Pan-Project Update: Pop Quiz #9, Ãœberclocker #3, LOLrioKart #2

In our last episode, Pop Quiz moved. I finally confirmed that the drive gearboxes are at least adequate to move the bot around as a weapon platform, possibly even doing some light pushing. Today, however, was a day of epic progress on Ãœberclocker, since I was able to get on the waterjet cutter. In the same session, I also cut Pop Quiz’s top and bottom armor plates out of a raw carbon fiber panel. Drivetrain parts for LOLriokart are currently in limbo due to a bank fart, but some additional components are on the way, and said fart should be resolved during Monday’s regular financial industry business hours.

So now, the projects in order.

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Pop Quiz 2 Update 8 and Project LOLrioKart

And a week of nothing happened. Multiple reasons for this: epic partying at the Media Lab, waiting on parts, and deprivation of waterjet access.

However, July is approaching, and so my time will be slightly more constrained with the beginning of a new internship (alongside my Media Lab job). So I’d better get some bot work done while I still can, eh?

The big news item for today is: Pop Quiz 2 drivetrain test is a success.

Drive pods installed! Each motor is epoxied into place into its mount (not very serviceable), and each drive pod is retained by two screws and the “channels of drive pod holding” machined into the chassis, like the design.

And here is Pop Quiz 1.91666666667. I duct taped all the parts the bot would conceivably need, plus some extra things to get it to somewhere around 1 pound. There were things missing, such as a giant blade, but overall it was ready for a test drive.

Here’s the video.

I approve. The bot is actually a little bit too squirrelly. It’s also running on 11.1 volts out of 14.8, so it will be even faster when done (I doubt the ounce or two that I’m short will actually make a difference). The BB controllers seem to like the motors enough, and I didn’t get any thermal problems from either controller or motor. I’ll probably just dual-rate the drive down on the transmitter… or just drive really fast. It’s somewhat slower than Test Bot just by the feel, but because the bot is so much smaller, is harder to gauge the heading.

I have a feeling that frankenmotors will be an integral part of my bots from here on.

So, what’s left to do on Pop Quiz?

1. Get Ti

2. Put Ti and carbon fiber on God Machine

3. ???

3a. Wind motor

4. Profit.

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