Committee Updates - January Progress

Happy New Year everyone! With the Mid-Grant review on the horizon, we are starting off 2021 with lots of innovation, excitement, and hard work! Check out all of the amazing things our six committees are up to!

Programming Motion:
During January, the Programming Motion committee has been working on the code to allow Hydra to move and face embers in the infrared video feed, specifically how to compute the calculations necessary to accomplish this. They have encountered challenges with calculating the distance between the ember and the infrared camera. After many discussions, the group has concluded that their calculations do not have to be exact because Hydra’s nozzle can move slightly to ensure it does not miss the ember. Programming Motion has also been working on the code that implements their calculations and they hope to finish this soon.

Programming App:
To make the most progress possible, the Programming App committee has split into two sub-committees, one working on designing the final interface, and the other working on coding and creating a rough prototype of the app. Their designing group is using Photoshop to create drafts of what will become the final interface, while their coding group is using XCode to test how the code is working. They are working tirelessly to perfect the features they have chosen to display for the Mid-Grant review, and hope to finish their prototype in the near future.

Communications:
In January, the Communications and Outreach committee continued to keep our different social medias platforms up to date. They have now started to post weekly updates using Instagram highlights (check us out on Instagram @archerinventeam). Along with social media, Communications has been collecting contact information for different fire stations and has been reaching out to them to talk about Hydra. They are also working to create a slideshow template and business cards with our new logo (pictured below!). In February, Communications hopes to finish their slideshow and logo designs, as well as reach out to more fire departments.

Budgeting and Purchasing:
The Budgeting and Purchasing committee continues to help other committees by staying up to date with orders. As we continue to develop our prototype they have been especially busy! They worked with the Programming Motion committee to order infrared cameras and breakout boards. They also bought another strobe light, adjustable sprinkler fan nozzle, and of course, safety goggles for the Engineering committee. They hope to continue staying up to date with orders, especially ones that need to be purchased before the Mid-Grant review!

Design and CAD:
The Design and CAD committee continues to perfect the measurements and parameters of their model, using the strobe light measurements to be as accurate as possible! Also in January, Design and CAD began making the 3D exterior of Hydra (or the outer shell), in order to make an outer layer designed to hold the interior items such as the servo motor and the infrared cameras. In order to do this, they are learning more and more about Fusion 360 and its features. Within the next month or so, Design and CAD hopes to meet with committees like Engineering and Programming Motion to get feedback on their design, complete the exterior of Hydra, and of course, 3D print and assemble!

Engineering:
The Engineering committee has been hard at work researching the best parts for the fluid mechanics of our device and the pieces they need to transport water from the source to each of their nozzles. They made a lot of progress with their prototype, deconstructing the model, and carving out the room for where our water will flow. The committee has spent a lot of time learning how each section of the piping will work together and the pieces needed to ensure the device will work effectively. They also printed their first 3D tool, having utilized CAD in January, to create a specialized gear that would connect the servo with the main nozzle and allow the spray pattern to be adjusted. Engineering hopes to complete their prototype within the next week as they receive the parts they need for accomplishing the water flow of the device.

We are so excited and proud of the amazing work each of our committees has accomplished! There is a lot of work ahead of us to prepare for the Mid-Grant review, but we are ready to face any challenges that come our way!