Ball Launcher Test 3 going big!
 

Hey guys back again with another video of our team progress with our ball launcher. Nothing better then launching the ball over 18 feet! Stick around to the end to see some secret leaked footage of our 2 ball aton test. Yeah thats right 3883 going for a 2 ball aton. Ultra sonic sensor up and working. Anyways here is the video with some really cool slow mo. :cool:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nKpye...ature=youtu.be

Re: Ball Launcher Test 3 going big!
 

Love the 2 ball autonomous test.

Why did you paint the game pieces orange?

That must be one GIANT robot if the game pieces look so tiny in comparison :D

Re: Ball Launcher Test 3 going big!
 

We added some grow a robot to our 2012 robot to accept the new size ball. Our 2012 bot was made like a chia pet just add water from the future water game and it grows. And we painted it orange because of secret secret things.

Re: Ball Launcher Test 3 going big!
 

I think it took longer than 10 seconds in aton however. Better speed it up. :)

Re: Ball Launcher Test 3 going big!
 

Yeah it was just really trying to test the ultra sonic sensor and it was working. Driving to a distance instead of a predetermined amount of time. This was just the test just showing the ultra sonic working.

Re: Ball Launcher Test 3 going big!
 

Why not take the second ball with you while driving towards the goal? You can possess multiple balls at one time, and your intake seems like it could potentially drag the ball behind you and intake after you shoot.

Re: Ball Launcher Test 3 going big!
 

I wonder if any teams are going to have a successful 3-ball autonomous this year. I know that the 3-tube auto in 2011 was thought to be impossible until the pink team showed everyone up: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YTs3b2w_GSw

Relative to a 3 tube auto in 2011, a 3 ball autonomous in 2014 will be easier because:
It is legal to hold more than one ball at a time
The balls can be shot into the goals, which might not require as much movement
Alliance partners could theoretically feed balls a la 2012.

However, there is one huge factor that makes the 3 ball auto ridiculously hard: 10 seconds.

It might happen somewhere, sometime, but it will certainly be quite a difficult challenge, and my hat goes off to any team that does it.

Re: Ball Launcher Test 3 going big!
 

You reference an 18ft shot. Is that 18ft to the goal or 18ft till the ball would theoretically land on the ground if not shot at a goal?

Re: Ball Launcher Test 3 going big!
 

I think you will find the 28" x 38" robot you showed at the end fails to comply with the 112" robot perimeter.


:P

Re: Ball Launcher Test 3 going big!
 

It was about where the ball was landing on the floor. Not at the goal I believe. More testing to come.

Re: Ball Launcher Test 3 going big!
 

I have thought about a multiple ball autonomous and came up with these problems/obstacles.

G5 For ROBOTS starting in the white ZONE, the TEAM may preload one (1) of their ALLIANCE’s BALLS such that the BALL is touching their ROBOT.
For ROBOTS starting in their GOALIE ZONE the TEAM may decide if the BALL is: staged between the TRUSS and the ZONE LINE and not contacting an ALLIANCE partner, or removed from the FIELD for the MATCH.
If a ROBOT does not report to a MATCH, its ALLIANCE may decide if the BALL is: staged between the TRUSS and the ZONE LINE and not contacting an ALLIANCE partner, or removed from the FIELD for the MATCH.
Violation: If the situation is not corrected before the start of the MATCH, TECHNICAL FOUL per BALL improperly
staged.

After reading this rule it would be very hard for a 3 or even 2 ball autonomous, because only one ball may be preloaded for the match, and the second and/or third ball must be touching the second and/or third robot in the alliance. This would mean having to drive a significant distance to pick up the second ball to be in range for a shot, and a long range shooter. Basically to have a multiple ball autonomous it would mean a very accurate long distance shooter and a fast pick up and a perfectly placed second ball and robot.

Re: Ball Launcher Test 3 going big!
 

Main problem with a three ball auto is time. Remember that autonomous mode is ten seconds this year. I have little doubt that at least one team will pull it off, but fitting three balls into ten seconds (reliably, accurately) will be quite the interesting challenge.

Re: Ball Launcher Test 3 going big!
 

Similar restrictions were in place for 2011 and 1114 still blew our minds with their 2-tube Autonomous. Never doubt the ability of high-caliber teams to do crazy things.

Re: Ball Launcher Test 3 going big!
 

A deployable intake ala Ri3D would probably be able to contact a ball that was placed very close, but not touching, the robot. A 2012 style ball feeding would make a 2+ ball autonomous more achievable. A robot that could carry multiple balls at a time would reduce the issue of a time constraint. This is very feasible and would increase auton scores very reliably in qualification matches where some robots will choose a goalie start or opt to not start with a ball.

Re: Ball Launcher Test 3 going big!
 

Not if your alliance partner is in the goalie zone or doesn't make it to a match. Then you can just set the ball directly behind you as long as it is between the white line and the truss you are good to go.

Re: Ball Launcher Test 3 going big!
 

I'm looking forward to something like this.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z4Id9IR_HCU

Ideally if you can dump into the low goal than you may be able to dump into a robot for them to shoot.

Re: Ball Launcher Test 3 going big!
 

One of our local teams is planning on a three ball auto, and I don't doubt that they can do it.

Re: Ball Launcher Test 3 going big!
 

I'd disagree, it's one of the easiest years for multiple game piece autonomous. Remember, you can put robots wherever you want within the White Zone and in any orientation, and their balls can be on the ground next to them. The second and third balls can be right behind the robot, ready for pickup. The robot should only need to drive a couple feet at most. Long range shooters are not out of reach for most teams.