Check out our new hoodies thanks to Hoodie Buddies we're jamming out while the class next door is in session. Here's a nice picture of Paul trying to ignore all of us..... 

Hoodie Buddies provides you with a "not your average hoodie" these hoodies have built in washable headphones!!!!! 

check them out!!!!
​https://hoodiebuddie.com/

Okay, so check it out...We teamed up with CNM's FUSEMakerSpace! FUSEMakerSpace is a community center here in Albuquerque that provides the tools and equipment that allow members to design, prototype  and create manufactured works. They also give members access to affordable, high quality classes as well as mentoring from other makers! Totally cool right?! It gets better....they helped us put our CNM HackerSpace logo onto stickers!!!! We will be passing them out at the competition ! Just ask any member!

If you want to know more about FUSE check out their website 
https://fusemakerspace.org/about/about-fuse-makerspace/

Unfortunately the team had to cancel the Tuesday meeting due to snow...However that didn't stop Paul from getting things done! Paul started putting HAL together with the new chassis that he designed. Big thanks to Paul for being talented in 3D design we wouldn't be where we are without your skills!!!!

Big Thanks to Mr. Bruce for adjusting our straight line track to become "straight..ish" 
We've done a lot of test runs and it looks like we are on the right track....WINK WINK. 

Heres what we've got coming up.

1.  PiWars strategy session...Here we will get together and go through each challenge and decide if we are happy with the robot with each challenge. 
2. Building the Maze so we can practice 
3. MeowWolf Showcase Event. MeowWolf is about an hour away it's a facility with multiple rooms that are an immersive and interactive series of fantastic realms of story and exploration. Here the #Piwars team will be demonstrating our robot and a few activities.
4. Completing the robot build...Just a few more steps and HAL will be looking sleek with new gear.
5. We've got a lot of practice to do...starting with PiNoon practicing. We are also coming up with an obstacle course to practice.

We cant just stop now! We have more fundraisers coming up!! Heres a list!

-3 more meal fundraisers at Crazy Lizard, California Pastrami, and Torinos at Home 
-Goodwill fundraiser 
-Paint night at Kelly Jo's painting 
-T-shirt sales 

Here is a list of the some of the most awesome groups, organizations , and companies that are supporting us!!!

First up we got of course.....ECOS! Also known as CNM Executive Council of Students. They have helped fund a good portion of our trip!!

Next we got....PiBorg!!! a huge thanks to these guys, if you're at #piwars check out the back of our shirts....hint.hint we have a pretty awesome PiBorg logo!!

We also have Lighthouse Business Information Solution  you will also find their logo on the  back of our shirts!!

 Next up CDC Enterprises a local Albuquerque business, you can also find their logo on our shirts.

Last but not least. Be sure to keep your eye out for our awesome hoodies that we received from Hoodie Buddies!!!!!!

If anyone is interested in sponsoring and getting their logo on our shirts email Kerry Bruce via email at Kbruce@cnm.edu

Another huge thanks to  CNM Executive Council of Students supporting us with yet another year of funding. We have successfully raised enough money to send 5 students and 1 Faculty member to compete in #piwars! In addition we would like to give a huge  thanks to our sponsors! We hope to continue with fundraising, we wouldn't have the ability to participate if it weren't for all the help and support!!!! THANK YOU SO MUCH 

The Hubble Telescope Nebula Challenge test #10.....SUCCESS 
Just a bit of tinkering from Jimmy and Dalton and we got it to work!!!

The Hubble Telescope Nebula Challenge test #1......DISASTER

We are practicing the line challenge today!! super excited with the improvement. We are now waiting for Paul to design a proper mount for the pixy 2 camera. Most importantly, Jimmy spent a lot of time with the coding for this challenge.  He started with finding C code from Robokits, he then chose different pieces of the code and translated it to Python..THEN he added it to our previous code from last year in hopes to improve. Great work!!!

Just a quick update on the travel components. Heres what everyone said...
  
                   "Hey guys how are you feeling about the trip and the progress of the robot"

Dalton: "I'm super excited"

Paul: "I'm super excited"

Jimmy: "I'm super excited...slightly worried about the progress."

Abby: "I'm super excited. A little bit worried about driving the robot in competition"

Kerry: "Just waiting on the response for ECOS and the funding situation. Other than that I'm super excited and a little worried about the progress"

Steph: "I'm ecstatic about it, I'm gaining so much experience from this on several fronts. Traveling to another country, traveling by plane, and participating in a technology based competition. They're all firsts for me 

I'm pretty sure everyone is feeling a bit overwhelmed with the lack of progress but I know with this team we can pull through and get caught up in no time. 

We are two days into the semester and we are ready to take a break from class. Luckily the team is meeting today to work on HAL 3000...More and more modifications are happening and we are getting super excited about the trip.

