yes, I did mean to type that it was not a typo.
Conclusions
Although the project was far from easy and we experienced numerous pitfalls, overall, the process was smooth for us. This is especially surprising given our challenges with the previous build assignments. We believe those challenges we faced allowed to have success. We started earlier, planned more efficiently, and were able to use our increased experience in laser cutting, Arduino coding, linkage design, and lots of super glue. Ultimately, our group's triumph hinged (get it like the hinge we used) on our accurate and approachable scope. We chose something that was both feasible for our undergraduate level of experience and exciting for us to manufacture. Our cats loved this toy, so this project was a massive success!
Tips for Future Robotic Enthusiasts
- START EARLY. Seriously, although this sounds obvious, this will change build assignments from a fun passion project to something that will literally suck the soul out of your body.
- Don't expect it to work perfectly the first time. Our machine worked perfectly in theory. However, unaccounted factors like weight, gravity, and the weaknesses of hot glue prevented that theory from completely coming to life.
- Be flexible. Building off of the last tip, don't try to jam square pegs into round holes (literally or figuratively in the case of this class). When changes inevitably need to made, it is always better to readjust rather than trying to force it into working.
- Choose something approachable for you level of expertise. Certain machines may be too challenging to make work within the time constraints of the class. Remember, the machine needs to literally work in addition to theoretically working.