Timeline

While progress is usually not predictable and is subject to availability of time from other classes, home assignments and exams, one can use a basic time line to estimate what should be done by what time. The following is just an estimated scheduled based on successful teams in the past. Q4 is the Fall quarter, Q1 is the Winter quarter of the following year, and Q2 is the Spring quarter of the following year.

• First four weeks of Q4. Form teams, distribute tasks and duties among members. Submit overall specs. in terms of target mouse characteristics. Focus on lectures and reading materials.
• Second four weeks of Q4. Analyze design requirements, evaluate alternative parts, select and specify parts. Define interfaces among components. Submit design analysis and justification. Get high level AI software working, specify controller board. Acquire parts.
• Third four weeks of Q4. Assemble mechanical components, including chassis, motors, gears, wheels and etc. A working chassis should be available during the Winter break with all components mounted (maybe except for the sensors).
• First four weeks of Q1. Have all first generation components completed. Test each component individually and redesign/reimplement if the design does not meet the initial specifications. Get ready for integration.
• Second four weeks of Q1. Motion control should be done, robot should be able to perform hard coded blind motions involving linear and angular combinations. All electronic components should be designed and produced. Sensors should be tested. Controller board should be complete.
• Third four weeks of Q1. Integrate components. High level AI software, mid-level motion control and sensor software should be fully integrated with the low level interrupt based engine. Designs based on DC motors should have PID loop tuned. Robot should now be tested in a real maze (maybe shrunk to 4x4) to see if it solves the maze.
• First week of Q2. Yellow alert state. Iron out all the known problems, robots should solve mazes relatively reliably.
• Second week of Q2. Red alert state. Last week before Picnic Day to fine tune and optimize the robots. Make sure spare parts are available. Calibrate and test robots with the actual maze board the night before Picnic Day. Sleep well and look sharp on Picnic Day!
• Second two weeks of Q2. If a robot does not solve the maze on Picnic Day, use these two weeks to make it work to get a B. Work on final report. Working robots may compete in Region 6 competition.
• Second four weeks of Q2. If a robot does not work during the first four weeks of Q2, get it working by the 8th week to get a C.
• Third four weeks of Q2. Finish a draft of the final report and submit it to me for review. Submit the final report by the last day of finals.