So the best piece of news right now is that Sioc drives and self-rights! I've included a video showing both off below: https://youtu.be/uTgT_wc-waU
I've also included a link to an album detailing what the machine looks like in its current state: http://imgur.com/a/1Slkn
In its current state, it can technically compete. However, there are still a number of things left to fix should they need fixing
- The largest, and also shown in the video, is that Sioc has far less grip on its left wheel when the right wheel isn't in use. The entire machine drifts left constantly when I'm driving it, but if the stick is in the bottom left or top right position, then there doesn't seem to be any grip at all, even when the wheel is spinning at full speed. This really puzzles me, as I don't know what else the weight of the machine can be resting on other than its wheel.
- The placement of the servo operating the flipper has to be incredibly precise, and even a few millimeters can be the difference between self-righting or not. currently I'm using strips of blu tack to hold it down, and they seem to hold up well enough, only moving when so much weight is put on the flipper that it won't budge (eg. if it's held in your hand while you push the stick).
- the machine can land on it's side and, if it's held there without rolling onto its back, then it will be unable to self-right. This happened very rarely to me during testing, but the possibility was always still there.
- I'm still trying to find a way that holds all of the pieces together that doesn't involve tape. Tape seems to be holding out for me so far, but finding some sorta brackets that can bend to the angles necessary has proven challenging.
- I still want to finish the "texture work" on it. I just need a color printer for that.