The team is made up of seven students from the FAMU-FSU College of Engineering, six from the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering and one from the Department of Mechanical Engineering.
The members of the team are:
The Project Manager is in charge of overseeing each design aspect of the project and organizing all of the team members working together; He also ensures that all members attend each internal meeting and have set goals to achieve by the end of the meeting. In addition, he communicates between the group and the project advisors to keep them updated on all progress made in the design. Lastly, he will construct and maintain the sensor grid that the robot uses for line following because of his background in sensors.
Background: FPGA’s, Programming, and Sensors
The Head Programmer evaluates all code that any team member produces for each subsystem before it is implemented into the final realization of the design. His duties as the control engineer include constructing and maintaining the movement and communications systems of the robot, which comprises the motors, motor drivers, and microcontrollers. He will be in charge of incorporating the multiple systems of the robot programmatically. His extensive background in robotics provides invaluable experience needed for the complicated design.
Background: Robotics, Programming, Motors, and Microcontrollers
The Secretary is in charge of organizing all of the official paperwork that needs to be submitted to the project coordinator and the mentors. this includes all milestone reports and the needs analysis. The official meeting minutes from each meeting, internal and advisor, are to be taken by the secretary and posted to the team blog on Blackboard in a timely manner. The additional position as a systems engineer allows him to assist any group that needs extra support.
Background: Power Systems, Controls
The Financial Advisor is in charge of the project’s budget. Throughout the project they will be in charge of keeping all the expenses in a log and in google drive. Decisions on how much money will be spent have to be approved by the financial advisor. The power systems engineer will evaluate all the power being consumed by the robot as well as the power being provided to the robot. The engineer will be in charge of providing the necessary power at the cheapest, lightest and most efficient way possible. They will also help any team members that require extra hands on their work.
Background: Power Systems, Controls, Financial Management
The Controls Engineer is responsible all programming associated with the design of the Etch-A-Sketch arm; more specifically, the control law that will govern the movement of the arm and integrating the various sensors involved. His background in programming and in computer vision will prove quite useful for the portions of the design that require sensing.
Background: Programming, Computer Vision
The Hardware Engineer is responsible for the design and manufacturing of the Etch-A-Sketch arm and all hardware associated with that area of the design. This task involves determining motor, electronic, and material specifications; as well as constructing the arm itself. The Hardware Engineer is required to have open communication with the Controls, Head Mechanical, and the Head Programmer to ensure the most efficient subsystem capable of production. The primary focus of the hardware engineer is on the mechatronic design of the arm, including programming as necessary.
Background: Hardware and Electronics
The Head Mechanical Engineer is responsible for the structural integrity of the robot and is in charge of making sure that the various subsystems are designed to be mechanically sound. The head mechanical engineer will also perform the necessary torque and material calculations based on the requirements of the competition. He will also act as the team’s liaison with the Mechanical Engineering Department, personally guaranteeing that the team meets all Mechanical Engineering Department specific requirements. As a mechanical engineering student, he has had training on mechanical systems and materials, which should be an asset to the team.
Background: Dynamics, Mechanical Systems