A quick update

I apologize for not updating any readers recently on our progress. However, we are going strong with the robotics kit, and have a design that we are attempting to use to pick up the hockey pucks and score them on the highest goal. We're having slight problems with fitting the design in the 18" cube, but I think we will arrive upon a working design soon.

I have been working on a program to keep the robot in one direction at all times with the compass sensor, and we are still assembling a proper drivetrain, while figuring out a good way to use our plastic.

We have a great set of teammates this year. We even have a side project with some 8th graders, working with the challenge that the Vex kit makers put out in response to FIRST abandoning them. Since we have our extra Vex parts and some motivated students, why not? We've adopted a second teacher, Mr. Henderson, the Biology and Math teacher, who guides the Vex group. They've made great headway over the past few weeks, with the help of Emma and Alex as mentors.

I'm very glad to see that many of the team members are interested in programming and willing to try it out. It would be sad if the programming aspect died out after I leave the school, but I don't think that will happen, since now we have a lot of enthusiasm for coding that was a bit lacking last year.

Anyway, even if it seems to our team like we aren't making too much progress, I think we are gaining knowledge and finding ideas, and will end up with a working design relatively soon. At least we have a method that we are pretty sure will work.

That's all for now! I hope to show some videos of our design as soon as we finish building it! 

--gavin