Now I can highlight code snippets!

Having recently lost my thumbdrive, I've decided to store more ideas and interesting projects in a more locatable place. At least for now...

I got the syntax highlighting from this site. It details how to edit the layout template.

Here is a sample of code, just to try it out:

def parseStatsFile():
   """Parse the stats file, or create it initially"""
   try:
       statsFile = open(fileLoc + "stats.log", "r")
       for s in statsFile:
           statsTemp = s.strip("\n").split("=")

I really hope that I am able to find my thumbdrive. I only managed to back up a couple of important files, before I lost it right after that.

End of the Semester Projects

This has been a truly busy semester. I have not even had time to think of new projects to start. I have been working hard on school related projects though. They are starting to come to fruition as well. I will be posting on them soon, as well as posting on the progress of the SAVER First Responder team. Both of my big school projects are due on Tuesday of next week, so I had better get back to preparing those for presentation.

Day Two

The first day of school is over. The second has begun.

We have already had our first Robotics Team leader's meeting. Everyone seems to be in the mood to get started on fixing our robots. With the regime change, there will be some other changes coming too. We are going to be keeping our shop much cleaner (YAY!).

There is still plenty to do on our robots. The Aluminator is going to be used for programming the A.I.. While the computer gurus on that, the rest of the team will be working to make Stereo Opticon all it can be. Installing the new motor controllers, motors, and hopefully new wiring harnesses. It will be a very exciting time!

My autonomous helicopter research group will be having their first meeting on Wednesday. Hopefully we will be able to get just a motivated as the Robotics Team.

Summer is gone...

The summer is over. I am days away from being back in the classroom. As with most students, I am excited and saddened about going back. I am excited, because I get to start working on the grant funded research project for my autonomous helicopter group. I am very sad that I will not be living with my fiancé during the semester. It is going to be a tough semester, but I think I will survive.

The research project is going to be amazing, we not only have our grant money, but we are also using the award money from winning the AHS 1st responder competition in Huntsville. That is an extra $5000 toward our vehicle. We are going to use our pre-existing R/C helicopter as our base platform. From that we are going to strap a couple of “gumstick” computers onto the bottom, strap on a couple sensors, then get to writing a bunch of code in order to get it to fly intelligently. In order to fulfill our grant, we are going to get it to fly, from a distance, up to the side of a building, look in the windows, and try to identify a target. I plan on journaling it every day that I do work. I am going to try to get the other guys to do the same. Maybe we could collaborate in a blog like this!

I will also be involved in the UMR Robotics Team. I will be helping in a detached way. I do not plan to devote a lot of time strictly to the team. I am taking on more of an advisory role. I will be helping in major decisions, approving designs, and helping everyone keep on track in general. If there is one thing that the team needs, it is to keep on track. We have a great opportunity this year. After visiting a couple of conferences, including the AUVSI conference in D.C., we got some great sponsors that are going to be helping us out by provided motor controllers, new motors, and more. Follow their website for more info.

I was accepted into the work study program this year. Hopefully I will be able to get an interesting job. I really wanted to work as a research assistant of some sort, but I am afraid that the jobs offered might be a little more menial than that. It will help me get some gas money, so that is good enough for now.

I have also been doing a little bit of design research, on my own. I have been looking in to building an autonomous submarine. I have been working on a way to create an airtight container to house a brushless motor and shaft. I think I have found all the parts that I need, but I just need to find the time and, mainly, the money in order to do some experiments. If I can get it to work then I will be well on my way.

I have been looking for work opportunities in the Chicago area. Victoria and I visited there last weekend, and fell in love with the city. She says that she has other seven different colleges that she can apply to for graduate school! We plan on moving up there after we get married next June. I am just hoping that I will be able to find something in the realm of robotics there. All of the companies that I spoke with at the AUVSI conference were all from the east coast. There are a couple of companies that look promising, I just need to try to get a hold of them now, so I can start talking with someone about getting hired next summer.

Victory Lap

We got our results back today for ME161's design challenge... I think the numbers will speak for themselves:

Team	Weight, lbs, oz	Weight Penalty	Run 1	Run 2	Run 3	Total	Rank
Finish Line	4,14	0	300	300	100	533.33	1
Creative Innovations	3,15	0	300	200	200	533.33	1
Employees Must Wash Hands	4,15.6	0	300	240	160	533.33	1
A-Team	5,1.4	0.09	300	240	300	529.25	2
Mercury	4,15.4	0	160	300	160	506.67	3

We are the A-Team. We had the best, most consistent runs out of any of the twenty other groups to compete. The only thing that held us back was our weight. We are pleased, but also very disappointed by the results. A little more than 4 points and we would have won.

Anyway, here is our team picture with our car!

Victory!

Today, The A-Team succeeded in completing it's task!

We built a cart that was supposed to be under 5 lbs and be able to carry a 10 lbs weight. It had to move a specified distance and return half way, under stored human energy. We chose to use the 10lbs weight as our potential energy storage. We had a height limit of 4 ft and used the full extent of that height as our storage method.

The three runs were:

1. 50 ft forward -> 25 ft back - Perfect!
2. 40 ft forward -> 20 ft back - We didn't quick make it, but were only off by a bit
3. 30 ft forward -> 15 ft back - Perfect!

Dr. Nisbett and his two T.A.'s were very impressed that we were able to accomplish the mission so completely. Now, I also need to let it be known that the distance was actually measured using 'zones'. Each zone was approx. 5 ft long, so you only had to keep your vehicle in the zone.

Once I can get it set up, I'll be posting my previous projects, as well as current project as additions to the blog, or my website: nick.lessley.googlepages.com

Christening!

I christen thee blog!