Week 4: September 26 and September 29

We had scheduled two meetings for this week, and decided that it would be best to focus on the robotics during meeting time while the kids forged ahead with their project research independently.

First, the team looked at possible ways to combine missions. This is new to them because last year, as a rookie team, we considered it a success to have developed a solution to a single mission by mid-October!

In looking at the challenge mat they considered various factors:

- which missions are similar
- which missions are close together on the mat
- how missions can be broken apart to be solved in two steps rather than all at once
- which missions should be solved in a particular order.

Since they didn't analyze the challenge this way for Ocean Odyssey, they quickly discovered how many factors they should consider, and how many different opinions they had! The pizza molecules are a good example: three of the kids thought it should be done last so the molecules don't get in the way of other missions; one kid thought they should do them first to get them done, and not bother attempting any missions that might move the molecules out of position!

Then they moved on to developing solutions for the chosen missions. At times, we coaches had to work hard to get them focused on solutions rather than wasting time and breath defending their positions. If only they could somehow see how much time and energy they waste in this way!

In any case, one pair has developed a workable solution for one mission, the Cable Tester. They are now working on a second mission (the Pizza Molecules) that can be attempted with the same robot configuration. The other pair of kids has done work on one of the "delivery" missions", the Molecular Motor, using a mechanical solution that does not require the third motor. Their delivery mechanism works well, but it is proving difficult to navigate to the right position.

They have discovered that the robot performs more reliably when it gets better traction. They considered using different wheels but decided to try the weight bricks instead. Most of the team agreed that the weight bricks were a good solution, for now at least.

At one point, the whole group took a break to talk about navigation. We reminded them to think of each mission as two tasks - getting there, and completing the mission. They looked at various navigation strategies and agreed they need to work on ways of getting to the far end of the mat reliably. They are considering following lines, counting lines, orienting against the bumpers at the far end, and pointing the robot and hoping it goes straight. Obviously they need to keep testing these strategies next week.