Finally!!! PRODUCT DESIGNing!

Guess what?! I'm doing it. I'm taking the plunge...into product design! Head first and all out. Am I pumped? You bet!! So here's a taste of what's going on this semester:

Design and Manufacturing I (2.007)
Department of Mechanical Engineering
http://stellar.mit.edu/S/course/2/sp11/2.007/ (You have to be a student to fully access this site)

Say what?
This course will be a great learning experience exposing me to interesting material, challenging me to think deeply, and providing skills useful in professional practice. A major element of the course is design of a robot to participate in a challenge that changes from year to year. There is a huge emphasis on the creative design process bolstered by application of physical laws. I'll be instructed on how to complete projects on schedule and within budget (the resources at MIT are FABULOUS). Robustness and manufacturability are emphasized. Subject relies on active learning via a major design-and-build project.

My mission:
Replicate some of the greatest MIT hacks of all time...with MY ROBOT! My goal is to score by putting police cars on the dome,by inflating a balloon under the Harvard vs Yale football game, by dumping superballs in Killian Court, and by stealing the Caltech cannon. Robots begin inside their respective starting boxes. Once time starts, my robot(s) may leave the box, but no robot may cross to the opposite side except by passing through the infinite corridor. For the first 15 seconds, your robot operates autonomously and in the subsequent 75 seconds under radio control. And I'm in it to win.

Playing field

Are there rules/regulations?

You bet! Everything, obviously, has to be safely executed. Other rules include size limitations for your robot, all controls must be executed without any personal contact with the robot, and no crossing over on the opponent's side of the field unless you traverse through the infinite corridor. How exciting!

What can you make your robot out of?
Each student gets the same kit, which has the materials given to us by the Department of Mechanical Engineering. I'll be sure to post more pictures on that. If I could attach all sorts of pdfs with images and documents into this post, I totally would.

When do we get to see these babies in action?
May 5, 2011 in MIT's Johnson Rink in the Z center! I encourage you to come check it out! The competition is also known to be recorded/televised.

Coming soon...
-Scoring details
-What's going on in my head
-My strategy
-My ideas
-Rough sketches
-Progress in construction