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Hey guys! Build season is almost halfway through. Just letting ya'll know. We currently have a steady stream of buttons being designed and pressed each day. Our website is close to being finished as well as organizational things and Chairman's. The unrelenting cold doesn't keep RPM 156 from working into the night (til' 9 pm of course, people got to sleep). Programming, building, tweaking, writing, drawing, designing, more tweaking, pressing, testing. All the time. Thus tomorrow, Friday, January 31st, we will be given the treat of a day off! So, RPM, we have one day to relax and brainstorm before returning to our task. But Saturday is party day!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, MRS.SARGENT!!!
So bring food and goodies to celebrate one of our mentor's birthday! (But we still have to work, because it is our noble duty as a FIRST member. But we love our mentors. Just sayin'. And food. And robots.)

Halfway!!

We are halfway through this year's build season already! We are steadily progressing towards a final robot design, as well as a final Chairman's award submission. We have completed designs of our robot frame, and sent it out for welding. Downstairs, our build team has succeeded in throwing the ball into the goal with our prototype. Upstairs, we are working hard on organizing all of our materials and getting our submissions together. The weather continues to be grueling and uncooperative, but it hasn't stopped Team 156 RPM!!!

Cold Weather

The weather in Erie is unrelenting, but that hasn't stopped team 156 from their hard labor. Pending approval, our chairman's award submissions are nearing completion. Button making has come a long way, as has our reinvented website design and safety manual. Downstairs we have our builders frantically welding and wiring away to complete our prototype and move into the final design. With only a little more than three weeks left of build, we've started to enter our crunch-time phase. We'll see you next time. Same place, same time.

2014 Season is under way!

Team 156 RPM's 2014 season is officially underway! Downstairs, our build team is working hard on prototyping mechanisms to pick up a 2-foot diameter ball, as well as mechanisms to throw this ball. As prototyping progresses, we have discovered one design that throws well, one design that doesn't work as well, and we have one more design in the process of being assembled. The first two designs involved pneumatic (air) cylinders and a rectangular frame for the ball to sit on. The third design involves a chain on a gear-type wheel. As the chain spins the wheel, an arm goes up. Upstairs, our chairmen's award essays and summaries are almost complete, and our website is almost ready to publish! As we prepare for the Greater Pittsburgh Regional, our team is busy, busy, busy!!

Next Competition

We made it through our first competition at Rochester, Finger Lakes Regional. We came in 42nd out 49. Now we are brainstorming and preparing for our next competition. FIRST Team 156 RPM is willing to make it to the top.

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Our next competition is at Pittsburgh. Currently we are editing and producing our final product of the Chairmen's video. Who's excited?!?! Come'on ya'all get pumped for RPM 156. Rev it up, rev it up RPM!!!

Bag and Tag!

       Last night we wrapped the robot in the bag! The robot is all ready to go on its journey to Finger Lakes, but that does not mean we are done yet! We are still brainstorming on mascot ideas, finishing up the Chairman's, and constructing the bumpers for the robot. There is also a competition between the students on who is to become the driver. The competition will consist of a written test and a test drive. It will be held on Saturday. 

(>^.^)># waffle?

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Crunch Time

Only three to four days left!

Well, our build team still has a lot of work ahead of them, putting all the pieces and components together!

Upstairs, the Chairman's paper and presentation is starting to come together. The goal is to have the paper completed by tomorrow.

There was an error found on one of our button designs, so now about fifty button cut-outs are being strapped.

The safety binder is being updated with more safety-ness. A map was added of the location so that students know where to exit in case of an emergency.

The business paln is also being updated with new sponsors and new creative saving techniques. We hope to have it completed by the end of tomorrow as well. 

Speaking of tomorrow, the meeting will probably be extended longer than last week. Remember to bring in snacks and drinks! Its gonna be a long day!

....Aaand I think that's it! all that is going on today! I'll add anything if something turns up!

Ta-ta!

~RPM 156