Robotics Education & Competition Foundation EDR Kit Components

EDR Super Kit Cortex Controller Battery & Charger Motors & Servos Motor controllers PWM Wires Sensors Wheels Gears – Driver, Pinion, Spur Structure – Styles Fasteners – Rivets, Bolts/nuts Collars Axles Spacers & Washers Bearing Supports Screws 2 kinds USB Cable Claw Kit

Electronics and Control Systems Includes: Microcontroller/Brain Motor Controls Batteries Radio Controls Joysticks Tethers Sensors Accelerometers Shaft Encoders Potentiometers Gyroscopes Light Sensing Limit Switches Line Sensing Ultrasonic Range Finders

Tips and Tricks Review the Quick Start Guide for the Claw Bot Start charging the batteries - early Have clean FLAT work surface Layout out parts in a logical order Do not tighten until alignment of items is complete Watch the orientation of the PWM wires Gear alignment / spacing is critical Every washer and spacer is important

VEX EDR Cortex Firmware Software is located: http://www.vexrobotics.com/wiki/Software_Downloads VEXnet Firmware Upgrade Utility 4.1.7 (Updates VEXnet to v4.25) http://link.vex.com/downloads/VEXnetUpgrade VEXnet Key 2.0 Firmware Upgrade Utility v3/0 version 1.46 http://link.vex.com/downloads/VEXnet-Key-2p0-Update Step by Step – Cortex & Controller Install application VEXnet Upgrade utility 4.1.7 Make short cut for desktop Open Utility Using USB A to A plug in cortex to computer If message is “Up to date” you are done - except if you are having them act strange.

Robotics Systems Base/Drive Designs Programming Electronics and Control Systems Manipulator Systems

Cortex and Controller Step by Step – Cortex & Controller Install application VEXnet Upgrade utility 4.1.7 Make short cut for desktop Open Utility Using USB a to A plug in cortex to computer (leave the power switch off) If message is “Up to date No Action is required” you are done . Plug in the controller – if message is “ Up to date No action required” you are done If the Cortex and controller are acting strange then: Follow steps 1 – 6 above. Step 7. Select “Boot Load” Step 8. Say YES to Start Bootloader Step 9. Message Update Master Code Click Download – Click Download. Step 10. If Message VEXnet is up to date – No action required then you are done. Step 11. You MUST also do the controller Pairing the controller – NOW Required Step 1. With units both off plug the USB a to A cable into Cortex and Joy Stick Controller Step 2. Turn on the Cortex Only. Lights will start to flash. Step 3 when 2 steady green lights appear on Both, turn off the Cortex. Remove USB. Your are Paired.

Build Your ClawBot

STOP

EDR Modifications

Drive Systems - Styles Includes: Base Frame Shapes and Material Selections Motor Selection for Types and Number Of Design must accommodate Electronics Design Must Accommodate Manipulator Systems Must Accommodate Drive Systems Holonomic Mecanum Tank Drive Omni & H Drive

Manipulator Systems Includes: Rollers Tank Treads Wheels Gears Pulleys Chains Sprockets Frame Material Selection Motors Selections Pneumatics Systems 6 Bar systems Intake systems Intake systems Intake systems

EDR Modifications – What should you consider? Never Just start building – HAVE A PLAN – Engineering Notebook comes in handy. Study the task – “Nothing But Net”, focus on the methods of scoring. Decide on no more than 2 or 3 tasks – remember a match is just 2 min. A robot can do just so much! Do not forget the build rules. 18x18x18 (hint: build 17x17x17) It is better to do 1 or 2 tasks well then many poorly. Know your resources. Time, Expertise, Equipment Avoid cutting metal – cutting makes 2 scrap parts and costs $$$. Decide – Prototype, Prototype, Prototype - Testing

1. Read the game manual – You cannot play the game unless you understand the rules. 2. Make a list of the ways to score. Rank them by Point Value . Rank them from high to low and by and easy to hard. 3. Make a list of must have robot functions. Rank Hard to Easy

Programming New Graphical! Includes: C Programming Language Robot C—Carnegie Mellon (Free Tutorials ) Integrates All Base, Electronics and Manipulator Systems New Graphical!

NOW 4. Considering the Resources of Time and Materials select a design path. 5. Make a simple sketch of your design. 6. Make a list of the parts you need. 7. Will you need to change the Programming?. 8. Build and Test . Watch the Time

Thank you!

Your Robot Design