This is The Typewriter Repairmen's page for the 2024 National Underwater Robotics Challenge, a competition put on by Si Se Puede in Tempe, AZ.
The Typewriter Repairmen is a family robotics club. Jim, the Principal Instigator, is a "retired" mechanical engineer. He has worked with the local FIRST high school robotics team NERDS for the past 18 seasons as an engineering mentor, and discovered that it's about the most fun thing there is. Janet, his wife, is a retired engineer. Jim's brother David is an Electrical Engineer at the University of Arizona's Steward Observatory, and also runs a side business Cathode Corner, which sells neat electronic gadgets.
Link to the 2009 NURC robot notBob
Link to the 2010 NURC robot Babs
Link to the 2012 NURC autonomous robot Biff
All through the project we have been posting videos on youtube.
Contact us at jforb427@gmail.com
May 18 2025
Linus and David visited Jim, Carol, and Janet again today. Carol had installed a different pressure (depth) sensor into Cadet, and today we got it working. It still needs more calibration. David modified the software to make it have better smoothing. David brought some parts for the Data Recorder prop, and we made a wrench to attach to the ROV to turn the plug. It kind of worked, but driving it is real tricky. Jim suggested making a different wrench that will pivot on the ROV as it drives forward. He made part of a prototype, but did not yet attach it, so it is still untested.
David worked on a torpedo using parts of a design that Carol was working on, using a model airplane rubber band and cut down propeller. David put it in a plastic tube, and attatched small fins to it. He also experimented with the release solenoid we used in 2010, and thinks we have a way to use it to hold the propeller from turning until it is activated.
We discussed whether to use a claw or just a stick to manipulate the props. We think they can all be done with a stick, so we will not use the claw this year.
May 3 2025
Linus and David visited Jim, Carol, and Janet today. David and Carol searched the internet for a better pressure sensor, but didn't really have much luck. We got a new team picture, and discussed the mission a little bit. The props pictures are now up, so we can now get a better idea of how to tackle the egg and the release mechanism.
Copyright 2009-2024 Jim Forbes, David Forbes