Jones 1

Description:

Our first robot featured a simple drivetrain tank design. Since it was our rookie year, we focused on learning the basics and building a reliable foundation rather than taking on overly complex mechanisms.

Drive:

We chose a tank drive system because it was easy to build, straightforward to program, and a great starting point for our first year. It gave us valuable experience with movement control and stability.

Claw:

We decided to use a claw mechanism to handle game pieces. It was an ambitious choice for our first season, but we wanted to challenge ourselves and create a robot that could actively interact with the field elements.

Pneumatics:

Our claw was powered by pneumatics, which allowed it to open and close efficiently. Unfortunately, a mechanical issue caused the pneumatic system to fail, rendering the claw inoperable during the competition.

Challenges & Solutions:

In addition to the pneumatic failure, the top of our claw broke off mid-match. The remaining structure had sharp edges that didn’t meet safety standards, so we quickly adapted—using a glove to cover the exposed area and ensure compliance with competition safety rules. Despite these setbacks, we learned valuable lessons about design durability, maintenance, and quick problem-solving under pressure.