Harlem Knights

2012 NYC FIRST Mega Celebration!

Mrs. Bianchi — Fri, 16 Mar 2012 03:39:54 +0000

You are invited to this weekend’s NYC Regional FIRST Robotics Competition! It will be held March 17-18 at the Jacob K Javits Convention Center at 655 West 34th Street (between 11th and 12th Ave). There will be several competitions going on at the same time, and ours is the largest event for high school students. (See here for more details.) All events are free and open to the public. Please come and cheer for us (Team 1660) and our robot, The Spark Knight!

We hope to be making a lot of 3-point shots both in autonomous mode and teleoperated mode. View the Spark Knight in action.

Here is an approximate schedule for the two days:

Saturday, March 17

8:30AM – 9:15AM Opening ceremonies

9:15 AM-12:00PM Seeding matches (qualifying matches)

12:00PM-12:45 PM Lunch

12:45PM-5:45PM Seeding matches

5:45 PM-6:30PM Awards ceremony

Sunday, March 18

8:30AM-9:00AM Opening ceremonies

9:00AM-12:00PM Seeding matches

12:00PM-12:30PM Alliance Selections

12:30PM-1:30 PM Lunch

1:30PM-4:30PM Final rounds (elimination matches)

4:45PM -5:30PM Awards ceremony

Once the competition begins, you will be able to view the Team Rankings here, and there will also be links on that page to match schedules and awards. We will be in 5-6 matches on Saturday, and 3-4 matches on Sunday morning. Of course we have high hopes of making it to the playoffs! Feel free to drop by and watch one of our matches, or come for the whole time if you’d like! For those of you who can’t make it, NASA should be streaming the webcast. You can keep updated on our progress through our website hk1660.com, as well as our twitter feed (@HK1660) and our facebook page.

Help us spread the word by hanging up and passing out this flyer!

Thank you for your love and support! Go Harlem Knights!

Thank You!

Webmaster Vince — Fri, 09 Mar 2012 04:24:04 +0000

Thank you KFC, Dunkin’ Donuts, Fine Fare, Target, Papa John’s, and BJ’s for your support! We are so thankful for all of your donations and blessed to have the backing of our community!

Bag & Tag Day!

Webmaster Vince — Wed, 22 Feb 2012 04:37:03 +0000

We have locked up our robot and are looking forward to the NYC Regional March 16-18!

Good work, Harlem Knights!

Temptations

Mrs. Bianchi — Fri, 17 Feb 2012 23:30:19 +0000

Engineers know how to enjoy good food, too. Due to popular request, here’s a recipe that for a dessert that our team loves. Bon appetit!

Temptations

Ingredients

1 stick (8 T) unsalted butter
1 ½ cups graham cracker crumbs
1 cup shredded coconut
1 12-oz package of semisweet chocolate chips
1 12-oz package of butterscotch chips
1 14-oz can sweetened condensed milk

Directions

Preheat oven to 350 F.
Melt butter in oven in a 9×13 inch pan. Mix in graham cracker crumbs and press into pan to form a crust.
Add remaining ingredients in order given, by layers. End by drizzling sweetened condensed milk evenly over the surface. Do not mix!
Bake for 25 minutes or until browned on top.
Let cool and cut into bars. Enjoy! (Temptations are also delicious when chilled.)

4 days left to build–GO HARLEM KNIGHTS!

With love, Mrs. Bianchi

Manipulator Week 5

Webmaster Vince — Mon, 13 Feb 2012 21:39:14 +0000

During week 5 we accomplished alot. First we flipped the mechanism for how the shooter changes its angle. Next we created the hand that was supposed to carry the ball to the shooter. On Saturday we tested the shooter and it failed because the key slipped out. This week we plan to tweak and test our robot to achieve maximum efficiency. – J. Frost

15 Days to Go!

Webmaster Vince — Mon, 06 Feb 2012 21:42:14 +0000

The Harlem Knights Robotics Team meets every day Monday through Saturday during the build season. We started out by brainstorming to decide what type of drive train the team should use with the manipulator, considering the advantages and designing it to get around easily around the field without delays. I was in charge of the field construction in making the top basket and middle basket. The process of making these baskets was a little hectic in the dimensions to cut the 2×4 and plywood in almost perfect shapes to fit with each other. The top basket has to be at least 98 inches from rim to floor and the middle basket has to be 61 inches from rim to floor. When I got all the exact measurements for the wood it was easy to cut the pieces and assemble it together. On Saturday I helped the manipulator crew by taking the robot to the FDA gym to test out our shooter. We had a lot of human error but at the end of the day our robot successfully shot 5 baskets. As a team we have came a long way in building 60 percent of the robot and will still strive to finish it before Bag & Tag Day. -D. Acevedo

What’s happening in Week 3!

Webmaster Vince — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 20:35:30 +0000

Holistically, we have making progress at an exponential rate. Once we learned about this year’s game, we hit the ground running and immediately began brainstorming. After some speedy, yet careful deliberation we settled with three final prototype candidates. We then began running critical tests on the efficiency and feasibility of each of the manipulator and chassis prototypes. We will be deciding on a final design very soon. – J. Sutton

My Experience on the Robotics Team!

Webmaster Vince — Wed, 01 Feb 2012 21:02:11 +0000

My experience with the Harlem Knights Robotics 1660 Team has been a one of a kind experience. Robotics has given me more options and opportunities that normal students don’t get. Robotics encompasses multiple disciplines; including Mechanical Engineering, Software Programming, and Electrical Engineering. Robotics gives me a head-on experience with engineering therefore giving me possible options in college. Besides Robotics giving me possible career choices, Robotics can be very fun. All the trips, moments, and competitions have been thrilling and unforgettable; from one of my teammates eating Wasabi up to losing grueling matches in the Regional. I am grateful for being a Harlem Knight and still plan on striving to succeed as a team. Go Harlem Knights 1660! -F. Reynoso

Rebound Rumble

Webmaster Vince — Fri, 20 Jan 2012 21:18:25 +0000

“This year is a somewhat difficult challenge. The name of the game is Rebound Rumble. The object; get as many basketballs into the hoops within the 2 minute and 15 second time limit. There are four baskets to score in and they are set up in a diamond shape. There is one on the top that gives a team the option of scoring three points. There is one on the bottom in which one can score one point with. Lastly, there are two hoops, side by side, in which one can score two points with. In autonomous mode each basket is worth an extra three points. Not only can a team score by shooting basketballs into hoops, but they can also score by balancing their robots on the ramps that are centered in the middle of the playing field. As a team, the Harlem Knights plan on using the Coopertition bridge in order to display kindness and respect in a competition while also helping the opposing team gain two points.” – M. Stoessel

FRC Kickoff

Webmaster Vince — Fri, 06 Jan 2012 22:43:43 +0000

One more day until the the FRC Kickoff! This year’s Kit of Parts includes an Xbox kinect sensor! The Harlem Knights are looking forward to finding out this year’s game and begin the brainstorming process…

Download your game manual here!