Vision targets on team version boiler
 

I was just reading through the team version plans and then it occurred to me that you can't put the reflective material on the boiler the same way it will be on a real field. To me the team version and the real thing are essentially two different designs. This doesn't make much sense to me considering vision is one of the most common ways of aiming.

So, are teams using vision just building the funnel, or are they doing something else?

Re: Vision targets on team version boiler
 

Thinking about it some more, the lift peg is the same way.

Re: Vision targets on team version boiler
 

WHAT? FRC released a team field drawing that doesn't match the real field and in fact makes it more difficult for teams to actually create a working autonomous routine?

I'm shocked! Shocked I say!

Re: Vision targets on team version boiler
 

Yeah, we saw this problem relatively early. Our solution was to give the programming team a tube that is about the same size that the vision tape would go on the boiler and hopefully it is close enough. We will definitely have to test it out at competition but it is frustrating that we don't get that part.

Re: Vision targets on team version boiler
 

I haven’t measured yet but I’m thinking a 5 gal bucket with the bottom cut out might be about the right diameter (1’-5”) to wrap the tape around. Then take some sheet metal and make the funnel to go on top. Make the top piece from the field drawings a shorter and set that bucket on top to better simulate the field.


Good Luck.

Re: Vision targets on team version boiler
 

Teams can use the 2015 recycling bin to make the cylinder, by cutting the top off the can and the bottom. Now you have a sheet of plastic that can be riveted together at the wanted diameter. Know for the funnel, the top of the recycling bin has correct diameter for the top of the funnel, know you just have to find a way to put this upper rim together with bottom. My team ended up using another trash can to give use plastic pieces that be placed around the upper and bottom pieces to give you a funnel of intended height.

Re: Vision targets on team version boiler
 

I was thinking the same thing! Good ida! :D

Re: Vision targets on team version boiler
 

I don't think the change between the field drawing and real field actually matters. I noticed it too but shrugged it off.

The only thing that changes when you wrap the tape around a cylinder with a larger diameter is that the camera is going to see it as, well, wider. That shouldn't really matter in any calculations though. You can already get distance based on perceived height of the tape, and now you've got TWO of them to average it out. When it comes to aligning the robot for a shot (once distance is known) you really only need to concern yourself with getting centered and for that calculation it doesn't matter if you've got a 22" cylinder or a 48" one. Center is center.

Re: Vision targets on team version boiler
 

While it may not matter in calculating distance, it certainly makes a difference in recognizing the targets. Typically you want to determine that an object you have detected with vision is actually the goal, and to do this you want to be able to check the ratio of height to width along with other factors. The difference in width from the team version to the real field could be enough to make checks like these that worked on a team's field not function properly in competition without modification.