She ain't purdy but she's sturdy.

That's a terrible rhyme and I apologize.

Spencer, our machinist, has finished the payload frame and she's a tank!

He's pretty proud of it.

After a discombobulated month of ballooning, rovers, videos, visitors, weddings, and general chaos we finally all got back together 

We were concerned that March would be a stagnant month for production because of other obligations but we actually had a very productive month. Dan and Jimmy vacuum tested a lot of our new cameras and servos and we're happy to report that everything works!

Murr was not pleased that her camera wasn't talking to the computer the way it's supposed to. 

But then she got it to work!!!

Landon and Memes are doing robotic kinematics the old fashioned way. (Good luck to Landon on his upcoming FRR.)

And we have the (final?) revision to our robotic arm and Spencer will start machining it next week! 

In the month ahead we have a HAB launch and a week at Kennedy Space Center. 

HAB 2018

Here's why we use coolers for our payloads. Everyone swears that tiny bit wouldnt've come off if I hadn't put a rock in the payload unsecured. (But I'm glad I didn't leave the Canon in!)

Swarmathon Code is in!

Two weeks ago we had some decent code. Last week it turned into promising code. This week we have something worthy of the competition. 

Testing was challenging again this year. The team worked within the bounds of the time we were allowed to be on campus. Obstacle avoidance takes on a new meaning when you have high winds, snow, and a severe lack of power cords in your testing arena.

Man's not hot (never hot) but he was pretty chilly on the last day of testing. Nothing like some late March snow/sleet to get the blood pumping for Swarmathon!

The team was caught unaware by a sudden cold snap and had to wear all of the coats I had been hoarding in my office.

Our final code was submitted at 11:58 pm. 

Now all we have left is the video, technical report, and outreach report!

Yee! Yee! 

Skkkkrrrrrrt. Pop! Pop! Pop! Pop! Pop! 

Swarmathon: Deadlines soon!

Don't disturb the Dan.