This puppy's got some "guts"! The flotation pieces, which are the orange outer shells you saw in the earlier pictures have been removed in order to get to the robot's innards. The batteries that Maciej charged up a few weeks ago were added to the robot and all the electrical and control connections are being re-connected and tested! Everyone on the team has a role and they are all working hard to get this robot up and running and ready for the field!
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The ENDURANCE without its floatation!
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The green cable is the Ethernet communications between the sonde (the scientific equipment package) and the robot.
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Each of these cables is a link to the sonar panels around the robot
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Chris begins to test the communications between his computer and the robot
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Bart uses calipers to measure the distance of a gap that needs filling
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Chris and Shilpa confer to be sure the programming is set just right
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Bill works on some connections under the robot... or is he just tickling its belly?
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Chris, Kristof, and Bart discuss a plan of attack
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Vicky builds a sled for ENDURANCE to use while on West Lake Bonney
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Shilpa works on the computer programming
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Bob gathers some supplies from the top shelf
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Bill explains his plan to some group members
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Chris, Shilpa, and "The Bot"; Chris and Shilpa checking over programming
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Bill making an LED light which will be used to "bring ENDURANCE home." As ENDURANCE begins to return to the hole in the ice from where it was launched, it will seek out the LED light which has a specific oscillation frequency. When the robot senses this light, it will line itself up underneath it and use the beam to guide it back up into the hole. Sort of like "beaming something up" in StarTREK!
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Bill shines his newly made light onto the ceiling to test its signal strength.
It's all coming together! It's been great to sense everyone's enthusiasm and excitement! This crew works well together!
You can also check out my journals and pictures from previous seasons at: http://www.ryejrhigh.org/ellwood