GET READY TO RUMBLE...

ok. today we...

ORDERED THE AIR DUCT STUFF TO FEED THE BALL INTO THE LAUNCHER WITH
ORDERED THE SPINNING WHEEL FOR LAUNCHING THE BALL
ORDERED THE BELT IN ORDER TO SPIN THE WHEEL IN ORDER TO LAUNCH THE BALL
ORDERED THE PULLEY IN ORDER TO MOVE THE BELT IN ORDER TO SPIN THE WHEEL IN ORDER TO LAUNCH THE BALL!
(p.s. we decided on a belt instead of a chain because it's safer. i.e. if a chain is a little bit off, it will slip and come all the way off and flying into something at a large velocity. Ouch. if a belt is a little bit off, it's just a little bit off. b/c the wheel is moving so fast, we decided this would be a good thing)
(p.p.s. we also decided on ONE vertical wheel. launching from the TOP)

i will say that again.
WE HAVE DECIDED ON ONE VERTICAL WHEEL THAT LAUNCHES BALLS FROM THE TOP.

we have also decided that the center of the wheel is about 3 feet off the GROUND, 2 feet off the TURRET. this is non-negotiable. we have already ordered the belt for this lenght.

tomorrow we might take a trip to a hardware store. we will also finish up DESIGN SPECS. (i.e. finish materials list, sizes of materials, where to get them, etc.)
wednesday we'll build and finish design specs (if in case some odd thing comes up and we haven't finished them already (which we totally should)
thursday we'll send some of you to IDEO to press bearings into the wheels. the stuff we ordered today will probably be in by then so we'll be able to do more exciting build stuff.

welcome my friends...hope you have some time to spare... because we have just entered upon the building phase.

YEEESSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!



(heads up, first weekend in feb. there is no robotics. we will all be FOMFing, you should too...)(ps. SF library KICKS BUTT!)