pic: T3 Controlls (team 68 truck town thunder)

[CD47-Bot]

[cdm-description=photo]16872[/cdm-description]

[Alexander McGee]

Here is a couple of really nice pics of our controlls of 2004. Almost done with them! Lets see. It has a pulsing neon lighting system (leds too), Cadillac emblems (escalade). the Cadillac Badge, Cadillac Wreaths around the joysticks, a diamond plate exterrior, front tube grill, Window for controller, a real Cadillac Ignition, a built in dongle system, and arm controlls of some sort.......

Let me know what you think!

[Ryan Dognaux]

::cleans up the drool:: :]

Very nice, these controls are amazing, it shows the true quality that you guys put out each year.

I can't wait to see the robot that comes along with those controls :D

[Wacko324]

:ahh: That's an awesome controller! :ahh:

I wish my team could make something cool like that, but since we are rookies and only have about 3 students. We don't have time to spare. I can't wait to see your arm controls they probably will be something wicked awesome.

[Alexander McGee]

Hey thanks guys!

My deign team (chassis and drivetrain) was done last week, so we spent a couple of nights on this. The thing weighs like 20 lbs. Needless to say, a few escalades around the shop are now shaved.

But im very glad that you like it!

[MisterX]

I think the reason the box is there is just cause they don't have it done yet... ;) Or it is just really sweet!!!!! :yikes: Anyway my props to T3 you guys always have something cool (beside your robot of course) I still remeber that little truck you guys towed your robot with at Nationals. Kudos to you guys and good luck :D

[tkwetzel]

Those are some nice trucks. What exactly do you use the big one for? Is it a mobile machine shop or something like that?

[Alexander McGee]

Those are some nice trucks. What exactly do you use the big one for? Is it a mobile machine shop or something like that?

Ehh, not really. More or less used to haul all our equiptment and toolbox and little truck and playing field, whereever it may need to go, especially robotics events and demonstrations.

[jacob_dilles]

i betcha the catalac engeneers had fun with that one. maybe you should let the kids do some work, eh?

[Tom Bottiglieri]

i wouldnt be so quick to think that the engineers did all the work. You dont really know untill you see the team in action. But.. for the teams where it is obvious that students are only .1% involved.. it makes me mad because FIRST isnt about who can have the most expenisve and fancy looking robot. Its about kids going out, getting help from engineers, and building a robot. Not engineers and adults doing everything. And for the kids on these kinds of teams... i know how you feel. Our team was engineer run until this year. The kids have done everything this year, and eve though it isnt pretty (Pvc...) i think that we will go out and compete twice as hard because it is our work and our pride out on the line..

[Ryan Dognaux]

i betcha the catalac engeneers had fun with that one. maybe you should let the kids do some work, eh?

You really need to get your facts straight before you go accusing teams of having their robots created only by engineers. Truck Town produces a great quality robot every year, and they work just as hard if not harder than anyone else. Again, think before you type and get your facts straight - we all put a lot of work and effort into this competition, and basically you're saying because someone put a lot of time and effort into something to make it look great, that it was built by engineers only. :mad: I'm offended.

[jacob_dilles]

im sorry if i offended you; what i ment to say was your controller looks great. however catty parts dont just magicly apear.

[Ryan Dognaux]

/me looks at their major sponser, and re-reads my post

:rolleyes:

[Amanda Morrison]

im sorry if i offended you; what i ment to say was your controller looks great. however catty parts dont just magicly apear.

T3 is sponsored by General Motors. I would assume those parts are readily available.

Anytime a team's integrity is questioned on these forums, it turns into either a huge flame war or at least a few bitter posts. I would hope you'll keep your judgement to yourself, and at some point during the season, visit their pit and talk to them about some of your concerns, or read about one of their mentors here. (http://www.chiefdelphi.com/forums/ufh.php?action=honoreedetail&id=12)

During the IRI this past year, T3 students and mentors helped us rebuild our machine. I was very impressed with their friendly demeanor and the students' willingness to help. I can personally vouch for them, as can many people on this forum.

[Heretic121]

there is only one thing said during the first 30+ seconds of someone looking at that..


*cricket* ... *cricket* ... *cricket* ...

[Karthik]

i betcha the catalac engeneers had fun with that one. maybe you should let the kids do some work, eh?

I'm far too tired to deal with an issue that has been discussed on these forums far too many times. Let me briefly sum things up.

1. Please don't make assumptions about the student to engineer contribution ratio on a given team. Unless you're on the team or closely associated with them, you can't possibly know.

2. FIRST allows teams to set their own guidelines on how much engineer contribution takes place. Just because your team may be more student driven doesn't mean that every team should be that way. By all means take pride in your own team's setup, but don't knock other teams because they aren't like yours.

3. The 'I' in FIRST stands for inspiration. That control box is definitely inspirational, no matter who it was built by.

4. Finally, there is no 't' in Cadillac.

Every year I'm impressed by Truck Town (and a little afraid). Keep up the amazing work.

[Gadget470]

The debate has been said many times. The conclusion is:

Engineers shouldn't touch robots
Students shouldn't touch robots
Engineers should help out students
Students should help out the engineers

All are the True. But who's truth's is the question.

This thread doesn't need to start this debate again.

[The Lucas]

As someone who has made their share of OI panels, I would like to congratulate you on your fine workmanship. A couple questions:

Is it made out of Chrome and Diamond Plate?
How wide is it? (looks wider than any I've ever seen but that may be an optical illusion)
What are you using to power the blue LEDs?

