179 Swampthing Update
 

This was footage from the first couple hours of driving the complete bot today. So far so good, everything is working and now we tweak. After adding auto routines for shooting, loading and balancing we'll show the final package.

Thanks for watching!

Re: 179 Swampthing Update
 

Wow, that thing is pretty sweet. It makes balancing look easy. And thanks for the close up of the "claw" at the end to show how it doesn't grasp. Looks like a great and innovative robot.

Re: 179 Swampthing Update
 

AMAZING! I definitely see this as a great robot this season!

I love your ability to score, however I see you more situated in a feeding position, on the opponent's side picking up balls and shooting them to the other side, and then being the best balancing robot in the entire game in the endgame. I love this robot! Great job Swampthing!

Re: 179 Swampthing Update
 

Too freaking cool.

Great to finally see it in action.

Re: 179 Swampthing Update
 

Very impressive. I can't wait to see this in action at a competition!

Re: 179 Swampthing Update
 

Very nice... My only concern is that I think you might be in violation of the one appendage rule. When shooting at certain angles, you have multiple things crossing the frame perimeter that are only connected/contiguous by way of stuff inside the perimeter. For instance the bristles on the yellow rollers and the lower ball pickup bar. If so, you would still (I think) be able to use it to lower the bridge and as a ramp, to grab balls and pass them with the ramp low, but not as a shooter.

Re: 179 Swampthing Update
 

Awesome, just awesome

Re: 179 Swampthing Update
 

If you think of the ramp being one appendage, then they aren't in violation.

Re: 179 Swampthing Update
 

You can think of the ramp as one appendage, but that doesn't make it one appendage, according to the 2-7-2012 team update:

"All portions of an appendage that are outside the Frame Perimeter must be contiguous with each other. Very brief violations of the contiguity requirement as a single appendage is being extended or retracted will not be penalized."

Combine that with this Q&A on 1/14/2012 on G21:

Q: "If an extension forks outside of the frame perimeter, does it count as a single extension? For example, if 7" away from the frame, the appendage splits into two separate bars."

A: Only one appendage may extend beyond the Frame Perimeter. There are no rules prohibiting appendages that fork once outside the Frame Perimeter.

So the appendages can only 'fork' outside the perimeter -- the leading lower ball chute is a tine of your fork, as is each bristle on the brushes. At certain angles, the 'fork' point is inside the frame perimeter.

I don't mean to throw cold water on your design, but its better if you consider your situation and possible corrections or changes to game strategy with full knowledge.

Prior to the 2/07/2012 update, and with the previous Q&A answers, your appendage would have been illegal for any usage whatsoever.

Re: 179 Swampthing Update
 

Definitely my favorite 2012 robot so far. Hopefully bumpers don't cause you any issues.

Re: 179 Swampthing Update
 

Eeep... Okay I'm just going to go hide in a corner now...

Re: 179 Swampthing Update
 

"All portions of an appendage that are outside the Frame Perimeter must be contiguous with each other. Very brief violations of the contiguity requirement as a single appendage is being extended or retracted will not be penalized."

I would qualify our appendage as being extended or retracted "briefly" between the points where only the rollers are on the leading edge. As you can see there's a very small distance before the ramp is outside the frame perimiter and then qualifies as a contiguous member of the appendage. So as the ramp traverses up and down there are brief violations that "will not be penalized".

But thanks for the heads up.

Now to get the camera working and tweak the shooter...

Re: 179 Swampthing Update
 

Beautiful. This is such an awesome robot.

Re: 179 Swampthing Update
 

Im kinda wondering how the bumpers are going to react with the deflector underneath the bridge.

Re: 179 Swampthing Update
 

:eek: Very cool robot.

Re: 179 Swampthing Update
 

Bloody brilliant. Elegant. Simple. Doing one thing that a lot of teams are probably gonna need help doing while still having shooting capability.

I take my hat off to you sirs and madams.

Re: 179 Swampthing Update
 

That's freaking amazing :yikes:

Re: 179 Swampthing Update
 

Kudos to team 179! This is very innovative and inspiring.

Andy B.

Re: 179 Swampthing Update
 

Does it comply with the 14" appendage rule when the ramp is level with the ground?

-Nick

Re: 179 Swampthing Update
 

Another impressive robot!

Re: 179 Swampthing Update
 

I believe the end of the ramp is pneumatically actuated such that the tip of the ramp folds back slightly when the ramp is horizontal so they are in compliance with the rules.

Re: 179 Swampthing Update
 

I didn't seem to catch that. The rules however state that you can break moments of that rule without being called out on it. Only as long as it's temporarily for short periods.

Re: 179 Swampthing Update
 

I had interpreted that exception to be for non-contiguous components only. I didn't think it applied to the 14" rule.

Sweet robot.

-Nick