ROBOTICS
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2024 CENTERSTAGE
I am currently leading a team on the creation of a robot that completes tasks in an arena. This season’s competition emphasizes the role STEM plays in the arts. As the senior president of the team, I have been able to…
I. improve the efficiency of the team by organizing meetings in sprints,
II. manage how documentation is recorded for our engineering portfolio,
III. teach team members STEM and leadership skills.
2023 POWER PLAY
I led the programming of a custom-made robot that needed to complete tasks in an arena that were related to energy. I programmed an autonomous period, which consisted of the robot using image recognition software to read color labels and follow a set of instructions based on the color. I also programmed a controller that would allow a user to move the robot around, raise a continuous lift, and grab objects. Additionally, I had helped with the manufacturing of the robot and game materials, both by physically constructing the robot, and using CAD software to 3D print objects. The task that was focused on in the arena was placing cones on top of junction poles in an attempt to complete a "circuit"—that is, creating a continuous path of cones from one side of the arena to the other.
I was a leader on the team, especially in helping new members learn how to program the robot, and assisting all members with difficult tasks. Additionally, I had the role of making the team's Engineering Portfolio—a comprehensive report on the team's activities (such as outreach, fundraising, and meetings) and the building of the robot (such as the drive train, intake system, continuous lift system, and programming).
2022 FREIGHT FRENZY
I led the programming of a custom-made robot that needed to complete tasks in an arena that were related to transportation. I programmed an autonomous period, which consisted of the robot using encoders to move to a designated spot in the arena. I also programmed a controller that would allow a user to move the robot around, raise its arm, and grab objects.
The task that was focused on in the arena was transporting objects such as cubes, spheres, and rubber ducks with the arm and placing them in designated areas in the arena.
2021 CARGO CONNECT
I led the programming of a LEGO Spike robot that needed to complete tasks on a map that were related to transportation. I used color sensors to guide the robot along the black and white lines while moving. When movement was needed away from the black and white lines, I used a gyrosensor for positioning, and rotated the robot using a PID control system by using the error between the current angle and the desired angle as the speed the robot rotated.
Tasks completed on the map include removing unneeded capacity, connecting trucks, unloading cargo planes, using switch engines, avoiding accidents, putting down bridges, moving cranes, and dropping supplies from a helicopter. With this, I led my team to victory, placing first in the regional competition.
The major theme of this competition was how to improve the way products are transported. My team focused on the transportation of medicine to the disabled or the elderly. We met with James Brown, the executive director for Center Communities of Brookline at Hebrew Senior Life, to discuss the challenges of delivering medicine to seniors. Together, we came up with an iPad app called Medicine Movers that would deliver medicine to the disabled and elderly. The audience of the application includes those called Movers, who drive and deliver the medicine, and Patrons, who request medicine to be delivered to them. In addition, we discussed user privacy and brainstormed methods of making a secure app such as background checks for Movers and a lock system for a container with the medicine that only the patron has access to.
