MECHADOGS
About Our Departments
How The Mechadogs Work
The Mechadogs maintains a system of departmentalization that encourages proactive decision-making and general discourse, creating talented leaders with expertise in their chosen area of work. Departmentalization gave us the freedom to focus on a facet of work we are passionate about, rather than being forced to complete assigned work irrespective of our interests. This working model creates an environment of passionate individuals with immense expertise in their chosen area of work, forming a community that can easily be called a family.
Design Department
Modelling via CAD software and sketches
The mission of the design department is to curate a detailed model of our robot which contains the major stationery and dynamic components. In the preliminary stages of the design process, our robot model is drawn in rough sketches that contain approximated measurements. After revision by the department directors, our robot model is gradually designed in CAD software like Fusion360 and Onshape. CAD software is utilized for our finalized model because it allows for a multitude of components to be separately modeled and combined into a singular design, resulting in a cohesive overview of the robot which can be easily brought to fruition.
Control Department
Scripting and electrical systems
The mission of the control department is to curate a functional code and electrical systems that allow our robot to complete basic actions like moving. The control department uses Java to code the robot in conjunction with a RoboRio and electronics to produce a "neural network" that allows for the specialization of inputs for the robot. The control department is essential for the robot to function in a driverless state during competition and create a catalyst for the main function of the mechanisms built by the mechanical department and the motion department.
Mechanical Department
Building the stationary systems of the robot
The mission of the mechanical department is to curate the stationary systems of the robot. Building the stationary systems of the robot entails building non-moving elements of the robot such as the chasse and a simulated physical model of the arena in which our robot will be performing in. Before building the finalized stationary systems of the robot, the mechanical department constructs a prototype of our robot design to assess the feasibility of the CAD design and make necessary adjustments to the prototype. This process of testing results in a finished robot that has minimal structural flaws and can adequately support other components of the robot, such as dynamic systems and the electrical board.
Motion Department
Building the dynamic systems of the robot
The mission of the motion department is to curate the dynamic systems of the robot. Building the dynamic systems of the robot entails building moving elements of the robot such as wheels or tracks, the pneumatics system, and any other moving parts relevant to a specific FRC game condition (such as a climbing mechanism). Before building the finalized dynamic systems of the robot, the motion department constructs a prototype of the major moving parts to assess the feasibility of the CAD design and make necessary adjustments to the prototype. This process of testing results in dynamic systems that are fine-tuned and will not be overclocked easily.
Marketing Department
Handling outreach, finances, and team image
The mission of the marketing department is to curate an authentic image for the Mechadogs through outreach on a local, statewide, nationwide, and international level. The marketing department acts as the external link between the team and the general public by communicating with prospective sponsors and organizing the logistics of outreach events and financial records. Marketing revolves around maintaining an excellent image of our team that will cultivate prosperous relations with sponsors and generates interest in STEM and robotics within the community at large. Communication is conducted through social media platforms such as TikTok, Twitter, YouTube, Instagram, Gmail, etc. to maximize the audience that knows what the Mechadogs represents.
