Goal:
The goal of Performance Test 1 was to read the starting light, navigate to the button, press the button, and hold the button down for five seconds. Extra points would be awarded if the robot navigated to and came into contact with the lava lever. Five attempts were allowed for the performance test.
Scoring:
Touch a ramp – 5 points
Get completely to upper level (no drive surfaces touching a ramp) – 5 points
Press seismograph button – 5 points
Hold seismograph button for 5 seconds – 5 points
Bonus – touch part of the lava lever or its housing
Results:
The robot failed the first four attempts due to its inability to consistency drive straight and get up the hill. On the fifth attempt, the robot was able to successfully make it up the hill, navigate to the button, press the button, and hold it down for five seconds. The robot was not able to navigate to the lava lever because the both microswitches were not pressed simultaneously. If both microswitches had been pressed, the robot would have terminated the reverse function and would have navigated to the lever. Click to view Performance Test Scores
Analysis:
The results from the performance test were analyzed and improvements were made to the robot based upon those results. One of the main issues with the robot was the inability to navigate up the hill. The robot weighed too little, and because of that, the wheels slipped when climbing the hill. The robot was improved by adding weight onto the chassis, therefore reducing the slippage. The weights included two rolls of pennies that were attached to the back of the forklift mechanism when it was eventually attached and also included a piece of scrap metal that was attached underneath the front of the robot. Another improvement that was made to the robot after the performance test was the removal of the microswitches. The microswitches were removed because of the inconsistency with the robot lining up to the button. The functions of the microswitches were eventually replaced when RPS was added to the robot.
Testing Log:
A video of the robot completing all of the tasks for Performance Test 1 is shown below: