.

Deadlines

Thanksgiving-Progammed Car

Christmas

- 1/2 the track and completed (decorated car).

End of Term-Project complete

I am a skilled programer and very adept at mathematics.

I have the resources and determination to complete the project.

I will need to learn how to program in BASIC and cut plastic

I will take photos to show the progress

I will know when the goals are completed

You can show it on DragonTV.

Luke Cronin