J.E.D.I. Display Logics

After a year of researching, I finally pulled the trigger and ordered the J.E.D.I. (Joystick Enhanced Device Input) Control System Display Logics. My display logics purchase are kits for the +5V DC/DC Converter, two Front Logic Displays (FLD), one Rear Logic Display (RLD), three Holo Projector lights (HP), two Process State Indicators (PSI), one Display Controller, and nine 14" Extension Cables (for connecting components). This whole setup cost $235.75 (including shipping). I have to admit, all these parts seem a little intimidating; but I'm sure I can find a wealth of people willing to help me put these kits together.

Leg Plastic

With everyone in the group getting their droids up on legs, I decided I better get moving with mine too. Because I intend to do 2-3-2 for my R2 rather than a static 3 leg, I need to plan for how the legs are going to move. The outer legs have to rotate and the center leg needs to move up and down without excessive friction. I decided to use the self lubricating HDPE from Midwest Plastics Inc. in varying sizes to allow the legs to move freely. For $32.10 I was able to get one 3/4"x11"x27" piece and three 1/8"x12"x18" pieces of HDPE.

Final Motor Bends

Steve and I worked on the motor mounts tonight. I used Steve's metal lathe to add threads to all the spacers we drilled at our last build night.

While I threaded all the spacers, Steve finished bending the motor mounts. The brake is a little too big for the ankle pieces, so he took it home to see if he could make some modifications and allow for more shallow bends. The group discussed ankle to motor mount connection options. Dan Baker used nuts and bolds, but we decide to use pop rivets.

Once all the bending and threading was done Steve, Jason, and I assembled six and a half motor mounts (that is all we could do until we drill out some more spacers).

Stationary Center Leg

A couple builders, Brad, and Jason all worked on the mounting of their center legs tonight while Steve and I worked on the motor mounts. Jason started everyone off by drilling out holes in his frame for the outer leg pipes. Later in the evening he cut his center leg brackets to size, welded some of it together, removed some of the slag with the ax and grinded off the rest.

Brad finished centering his center leg support and welded another small support angle iron piece to the top of the uprights to make it a little more rigid.

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Moose decided to do something a little different with his second droid "Ed". He used a smaller hole for the center leg and a single upright piece of angle iron to attach to the pipe connecting the outer legs.

2009 Robotics Championship Of The Americas

The 2009 VEX Robotics Championship Of The Americas was held this weekend at the Omaha Civic Auditorium. Our builders club was asked to come entertain the crowd and hand out an award tonight. Our contact, Allison Pappas, was great. She was everywhere helping everyone with everything the entire event. We were suppose to keep our presence low key so Patches was hidden under a blanket (behind the main stage curtain) waiting for his cue to enter. James filmed the presentation while other builders got Patches ready.

Michelle, Jason, and I setup the table in the lobby while Patches was on stage. Shortly after the award presentation, we got a flurry of people stopping by to ask us what we are all about.

Patches wanted to play Elevation with the other VEX robots.

Patches stopped by the booth to see how we were doing and interact with the crow in the lobby.

Patches stopped by the pit area to interact with more people.

Towards the end of the evening, Patches came back to the lobby for some photo ops with teams leaving for their hotels for the night.

As the evening ended, Patches dome was swapped with the R4 head and he decided to play Dance Dance Revolution.