Re: Is using vision Key this year?
 

Will vision be key this year? I think so. A team who can cap would get an edge if the opposing team can not, IF they can cap reliably. There would be no point in wasting the time to try, and not getting it, which would result in no points in auto. Where as if you can not cap reliably, so you try to do other things to score reliably, you can put up decent points in auto, and not have to worry with vision. However, an alliance who can work together to cap, and score reliably in other ways, should have an edge. As far as capping in auto with dead rec., I myself don't know how to do it, but I assure you it COULD be done. Probably not very reliable, but it is possible. (not the wisest choice in my opinion)

Re: Is using vision Key this year?
 

Well, the default camera code seems to be working pretty well for us. (For following stuff around, anyway.) I really couldn't imagine us *not* using it. Granted, we may not use just the camera, (we may use touch sensors when we get close to the tetra / goal, for example) but the camera itself seems like way too useful of a tool to just not use. =P

Re: Is using vision Key this year?
 

Not to boast here, but here's my standing.
I believe that our team will have a very good chance at being able to Grab a vision tetra and cap it on a goal in auto mode.
Yes, the camera is the centerpiece of our auto mode, but we are also grabbing input from possibly ~12(or more) other sensors on our bot to aid us... (they are ALL digital, BTW...)
Our bot will also have some workarounds built in. If, for example, it misses the tetra in an attempt to grab it, it will know, and it will try to get it again.
Notice, however, that I said "A" vision tetra on "A" goal. We aren't trying to discern 100% between which goal/tetra we're going after, most of that is going to be left up to the robot. This will also hopefully assist it in terms of speed, as we will probably pursue the closest item on the field to the bot.
I think the trick is going to be adding as much sensory at points where the robot needs information as possible. Lets just say our 16 digital inputs will probably be full ;)
I also want to say that it is not impossible. There is plenty of opportunity for sensory to be added to complete the task. I also think what some teams identify as the task may be a bit much. I can understand how it is difficult to discern between goals and so forth, so don't make your task so defined.
I also like the idea of teams going for the loading zones. It is likely that it is easier and quicker for 2 alliance bots to grab a tetra and cap the end goals (same as bonus for center vision capping) easier and quicker than vision tracking.
Our team has weighed the benefits, and Vision Capping is our prime autonomous strategy (wish us luck!)
So far, BTW, I haven't seen anything that may give us trouble with our autonomous plans in the way of hardware.
I hope to have some video of the bot in action once everythings up and running. We've got to actually get our arm on the bot first! :yikes:

Re: Is using vision Key this year?
 

A few things:

1. Did Wildstang know where all the stacks were in 2003? No, but they knocked down a lot of randomly placed stacks. This year, we know where they can and can't be.

2. In addition to Mark's idea, I could envision a swerve robot going to each of the locations and lunging at where the tetra is supposed to be. Using other sensors, you can tell if you have the tetra and be on your way to the goal.

3. How fast are you going to use vision and get a tetra and move to a goal? I bet I can move directly to the goal and block before you can place the tetra, but that is the subject of another long winded thread.

-Paul

P.S. - Yes. we are trying to use the camera, but we are also investigating other methods.

P.S.S. - Each year has a red herring element. There are some of us T-Chickens that think the camera is one of them.