What will your robot actually do?
 

So... There's been lots of talk about the "ideal" stacking abilities of a robot. But, what does it look like robots will actually be able to do?

We are designing ours to stack five toes with a bin on top... It's possible we'll do a sixth tote, but.....

Re: What will your robot actually do?
 

I don't see the "Makes pancakes" option? :D

Re: What will your robot actually do?
 

I have no clue, but with our design we can go as high as we want with a bin on top- and fast.
So I guess 6 totes and a bin, but I am worried about the stability of the stack.

Re: What will your robot actually do?
 

Ideally 6 totes and a bin. I have my doubts though....

Re: What will your robot actually do?
 

No-no-no, not pancakes but instead CORN DOG's with a side of Pineapple pizza. Frank would be so happy :p

Re: What will your robot actually do?
 

From testing 6 totes with a can is very stable.

Re: What will your robot actually do?
 

Is there an "Other" option?

Re: What will your robot actually do?
 

Other: We are hoping it will move and look good.
As for what it WILL actually DO, we'll have to wait until it can be driven. Until then i can only comment on what we HOPE it will do...

Re: What will your robot actually do?
 

I think the hardest part we will have to contest with is the litter (noodle) that is supposed to be layed on top of the bin or in the bin. ::rtm:: Still trying to find a viable solution for this

Re: What will your robot actually do?
 

Re: What will your robot actually do?
 

I just assumed that everybody's robot would make pancakes.... On our team we figure we can increase our productivity by completely eliminating the need for meal breaks.

Re: What will your robot actually do?
 

Our plan is to acquire and stack totes from the landfill zone. Plus, we want to grab one or more of the bins(containers) from the step. The intention is to prevent the opposing alliance from obtaining them instead, thereby potentially lowering their average score. But we won't know exactly what we are able to do until we have a full working robot.

Re: What will your robot actually do?
 

It shall move.

Re: What will your robot actually do?
 

Re: What will your robot actually do?
 

Kinda surprised at the poll results. I figured we would be looking at primarily the 3-5 stack range, but what this does point out (either due to it not being included or people not actually going for it) is that looks like some teams might need a robot with the ability to orient bins and capitalize on bins with noodles...

Re: What will your robot actually do?
 

What's a bin?

We have been kind of ignoring the tipped CONTAINER issue, but we did find a problem Saturday (and a solution) which might result in our also being able to right tipped CONTAINERS pretty easily.

I'm surprised (and not surprised) at the "we're going for six!" thing...it'll be interesting to see what the poll results would be if we asked again during week 6.

Re: What will your robot actually do?
 

I suspect that the poll results would be very different five weeks from now... At the same time, I do think that stacking six totes with a recycling container on top will not be particularly difficult with a number of different robot designs. The question, however, will be how quickly they can do it... We are designing our robot specifically to stack five totes with a recycling container on top. However, if balance were not an issue at all, we'd just as easily be able to add a sixth tote.

Once we are stacking five, we'll start experimenting and seeing what more it would take to do six. The key, however, will be speed. With all totes and containers placed perfectly, making four full stacks should be possible -and even starting the fifth. However, that won't likely happen: There are only three recycling bins guaranteed to our alliance. Getting more would mean that they are not so perfectly placed.

I figure I'll put out another poll in about four weeks about how quickly folks are stacking...

Re: What will your robot actually do?
 

49 People doing 6 stack with a bin...hmmmm. Lesson to all rookies, don't believe every team when they tell you that is what they will contribute. Although some people will be doing these, the odds for not are greater than the odds for. Just something to watch for.

We think we will be able to win the majority of our matches with not having to go 6 high, not close.
-Win is used loosely, it will 'put us in a better position to rank higher'

Re: What will your robot actually do?
 

There were a fair number of robots that could score last year, yet teams still found it difficult. The hard part will be implementation/system integration, I think that is where a ton of teams are going to have trouble.

Re: What will your robot actually do?
 

Speed is going to be king this year. We're looking at 3 or 4 totes with a container on top as being the quickest way to get points. We could be wrong....

Re: What will your robot actually do?
 

We are trying to put 4 totes underneath a bin. I feel like an even number of totes will be the most efficient use of time if getting them from the landfill station because of how they are oriented. We are going to pick up a green bin and then pick up 4 totes from the landfill to stack underneath of the bin and deposit the stack on the scoring platform.

Re: What will your robot actually do?
 

Our team seriously considered a chassis-less robot. Given no limit on the X-Y size, the idea was to put poles in the corners of the field and stretch wires and hang a claw - think NFL field camera. It could easily meet the transport size rules.

The conversation was very lively. Ultimately they decided it would be illegal because the wires would stretch over the AUTO ZONE during initial setup and therefor illegal.

Re: What will your robot actually do?
 

Ours can do two things:
Win
or
Waste 6 weeks of our lives.






Ha! I'm just kidding! We don't have lives!

Re: What will your robot actually do?
 

Beat me to the pancakes option :(

Re: What will your robot actually do?
 

our robot will be able to pick up 3 totes and slide left and right to pick up the totes quickly.

Re: What will your robot actually do?
 

You could have two poles on mobile platforms which drive across the field during auto.