Autonomous balls getting stuck

[Ornocarbo]

Our team recently competed at the 10,000 lakes regional in minnesota and we performed very well. However at the last semi-final rounds during the autonomous period our dumper system which dumps two balls into the lower basket got the balls stuck in the hoop. The system worked fine all the other rounds up until we needed it most. We bagged it up to be ready for state competition invites already so we can only change the program for it. Would increasing the dump speed change anything? or is it just plain bad luck?

[JamesCH95]

You probably want to increase the time interval between when each ball is scored. This will give the 1st ball time to clear out before the 2nd ball is introduced. We ran into a similar issue.

[Shu]

During one of the matches in elimination rounds at the Livonia District this past weekend, 3 balls got stuck in the top basket during Hybrid. Since they could not free the balls before Hybrid ended, they stopped the match due to a field fault and reset the field. I have also seen it happen where balls got stuck during Hybrid and they allowed the match to continue without giving the Hybrid bonus.

[Dr Theta]

Our team recently competed at the 10,000 lakes regional in minnesota and we performed very well. However at the last semi-final rounds during the autonomous period our dumper system which dumps two balls into the lower basket got the balls stuck in the hoop. The system worked fine all the other rounds up until we needed it most. We bagged it up to be ready for state competition invites already so we can only change the program for it. Would increasing the dump speed change anything? or is it just plain bad luck?

At the event in question the field techs unjammed the balls and altered the score during the teleop period to reflect that the balls were scored in hybrid mode. All your points were accounted for they just weren't up there immediately.

[JosephC]

At Northville they were using a long pole to poke the balls if they got stuck in the hoop. It worked pretty well.

[NickTosta]

At the event in question the field techs unjammed the balls and altered the score during the teleop period to reflect that the balls were scored in hybrid mode. All you points were accounted for they just weren't up there immediately.

Yeah, if the balls need to be cleared manually during tele-op the points will be added either during tele-op or after the match is over. As far as I know every regional has done this.

I'd say that if your autonomous program is fast enough to get balls clogged in the hoop your autonomous program is working very, very well. Don't go changing it unless you start missing, because they'll always give you the points sooner or later.

[JosephC]

Yeah, if the balls need to be cleared manually during tele-op the points will be added either during tele-op or after the match is over. As far as I know every regional has done this.

I'd say that if your autonomous program is fast enough to get balls clogged in the hoop your autonomous program is working very, very well. Don't go changing it unless you start missing, because they'll always give you the points sooner or later.

At Waterford 2 balls got stuck in the top hoop next to each other. We launched a 3rd ball into the hoop and it bounced out, and even though it was an obvious basket, it wasn't counted. Those 6 points cost us the match (We lost by 4 I believe.)

[mdaniel462]

This happened to us in Livonia. I think we had 5 balls stuck and a 6th ball bounced out after hitting the jam. From what I can gather from CD is that a field fault is only generated if a ball that probably would have gone in, doesn't because of a ball jam.

[FrankJ]

At Palmetto we clogged the top basket during hybrid in a quarter final. It was a minute or so into the regular match before they were able to unclog the basket with a pole. They award the points to the hybrid period.

[JosephC]

At Palmetto we clogged the top basket during hybrid in a quarter final. It was a minute or so into the regular match before they were able to unclog the basket with a pole. They award the points to the hybrid period.

Did they reset the match? That seems like a major field fault; if your opponent was able to score and you weren't they should have reset the match.

[bduddy]

At Waterford 2 balls got stuck in the top hoop next to each other. We launched a 3rd ball into the hoop and it bounced out, and even though it was an obvious basket, it wasn't counted. Those 6 points cost us the match (We lost by 4 I believe.)Everything I've read says that that should have lead to the match being restarted. Did you complain at all?

[Alpha Beta]

Everything I've read says that that should have lead to the match being restarted. Did you complain at all?

I'd think both alliances would have a beef here. The alliance with the jammed goal has lost their favorite place to score, and the other alliance has not been able to send those jammed balls back to the other side to be scored. These inconviences are not equal or offsetting in my opinion.

[Tom Ore]

Our team recently competed at the 10,000 lakes regional in minnesota and we performed very well. However at the last semi-final rounds during the autonomous period our dumper system which dumps two balls into the lower basket got the balls stuck in the hoop. The system worked fine all the other rounds up until we needed it most. We bagged it up to be ready for state competition invites already so we can only change the program for it. Would increasing the dump speed change anything? or is it just plain bad luck?

You can see the stuck balls in the link below:

http://525swartdogs.org/pages/Match_Video/Minnesota_2012.html

Also, there is neat shot in the same match at the 1:32 mark on the red alliance side of the field. A ball briefly sits on top of the backboard and then falls through the hoop.