We had 1.5 hours last week and 2 hours this week to build and fire our trebuchets. We were allowed to use anything in the shop. Considering the time constraints, I'd say we did a pretty damn good job. Our trebuchet's best shot landed fifteen meters away from the starting point. Not terribly impressive, but it was exhilarating that it: 1. didn't collapse under its own weight (or the weight of the 150-lb trash-can full of water that was used to propel the pumpkin), and 2. didn't just drop the pumpkin. We lost the competition overall, but the other team really took the management up on their offer of "anything in the shop," and broke out the box we usually ship the robot in. I took pictures for a community volunteer and personal friend, who couldn't be there the second night.
So, here are some pics of Team Mike's trebuchet (built mostly by Evan Billingsley, who is removing the blocks in the second picture; Andrew Gotow, holding the flashlight in the third shot; Sam Loeschen, standing off to the side in the first shot; and myself, behind the camera in all five pictures. others also contributed, but I'm afraid to say I don't know at least one of your names.):
Evan, risking severe bruising
Setting up the second shot, the one that flew furthest. The cooler is also full of water.
Building it, in the shop.
Setting up the second shot, the one that flew furthest. The cooler is also full of water.
Building it, in the shop.
The masking tape was solely a joke about the poor construction, and not actually structurally significant. As far as I know.
Anyway, what I guess I mean to say is that this class has taught every one of its graduates to think outside the box and have fun with engineering projects. It has literally changed the course of my life.
Side note (and fairly unrelated): Up until this challenge, I've been working on another project this year, titled Development of Configurable Robotics Platforms for Cost-Effective Secondary Education. This is a student research project that Zach Cantrell and I are doing separate from the rest of the class, mostly to spare us from doing these projects for the third or fourth time. We're submitting it to the Intel Science and Engineering Fair and will be releasing CAD files and plans under a free license online. Anyway, that's my long excuse for not knowing your name if I forgot you. This means you, Zeke or Zack or some other name like that, and you, girl with dark hair and black converse in the second-to-last shot.
Side note (and fairly unrelated): Up until this challenge, I've been working on another project this year, titled Development of Configurable Robotics Platforms for Cost-Effective Secondary Education. This is a student research project that Zach Cantrell and I are doing separate from the rest of the class, mostly to spare us from doing these projects for the third or fourth time. We're submitting it to the Intel Science and Engineering Fair and will be releasing CAD files and plans under a free license online. Anyway, that's my long excuse for not knowing your name if I forgot you. This means you, Zeke or Zack or some other name like that, and you, girl with dark hair and black converse in the second-to-last shot.
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