As some of you may have noticed, the rest of JAVAK started off their posts with either waking up or some comment on sleep or lack thereof. Surprisingly we didn't plan that. Great minds think alike? Anyway, I would try not to follow that trend, but it's a Monday. And I think Jenny perfectly captured what waking up this morning was like.
Oh good ol' Monday mornings, waking up feeling like a pool of toxic waste. As you can tell, I am in no way a morning person.
I will say that waking up knowing you are starting work on week two of four does make you kick into gear pretty fast. We have to turn in a complete Level 1 of the proof of concept by this Friday, and we are off to a pretty good start *knock on wood*. Kiana and Ashley couldn't come in today for various reasons, but they worked at home, and Skyped in, still eager to complete the project. However, one piece of advice to anyone who does that: when multiple computers are on the same Skype call in the same room, please, for the sake of your eardrums, use one mic and speaker.
In order to get a jump on things due to our accelerated schedule (3 levels in 4 weeks, it's a lot more intimidating then it sounds), we started off the morning talking about level 2, and how everything should connect together. One thing I've learned from robotics, framework is everything. Doesn't matter if each piece is great, if they don't work together, you have nothing. And as a judge said to us at the Bronx Science Hackathon ".
Therefore, let's break down the program for this week.
On the CAD side, we have Kiana and Violet. Kiana, working from home today, was busy putting the finishing touches on her tutorial GUI for the CAD aspect of our project, AKA one of the most important parts, so go Kiana! She was skyping with Violet, working out exactly what parts should be made for Level 2, and how the skill should progress, as well as working on the designs for some of the elevator parts the player has to make, specifically the elevator door handle and counterweight. I am always impressed by the Fusion 360 work these two do.
Violet, also working hard on her amazing (new) computer (GO LENOVO!) was recording the videos for our second tutorial, the elevator pulley.
I will say that waking up knowing you are starting work on week two of four does make you kick into gear pretty fast. We have to turn in a complete Level 1 of the proof of concept by this Friday, and we are off to a pretty good start *knock on wood*. Kiana and Ashley couldn't come in today for various reasons, but they worked at home, and Skyped in, still eager to complete the project. However, one piece of advice to anyone who does that: when multiple computers are on the same Skype call in the same room, please, for the sake of your eardrums, use one mic and speaker.
In order to get a jump on things due to our accelerated schedule (3 levels in 4 weeks, it's a lot more intimidating then it sounds), we started off the morning talking about level 2, and how everything should connect together. One thing I've learned from robotics, framework is everything. Doesn't matter if each piece is great, if they don't work together, you have nothing. And as a judge said to us at the Bronx Science Hackathon ".
Therefore, let's break down the program for this week.
On the CAD side, we have Kiana and Violet. Kiana, working from home today, was busy putting the finishing touches on her tutorial GUI for the CAD aspect of our project, AKA one of the most important parts, so go Kiana! She was skyping with Violet, working out exactly what parts should be made for Level 2, and how the skill should progress, as well as working on the designs for some of the elevator parts the player has to make, specifically the elevator door handle and counterweight. I am always impressed by the Fusion 360 work these two do.
Violet, also working hard on her amazing (new) computer (GO LENOVO!) was recording the videos for our second tutorial, the elevator pulley.
Yes, that is me, peering over the top of her screen. Still have that Yankees cap on, but soon that cap will be gone. Sorry, back on track. Based off the actions occurring across from me both before and after this picture was taken, I believe Violet is becoming quite familiar with Murphy's law. By the end of the day she was definitely ready to get some rest in and stop working on that pulley. Recording tutorial videos is a lot more difficult then you would think.
Over on the Level Design side, we have Ashley, Kiana, and yours truly. Ashley and Jenny have been modelling parts since week 1 to give our levels life and realism, and I have to say that they are coming out really well. Beside the cryochamber they have modelled shipping containers, wooden boxes, toolboxes, workbenches, conveyor belts, and much more. Today Jenny worked on fixing up a couple of the models and creating a cool goo effect in the video above, among other things, while Ashley finished her Husky (a toolbox), and began working on a hand truck, because what factory would be complete without a hand truck? And check out the elevator Jenny is making. You can't see much in the following picture, but Jenny, armed with Maya and the poke tool, is doing some very impressive work.
Over on the Level Design side, we have Ashley, Kiana, and yours truly. Ashley and Jenny have been modelling parts since week 1 to give our levels life and realism, and I have to say that they are coming out really well. Beside the cryochamber they have modelled shipping containers, wooden boxes, toolboxes, workbenches, conveyor belts, and much more. Today Jenny worked on fixing up a couple of the models and creating a cool goo effect in the video above, among other things, while Ashley finished her Husky (a toolbox), and began working on a hand truck, because what factory would be complete without a hand truck? And check out the elevator Jenny is making. You can't see much in the following picture, but Jenny, armed with Maya and the poke tool, is doing some very impressive work.
For those of you who have diligently read these posts (and I thank you for your interest), you might be thinking, cryochambers, elevators, huskys, conveyer belts, a factory? What exactly are these kids making? And trust me, when it is all revealed, it shall be spectacular (I hope). But for know, here is the only hint I will give you: the Makeosity Energy Scooter and evil corporations. I know, not much of a hint, but trust me, it will be worth it.
Onto my own work. I've been putting together the first level in Unity, making sure all of the pieces come together, are scaled right (praise the scale tool), and that they act like actual objects. Sorry guys, no more walking through mountains. We have an opening scene, we can walk around, and I have to admit, I wasted a good 20 minutes jumping around the level and climbing on walls. It's like being a kid in a candy shop ... that you and your friends built. Making things come alive is unbelievably fun. Shout out to JAVAK for being the best team I could ever work with. Anyway, that is the end of day one. Sorry for the lack of pictures, I'm not exactly a photographer, and, well, that is the best excuse I could muster.
But of course, as always, here is the JAVAK obligatory, end-of-the-day, must-be-on-every-post, selfie. Enjoy!
Onto my own work. I've been putting together the first level in Unity, making sure all of the pieces come together, are scaled right (praise the scale tool), and that they act like actual objects. Sorry guys, no more walking through mountains. We have an opening scene, we can walk around, and I have to admit, I wasted a good 20 minutes jumping around the level and climbing on walls. It's like being a kid in a candy shop ... that you and your friends built. Making things come alive is unbelievably fun. Shout out to JAVAK for being the best team I could ever work with. Anyway, that is the end of day one. Sorry for the lack of pictures, I'm not exactly a photographer, and, well, that is the best excuse I could muster.
But of course, as always, here is the JAVAK obligatory, end-of-the-day, must-be-on-every-post, selfie. Enjoy!
-- Arun, an A of JAVAK