Project Plan:
In our first few meetings, we decided to "matrix" the project - each team member would be responsible for one skill/competency, and one sub-section of the robot. For example, Brad was responsible for the robot's software as well as managing the power design.
We also wanted to ensure that we didn't set the design early without considering some of the key questions we felt we needed to answer, such as: Should we dunk, or should we shoot? What are the benefits and tradeoffs to each?
Once the design was set and early prototyping had finished, much of our project planning centered on being co-located while working. Since we each had limited competency in the tools, it was difficult to assign individual ownership for components, and we spent a lot of time teaching each other and working through problems together.
The "check off" timelines set by the teaching team were helpful for us to get a sense of pacing; if we had been a bit more rigorous in our drivetrain design and chosen high-torque motors earlier, we probably could have finished ~1 week early. Even without these changes, our team finished Tuesday night, and completed the check off on Wednesday.
We also wanted to ensure that we didn't set the design early without considering some of the key questions we felt we needed to answer, such as: Should we dunk, or should we shoot? What are the benefits and tradeoffs to each?
Once the design was set and early prototyping had finished, much of our project planning centered on being co-located while working. Since we each had limited competency in the tools, it was difficult to assign individual ownership for components, and we spent a lot of time teaching each other and working through problems together.
The "check off" timelines set by the teaching team were helpful for us to get a sense of pacing; if we had been a bit more rigorous in our drivetrain design and chosen high-torque motors earlier, we probably could have finished ~1 week early. Even without these changes, our team finished Tuesday night, and completed the check off on Wednesday.