A summary of what we have accomplished so far:

Project & Problem Identification Function & Module Brainstorming Determined Team Accountability Protocol

Identification of Team Roles Designed Logos Initial Design Conceptualization

Created Team Contract MVP Brainstorming Finalized MVP Designs Divided into four sub teams

Initially, the team brainstormed potential product ideas. Upon thoroughly discussing a variety of designs, it was concluded that we desired a robot that would provide a significant impact to others and solve a critical user problem. The main brainstormed ideas consisted of a Nautical ROV Disaster Relief Robot and a Haptic Feedback Robotic Arm. 

Contextual research and several internal surveys were conducted to understand the mechanisms of robots that currently exist and to solicit thoughts and feedback from the team to finalize the Disaster Relief Robot project.  As a team, the main function of the robot was derived: “The main function of the robot is to assist in submerged environments and on rugged earth. It will assist through reconnaissance (with mapping), two-way communication (with a rescue beacon), and transportation of supplies”. 

Upon finalizing the “main function,” substantive in-depth research was performed to generate sub-functions for the robot including the ability to: 

Climb and scale obstacles Move on land and in water, transitioning environments dynamically Store power Activate a rescue beacon

Balance itself Grab items and manipulate the environment and itself Avoid objects Transmit data

Detect Depth Provide and store items for aid Record audio and video

Learn more about these sub-functions here.

Upon determining sub-functions, the team brainstormed initial designs for 5 sub-function types: Bio-Focused Land, Non-Bio-Focused Land, Bio-Focused Swim, Non-Bio-Focused Swim, Swim-Land. Utilizing these designs, each individual team member further flushed out a concept that encompasses all sub-functions listed above. Given the range of ideas presented in the concepts, the team broke into small groups to brainstorm MVP Proposals; the benefits and drawbacks of each MVP Proposal were then discussed. Finally, after substantive team discussion, finalized designs for the Land Movement and Water Movement sub-functions were brought to fruition. See details regarding these finalized designs here. 

We have divided into four subteams: Treads, Legs, Buoyancy, and Propulsion. Where each team has designed main features to allow for  HARRT to operate underwater as well as on land. The work completed within these sub-teams will provide a baseline from which we will add the other systems we plan to implement.