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Week 1: Blueprinting and Design

Schedule constraint: Mon/Wed/Thu 2:30–6:00 pm (~10.5 hrs).

Goals​

  • Drivetrain and intake architecture locked (CAD stub).
  • Climb level (L2 vs L3) confirmed with geometry sketch.
  • Electrical BOM aligned to legal devices; PD/radio wiring plan set.
  • Auto scripts stubbed (fuel+L1, fuel-only).
  • Drivetrain BOM includes alternates (lead-time backups).
  • Design freeze checklist drafted (what’s frozen vs. can change).

Plan & time budget (ETA ~10.5 hrs, Thu as buffer)​

  • 2.0h: Drivetrain architecture and gearbox/wheel choice; CAD frame stub.
  • 1.5h: Intake concept selection (multi-side vs single) with sketches/CAD stub.
  • 1.0h: Climb geometry check at chosen level (27/45/63) with quick sketch.
  • 1.0h: Electrical BOM + wiring/power layout (PD/radio compliance).
  • 1.0h: Auto scripts stub (chooser wiring + path placeholders).
  • 0.5h: Review and sign-offs.

Checklist​

  • Drivetrain architecture locked; CAD frame stub committed
  • Intake concept chosen; sketch/CAD stub committed
  • Climb level confirmed; geometry sketch stored
  • Electrical BOM verified against legal devices
  • PD/radio wiring plan documented (Update00 compliant)
  • Auto chooser wired; fuel+L1 and fuel-only stubs exist
  • Drivetrain BOM with alternates
  • Design freeze checklist drafted
  • Risks updated; next-week dependencies noted

Owners​

  • Mech Lead: drivetrain/intake/climb decisions
  • CAD Lead: frame and intake stubs
  • Electrical Lead: BOM/wiring plan
  • Software Lead: auto chooser + stubs

Risks and mitigations​

  • Risk: CAD lag. Mitigation: stub outlines first, detail later; freeze geometry decisions quickly.
  • Risk: Intake indecision. Mitigation: choose one concept now; prototype pivots in Week 2 only if data demands.

Priorities (P0 must, P1 should, P2 stretch)​

  • P0: Drivetrain architecture locked; intake concept chosen; climb level confirmed; electrical BOM/wiring plan compliant.
  • P1: Auto stubs wired; design freeze checklist; drivetrain BOM alternates.
  • P2: Extra intake variant sketch for backup.

Time tracking tips​

  • Track CAD time vs. decision time; keep decisions under 60 minutes each.
  • End each session with "freeze/unfreeze" list so scope is clear.

Tips for students​

  • Document CAD assumptions (fasteners, spacing) in the CAD notes.
  • When choosing concepts, list 3 pros/cons before deciding.

Tips for mentors​

  • Protect decision time; avoid rabbit holes—park long debates.
  • Ensure compliance items (PD/radio/bumper) are in the design early.