Activities include:
-Dalton and Jimmy are debating on whether to use an Arduino for line following. However they have come to the conclusion to go with the raspberry pi (they did not completely veto the Arduino). 
-Jimmy is converting code from Robokits to python for line following and our pixy cam.
- Mr Bruce is Cleaning up our chassis which was 3D printed and designed by Paul
-Mr. Bruce is  also doing a little bit of recruiting with the class next door.

Here is a little sneak peek of Hal 3000 with Paul!!! 

We are CNM HackerSpace
3rd Generation Robot named HAL3000.  A 3D designed and printed wheeled robot named after the computer in 2001: A Space Odyssey. The robot is controlled with a PS3 controller and uses a Pixy2, ultrasonic sensors, and a custom designed/printed “Slingatron” projectile launcher.  Programming and robot design build on previous version of our #PiWars robots.  The team is a  mixed group of 1st/2nd year University students from our Computer Information Systems, Engineering and Biology programs at Central New Mexico Community College (CNM) in Albuquerque, NM.  We are excited to be participating in our 3rd year of #PiWars!

Back at it today! We are putting the robot back together so that our drivers can begin practicing (me...I need to practice) although we ran into a slight oopsies when we had to search through the bins of screwdrivers for the right one... It turns out Mr. Bruce took it home...No worries we eventually found a screwdriver that worked!

Guess what?!?!? We are getting closer and closer to the new semester which means only a few months before the competition! Can I get a "Woohoo"?!? The team is currently researching and discussing costs and options for getting us from New Mexico to England. Having to stay within a tight budget, we found a very good deal on airfare and accommodations! We plan on hosting a few more fundraisers to help out, but for the most part the team has purchased their tickets and are ready to embark on this adventure .

Yeah that's right, back and better than ever. Paul got down into it, as he began using his brain power to come up with the new chassis. How did he do it you might ask? With just a little bit of focusing on strength and a minimalist point of view he was able to come up with the idea. In addition he spent 4 months(realistically-two afternoons of serious hard work) to learn a new software called Fusion 360. Fourteen hours later and 1 kilo of plastic, our chassis was born. 

Our expected changes ​
-Hard wire mounts 
​
Difficulties
-forming the design
-implementing changes and working creative work around.  

It’s that time of year again. Jimmy Alexander Here...
As CNM students are starting up the 5th week of classes, the Solar Cat’s Team is starting up our now yearly #PiWars Robotics fun!  We have started setting up additional meeting times so that we can work on creating the BEST ROBOT EVER!!!!!!! As we are just getting started we do not have a whole lot to update everyone on, but we decided we would give a brief overview of some of the ideas we have come up with so far.

Ideas: (NOTE: Some(most) of these ideas will not make it past the planning stage)

• Using RFID to create keys that automatically load up a program so we do not have to log onto the computer and pull up a given program
• Localized GPS
• Track wheels
• Mecanum wheels
• Laser Sensors
• TOP SECRET LAUNCHING DEVICE

Things we plan on keeping from last year’s robot:

• Having our pi set up as a router for easy VNC use
• Using a ps3 controller for manual control
• Setting up modules for easily switching out parts between challenges

Dalton
-Electrical engineering and software development major 
-20 years old
- I like playing video games and tinkering with 3D printers.
-1st year to Piwars, Never left the US
-Secretary of Hackerspace  and 1st year in Hackerspace
Dalton is driving and programming 

Jimmy 
-Computer programming major 
-23 years old 
- I like programming, robotics, and doing nothing.
-2nd year attending Piwars 
-2nd year in Hackerspace
-President of Hackerspace 
Jimmy is in charge of programming 

Steph 
-Cyber security major (associates in web technologies) 
-25 years old
- My hobbies are reading a lot and binge watching my favorite shows 
-1st year attending Piwars, Never left the US
-New member to Hackerspace
Programming back up driver 

Paul 
-Engineering major 
-29 years old 
- My hobbies include playing video games M.O.B.A
-Has been out of the country but have never participated in Piwars 
-Vice President of Hackerspace 
Paul has been working on designing of the robot 

Kerry
-CNM Computer information systems faculty 
-TBD
- My hobbies are playing with computers, board games, watching sports, traveling
-has participated in Piwars for 3 years 
-Hackerspace creator 
-faculty advisor

Abby
-Biology major 
-19 years old 
- My hobbies include playing video games, playing with my dog, and scuba diving 
-I've been out of the country but haven't participated in Piwars 
-1st year member of Hackerspace 
Abby is working on blogging/historian and is a driver

Happy to announce the CNM HackerSpace will be participating in Pi Wars 2019. Everyone is eager to get started and sharing ideas! We will be updating throughout the entire process and we hope you enjoy the activities and frustration as much as we do!!