Emma5 - Halfway there

As we start approaching our project's halfway point, our groups are still working hard on tying loose ends on their given tasks. This mostly includes debugging of code/hardware, and just as we have been since day 1, we approach the creation of Emma.
The biggest issue the group is dealing with now (it involves all subgroups) is the creation of the RS-485 network. Although all the code is correctly written and all the prototype circuits for the Max485 chips, there is still a small issue retrieving the information to Houston. Although all equipment shows the right data, the computer is being stubborn and wanting to comply with all of our wishes. Soon the group will convince the computer to be comprehensive, so we have no worries there. By next we should have this problem fixed.
Once the network foundation is set up, all subgroups will be able to communicate to each other, however, each subgroup should have a functioning system.

Right now, our friends over at the drive group finally have the proper transistors and breakout boards to create their H-bridge circuit. The first picture of this post shows how studious Edmar is on the subject (you can't tell, but it is most definitely a posed picture).
The group dealing with the power supply for this robot is testing to know how to find out how much battery life is left in each battery. This aspect of their group is crucial so that Emma5 knows how much time she has left to run to a plug in a wall and charge herself up (although she won't literally do that).

Our video streaming and text-to-speech people are inches away from the finish line, where only software issues are getting in their way. Meanwhile, Ryan works on the "movement rationale" of Emma, where an accelerometer and a couple of ultrasonic sensors will inform the system of what tilt she's at, how close are objects in a certain cone view. This picture shows a prototype system embedded on a cool little two-sided RC cars (you remember them right?).In the next couple of weeks we should be seeing the groups merging and talking over the network, and finally some video footage of all this in action!!!