Friday, September 27, 2013

Wheels Up

Air compressor parts are connected, pumped rear tire today.  Awaiting valve stems from Matt.  
Jason is currently mounting the motor controller and we are in this project.  

Short Update

      One tire has air! This is good news. Two more to go, in the front. On top of that, Matt has said he will be getting the needed valve stems this weekend.
       -RD

Monday, September 23, 2013

The Meeting

       Today, Mr. Martin pulled me, Chris, and some others aside to deliver some words of advice. He wants us to actually initiate. Instead of putting "Find valve stems" on the task manager, we have been ordered to, well, give orders. We directed the task towards Camillo; other tasks are soon to be doled out to the class. We will get our tasks complete one way or another.
-RD
For now, wheels are the priority.

Friday, September 20, 2013

Stagnation

Stagnation.
Chris and I have activated both a wish list and check list.
They are being added to naturally by the other groups.
As they develop, a proper inventory for the whole project will be assembled naturally.
For now, in the absence of Mr. Martin, I have been following Chris, Fernando, and Jeffrey around and helping where I can. 
Progress resumes Monday.


Tuesday, September 17, 2013

Setting up the task manager.
Also Helping to fill all tires with air in the name of progress.
Working with unsealed tubeless tires and an air compressor.


Monday, September 16, 2013

Return Trip

Got back last night from my road trip.  Been gone for 2 weeks.
My focus now is to get UPDATED ASAP on all progress that has been made.
Richard got us off to a good start from an executive stand point by downloading and distributing the Winston Solar Car Challenge rules and regulations to our team.
The start of this major project IS IN MOTION!!

Friday, September 13, 2013

Moving Along

Gmail affairs are part of the agenda.
It feels nice to see progress being made. 
As of now, my gmail account is collecting the emails of my classmates.
With their emails, I will connect us all to a google doc and write up a quick to-do / wish list.
Each separate group will be able to input their specific needs.
This will make the whole process of part purchasing far more transparent.
I like this idea.
And it shall get done.

Monday, September 9, 2013

Today.

Goals, Goals, Goals, and Goals. The rules of the Winston solar car challenge were download in PDF form. I distributed 10 pages each to two fellow students. Their aim is to locate all page numbers regarding electrical aspects. They will write down their page findings with short summaries and return them to me when they finish up! I am yet to start but will commence my set of ten pages tomorrow :)

Friday, September 6, 2013

Eager to Begin!

I want to start! 
But I must blog.

So progression will remain on hold until this entry is over. 

I am beginning to feel nervous about getting things underway.With such a vast amount of time ahead, this feeling is a bit unjustified. 

Chris and I are both naturally driven.
This period of complacency, as a result, feels a tad unnatural.
Actually, I won't call it a period of "complacency," but, instead, a period of inactivity.
Or blog activity,
Which still matters greatly.
It just takes a hefty chunk out of my time and ability to collect a reasonable background to shape the deadlines around.

IN THE END, IT WILL BE A GREAT HELP TO SEE THE PROGRESSION VIA BLOG.
I know this. It just feels off kilter. I blame the fact that things JUST got underway.

The goals of both preceding entries still stand, untouched. 
I will touch those goals. Today. 
Time to touch.

-RD

Tuesday, September 3, 2013

The Starting Line

       The goals shall begin getting checked off; the to-do's mentioned in post #1 will begin today. They won't get finished, but the process will nonetheless be underway. I'm not looking forward to the tediousness of arranging reasonable deadlines for all groups. Sure, it will be a hassle, but in the end, the organization will prove key. I can't wait until the deadlines Chris and I lay out begin to act as motivation. Only then will the car start to find itself inching closer and closer to (speedy) functionality. Now, time for me to get off this blog, list all of the key sub-processes from within each group, and get the cogitating started!  

Monday, September 2, 2013

An Ambitious Start

An Ambitious Start
Today, the plan was born.
Richard D'Albert.
Chris Bhalai.
Two men. Infinite ability.

Our Duties/Goals:
       Chris and I were honored today when we were named the executive managers of the SK2 project this year. I feel like being paired with such a knowledgeable engineer and businessman has definitely put me at an advantage in my pursuit to learn the gears of the process. My position will easily allow me to gather a well rounded understanding of what goes into actually designing and building solar car technology. When checking on the progress of each other group, I will inquire on what is going on, how, and why, to be sure that a holistic grasp on engineering is solidified. 

Our Short Term 
   This week, in the absence of Chris, my goal is not only to learn more about the classmates I'll be working with (and their special abilities, from which I can learn a thing or two), but also to establish a draft list of checkpoints and rough deadlines. Though the list won't be ready until it has been deeply scrutinized and agreed upon, the first draft will be a good starting point. Each duo of pupils will have their own deadline checklist, including me and Chris, and there may even be a single checklist for the whole of the class to keep track of as well (depending on whether or not Mr. Martin deems it necessary).