109V Team Bio
To determine the first robot build of the year, we brainstorm along with the other Lambert teams, ideas that could serve both in scoring potential and longevity of the robot. It is essential for the robot to be high scoring in matches, have high scoring potential in skills, and most importantly, have high defense capabilities. Following the robot brainstorming process comes the design process. Usually, we CAD separate models of the complex mechanisms of the bot as well as the base. The base is the key to a solid robot as it is the foundation of all other mechanisms and structure. After the base is created, the building process is mainly based on trial and error and countless hours of testing. The robot is usually built in a least complex to most complex order of mechanisms. For example, the base is created first, then any lift or large mechanism is created second. Mechanisms like intakes and small passive mechanisms are built last as they require the most tuning and time. On the software side of the robot, our team uses the PROSV5 C++ architecture as it allows for the most complex operation of the robot as possible. In such a competitive region, small things like efficiency of driving and precise movements can elevate a team higher than ever before. Use of control systems like custom PIDs for the drivetrains and lifts, motion profiles for tilting and scoring mechanisms, and macros to increase driving efficiency achieves this. All of the design process, CADs, documentation of programming, and countless hours of driving practice are logged into engineering notebooks and shown off to judges to demonstrate the engineering process of 109V.