Chief Delphi - A Reminder of Simplicity

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Re: A Reminder of Simplicity

The problem with dead reconking is that you are blind. Sensors give you some sort of input into the outside world. So, if someone rams into you, code based on the IR sensors will still function properly (provided the bot can shove pretty well!) ... or if the robot is placed down in a position where it veers off to one side, the IR code will not be effected ... and other examples abound.

SO far as the batteries, I believe you can only use the 2 they provide in the kit. I'm sure someone will get around to posting the specific rule, but I've got to be off ...

Re: A Reminder of Simplicity

I personally believe that sensors would be more useful if your target was moving or at an unknown location. As it stands, teams have the exact position of stationary objects. I'm guessing most people use sensors for two reasons:

1) To generate outputs that would have been too complicated or innacurate to write manually.
2) To have your robot adjust dynamically to changing situations.

As for number 1, the outputs generated aren't usually too complicated (ie the robot just has to move in a straight line). With a little testing, it's possible to determine these values. I personally prefer to have values I know work hard-coded into our program, as opposed to rolling the dice with sensors.

I believe number 2 is less of an issue than people think. I'm not sure that:
a) More than a few robots will be able to reach the center with enough force and time to disrupt you.
b) Sensors will help if you are moved. Most of the dead reckoning programs aren't terribly complicated. They don't tend to involve intricate movements that can be disrupted easily. If something can move your robot enough to seriously hamper the dead reckoning program, I'm not sure sensors would help.

Re: A Reminder of Simplicity

Quote:

Originally Posted by 10intheCrunch

In keeping with simplicity:

Why not just use dead reckoning? In general we have observed that the more complicated an auto mode gets, the less accurate it gets, and that extends just as much to sensor using robots. With some thought you can set up a really easy to maintain and tinkerable state machine to adjust motor values, and from there its just some testing to get it to work right...

I also like dead reckoning this year....swamp thing had two very impressive autonomous modes (and possibly a third i wasn't sure) which i believe were dead reckoning....one went plucked the 2X ball off the mobile goal, and the other was to drive at an angle and move their closed claw to the height of the 10 pt ball then simply opened their claw and backed up knocking the 10 pt ball right off....so simple and very impressive if you ask me.... :cool:

Re: A Reminder of Simplicity

In SPBLI only two robots could knock down the 10pt ball, and they did it only a few times. Winning automodes just drove forward and stopped to either get the mobile goal or get up the ramp. One of the winning teams could get up to the bar in less the 45 seconds total because of their simple autonomous mode.