[Alexander McGee]

Is it made out of Chrome and Diamond Plate?
How wide is it? (looks wider than any I've ever seen but that may be an optical illusion)
What are you using to power the blue LEDs?

And allow me to clear a few things up. Thanks for the support all, this was built by students. Three of us, to be exact. Our Job, chassis, is done, so we decided to do a little something extra.

As for the Cadillac emblems, yes they are readily available. Brendan, Mike, and I went our and shaved a couple of escalades. GM rips these (and many many others) trucks apart, re-designs, and throws most of it away. So, we can basically take whatever we need to make the robot look really cool. If it is in the scrap bins.

As for the specifics on the board, the dimensions are as follows: 48”x9”x2.5”. It is made out of two plates of 1/8” aluminum, and supports of 1” stock T6 square tubing. The side panels are, in fact, diamond-plate aluminum. The grill is round aluminum stock. There’s no chrome.

As for the blue neons and LED bars, they are powered by a bosch battery pack (a drill housing).

I thank everyone, once again, for their comments and support. Can’t wait to see what everyone has come up with!

[alex_gerveshi]

hey. what kind of neon did you use? auto or computer? and how did you wire it to a power supply? is there a batter in your box? if not, how did you get power to it.

[Alaina]

Is your arm controller a scale model of the arm programmed so when the model is moved the robot arm moves in the exact same way? That'd be cool.

[KenWittlief]

wow, you are the 1st team I have seen that could use their control system to chock their wheels, or to ramp their Segway up onto their truck :c)

[Roland]

there is only one thing said during the first 30+ seconds of someone looking at that..
..."ya think he's compensating for something?"

[Ryan Dognaux]

..."ya think he's compensating for something?"

Try "Oh my...." ;)

[Rickertsen2]

hey. what kind of neon did you use? auto or computer? and how did you wire it to a power supply? is there a batter in your box? if not, how did you get power to it.
Most of the neons that ahve found their way into the computer mod sector, are made by the same companies as their automotive counterparts. Many are identical with the exception of the connector on the end.

[Adam Krajewski]

i betcha the catalac engeneers had fun with that one. maybe you should let the kids do some work, eh?
Our team has two electrical/controls/programming mentors. I was the one that helped with the controls board. I told the students not to make it too heavy and not to make it too complex. As you can see, they listened to my recommendations. ;)
Other than that, I didn't touch it. Please remember that what you say is not only a reflection of yourself, but also your team.

[J Flex 188]

beauty job.

im sure the students has as much fun building it as everyone else has had at looking at and drooling over it =D

[jamapor]

Hey guys. Great job on the controls. I can't wait to see how the robot matches with its controls.

[Kevin Karan]

hehe, the catalac badge is a nice tough, very very nice!

[SlickChicFallen]

I bet you'd love to see what our arm controlls look like...

Why, yes I would! ;)

[ThetaDot]

do you want a cookie or something?

[Alexander McGee]

do you want a cookie or something?

What?

As for the other, more straigntforward commets/questions, it is an automotive neon light, bought for a cheap 15 bucks at a local walmart.

Let me clarify the drill housing. We broke a drill, or took one apart at the very least. So, we were left with the plastic case that everything goes into. We trimmed it to fit, and wired connectors to the teminals. so all it really is, is a housing that a battery slides into.

We also wired a switch on the dongle/battery which allows us to switch between AC and DC power. Long story short, we can use the battery to power our operator interface. This should make tethering a lot more "wireless".

Thanks again for all the comments

[Austin]

What do you use the ignition switch for? To turn on/off the power to the LEDs, Neon lights, OI?

[Alexander McGee]

What do you use the ignition switch for? To turn on/off the power to the LEDs, Neon lights, OI?

The Ignition is a disabler for the built-in dongle. When the key is not inserted, or turned to the right, it acts as "diabled", otherwise, it enables it.

Next to it is a safety switch for autonomous testing, which is more or less a joke on our programmers.

Here's the story...

We were showing some of the high-up engineers who wanted to see what we had done so far the robot. And, this happened to be the first night that it could move. SO, we had it on the field, and we had it wired correctlly (this time) and everythign was great. Well, Aucther, one of our programmers, told me to flip a dial on the joystick (filter), all the way down, as i would get ore acceleration. Whups. As i tapped the sticks to see which way the bot was facing, it flew towards our team leader and the group of engineers. another tap in the oppisite direction sent it into the wall. I pulled the key, and almost strangled mike. Your a good guy thou, aucther!

Anyways, the switch is "on" when we are testing our very dangerous robot, and it moves on its own, so we have to take extra caution!

[ThetaDot]

OH NO I'M EATING YOUR COOKIE!!!! : [[[[[[[[[[[[


http://www.whoi.edu/generalinfo/buttery/cookie.gif

[Alan Anderson]

We also wired a switch on the dongle/battery which allows us to switch between AC and DC power. Long story short, we can use the battery to power our operator interface. This should make tethering a lot more "wireless".
The tether cable powers the OI. If you're tethered to a live robot, you're powered.

[Alexander McGee]

The tether cable powers the OI. If you're tethered to a live robot, you're powered.

Yes, however, for robot demonstrations, you require an ac adaptor to run the robot without a thether. We no longer need to have the controlls plugged in while doing demos. This means that we can drive the bot at parades much easier.

[Jeff Rodriguez]

Very, very SHINY!!
/me stares into reflection

Are you trim adjustments exposed? If not, you may want to make the joystick openings a little bigger.
And does that think have a handle? I feeel very sorry for the driver that has to carry it all the time. Way to much responsibility trying not to damage it.
I felt bad handling the painted board ours were on. :)