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Build Season - Week 4

 The Charge Robotics Team has been firing on all cylinders this week! The team has finished some projects, but many are still being designed and built.


Design


The Design Department has been busy CADing our robots' coral intake, bumpers, and various custom parts like gussets, plates, and pulleys. Our coral intake utilizes spinning cylinders that spin forward and backward to intake and release coral. While the bumpers only protect our robot from impacts. Our custom parts are crucial for our robot subsystem's functionality.


Fabrication


The Fabrication Department is busy building our elevator. The elevator allows us to reach all four levels of the coral reef. It also comes with the ability to be compatible with our coral intake;  meaning our elevator and coral intake function as one subsystem increasing our efficiency.


Software 


The software department has finished our elevator code and our hanging subsystem code. They are testing automatic routes to allow the robot to move most efficiently. Lastly, they are aligning the vision of the robot.


Business


The Business Department continues pursuing new ideas for raising funds for our team and seeking new sponsorship opportunities.  The team has sold over 50 keychains for our Valentine’s Day fundraiser and sales will continue until the holiday.


Branding and Marketing


The Branding and Marketing Department continued their weekly tasks, video recap, blog, and newsletter.  In addition to their weekly tasks, members worked on the Impact Award video, creating an activity packet for the FIRST LEGO League event, and making custom volunteer t-shirts and team buttons for the event as well.


Outreach


The team hosted a FIRST LEGO League Challenge Qualifier and FIRST LEGO League Explore Festival on Saturday, February 1st.  We had 18 Challenge and 6 Explore teams compete in our event.  The Explore Festival included robot demonstrations from our FRC Team and FTC Team 18241 - Outer Galaxy, magic and plate spinning with team mentor, Ed Cohen, a STEM-inspired activity packet, and free Lego build.  Special thanks to all of our volunteers!  We could not have done it without you.


The team also raised $402 which will directly benefit victims of the LA Wildfires.  The money will be donated to Reach Out Worldwide, a non-profit organization that responds to natural disasters worldwide.  The organization holds fundraisers to provide affected families with gift cards and helps with the cleaning and rebuilding process for impacted communities.
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