GradBot – Fall 2019
Project Objective and Mission Profile Update
Author/s: Taylor Manning
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Table of Contents
Project Objective Update
In several discussions, it became clear to the GradBot team that the project objective did not clearly define what was to be accomplished and this caused our requirements for building and designing the robot to be soft. With help and clarification and the addition of new requirements, a new objective was created.
Old Project Objective
GradBot is a prototype of a toy robot that is marketed to soon-to-be graduates, ages 12+. It is designed to roll like the astro-mech droid BB8, but will have a graduation cap on top and a clear sphere body showing a pyramid inside that stays upright and houses the electronics. It should be operated by the user with the Arxterra app.
New Project Objective
GradBot presents graduates age 12+ with the unique opportunity to enhance their graduation experience by having a robot companion accompany them across the stage as they get their diploma. With an innovative design that implements two DC motors operating inside a sphere to create its rolling motion, this robot can operate in any X-Y direction by simple inputs to its associated phone app. The spherical body allows this toy robot to cross most level, wood or thin carpeted stage flooring and can overcome minor obstacles as it tends to naturally navigate away from them once it has come in contact with the obstacle and the motors are still in operation. By building this robot around the intelligently crafted 3dot board, future designers will be able to re-create and improve the overall design of GradBot and create an optimal version for future graduates.
Mission Profile Update
After a team meeting with the customer and owner of The Robot Company (TRC), it became clear that our Mission Profile was weak and lacked concise direction and purpose. With the help of the customer and team collaboration we overhauled the current Mission Profile so that it would now provide a clear purpose.
Old Mission Profile
To design a prototype of a sphero robot toy with a mortar board cap made to cross the stage in front of a graduating student.
New Mission Profile
GradBot, a prototype toy for graduates aged 12+, will be demonstrated by having a graduate turn on the 3dot board, assemble all internal pieces, enclose the assembly within the sphere, place the mortarboard on top of the sphere and connect to the Arxterra App. From there, the graduate will place the robot at the beginning of the stage and be able to control GradBot to follow him across the entire length of the stage using the app’s controls. Once the crossing of the stage has been accomplished, GradBot has completed its intended mission and shall be removed from the stage by the graduate.