Prepare yourselfs
 

Prepare to be amazed. Soon a video will be posted to this forum that will shock and awe you. Stay tuned to see this ground-breaking demonstration of the power of Team 888.

Re: Prepare yourselfs
 

I love the modesty.


:rolleyes:

Prepare yourselfs further
 

I believe that the modesty in my previous post was necessary to shield the general public from the truth. Without modesty, the post would have looked something like this:


(Holy Grail-style) RUNAWAY! RUNAWAY!


______________________
Quote of the day:
Why isnt it working?
"Because its not working!"-chrisinmd

Re: Prepare yourselfs
 

I am happy to report that the problem referenced in coldabert's signature has been resolved. Further investigation is required to figure out the cause of the problem, namely cables that unplug themselves, turn themselves around, and plug themselves back in. Or in Cole's case, themselfs.
-Chris


(Cole, don't you have calculus hw to do? I'm doing mine!*gasp!*)

Re: Prepare yourselfs
 

As im writing this post, Im sitting in calculus and im being scolded for not doing my homework. The video is on its way!

Re: Prepare yourselfs
 

and?!?! we'll show you ours if you show us yours!

- JERY!!!!

( ownage )

Re: Prepare yourselfs
 

*YAWN*

Post a video if you've got a video. This "Prepare yourself" nonsense is so... Pro wrestling.

What am I supposed to be preparing? And even if I do reserve a conference room and order invitations for my closest friends, what date do I put on the invitations? And what resolution should I expect this video to be at? Long story short, I just don't see how anyone so inclined could possibly prepare themselves for such an obviously awesome video with such incredibly shoddy information.

Nonetheless, I'm doing the best I can. The edge of my seat is cleared off, and ready for my occupation. Popcorn is in the microwave, ready for the touch of a button. I've downloaded every video codec available. My phone is off the hook, and my monitor freshly waxed.

All this leaves just one question: where is my video, team 888? Where, oh where is my video?

edit: That's 500 posts for me. I hope that at least some of the other 499 were more worthwhile than this one.

Re: Prepare yourselfs
 

^^ This, ladies and gentlemen, is a great example of a sleep-deprived FRC team member

Re: Prepare yourselfs
 

My question is, where is the video? Is this a new thing for CD, a Teaser of a Teaser maybe? Your building yourselves up alot, I hope that this video lives up to everything your making it out to be, I hope it proves itself worthy of a thread just devoted to getting people ready to see a video about it...


But my question is... How is this thread showcasing a robot? Why does it belong in the robot showcase forum?

Maybe you should wait in the future to post when you actualy have something to post about rather then posting warning people that your going to post.


In short: Lets see it already. :D

Re: Prepare yourselfs
 

Howdy all. Just a heads up I'm right now working on getting the video on the server. And Mr. Coldabert has been spoken to about his outlandish behavior on cd ;) . Anywho video will be up with in the hour. Right now the guy who has it on his stick is MIA online so I'm just waiting to post it. Or just playing the Game Axis and Allies

Re: Prepare yourselfs
 

where is it jeff? I'm waiting too!
btw everyone else, the video is excellent!
-Chris

Re: Prepare yourselfs
 

The video is mia I'm waiting for the guy to get back with it.

Re: Prepare yourselfs further
 

Did anyone on my team give you permission to say this? I think not. :rolleyes:

Last time I checked we WERE the keepers of The Holy Grail in FIRST...

Calm down people, lets not cause a fuss
 

I wish to apologize for the terrible suspense you are all enduring. I've been unconscious for most of the weekend and I mistakingly assumed that Jeff Dewberry would be capable of a simple post. Since things have gotten so messed up, I have arranged for a pre-video to be posted. This one will lack the total-awesome-nality of the final video, but it should suffice for now.

Re: Prepare yourselfs
 

Is the video being stored in Al Capone's vault?

Re: Prepare yourselfs
 

Actually Geraldo built it himself this time. If you want something done right...

Re: Prepare yourselfs
 

I have been looking at this thread since yesterday. I don't know what to say the team members of team 888. The way you guys wording your approach in this thread, it sounds like you guys have done something that no one has never done it, and you guys will win the championship or something. Why don't you post a video of it already so us cd members see what is so special about your video?

Re: Prepare yourselfs
 

I for one am excited.

Some people may call it showboating, but what can you do in a competition of this size? Not every team can instantly post a picture and expect oohs and ahhs, sometimes it takes a little more. There are dozens of people and teams I would criticize for self promotion (myself included) before a team that's proud of what they accomplished and is just trying to get noticed in the flurry of activity that is build season.

That said, Arefin is right....I'm expecting to be amazed. Realize that with this utilization of promotion that you are building up something huge, and if you don't deliver, you are shooting yourself in the foot for the next time that you decide to build up buzz, because you will hit diminished returns.

Don't apologize, just deliver. Show it off already!

Re: Prepare yourselfs
 

Day 2 of Reading this Thread:

No video yet? >.< Meh, how long will we have to wait. I for one think that you should've post this thread when you were ready to actually post the video lol. Its like me posting a thread about pictures I'll post once my robot is done being built, and like 6 weeks later I got nothing because once we finished we had to send the robot away. Dont post something like a video/picture unless you actually have the goods to post there and than :S

Edited by: Marcel

Lay Lady Lay
 

At least Ms. Jessica has gotten into the spirit of things. Right now, I'm pretty much stalling until I can get back to my team and start knocking some heads together. I can't make any promises now. All I can say is, if I have in some way pained you, meet me at the CNN building at nationals and I'll buy you a 4-piece, no, a 6-piece chicken strip meal. Because I'm just that nice of a guy.

But I must ask one question:
Is this not the most interesting thread in this section of the forum?

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Rolling Stones
in Balmer
Wednesday @ 7:30
Be there
"It's only Rock and Roll"

Re: Lay Lady Lay
 

Right now I'd have to say threads like this are the reason I don't rally care for teaser threads.

Re: Prepare yourselfs
 

I would have to agree with you on that one. But at least this is a teaser thread. I didnt just post a picture of a sprocket and a wheel.

I have some good news and some bad news.

The good news is that the video is on the hard drive of a computer connected to the world wide web.

The bad news is that the video is 15 mb and its top transfer speed is 49 kb/s.

Before I post the link, I'm going to see what I can do. You've all waited this long, can you wait another 11 hours?

Re: Prepare yourselfs
 

Post it here .
Stop making excues,

Re: Prepare yourselfs
 

15mb @ 49kb/s... I daresay that shouldn't take more than 6 minutes, not 11 hours.

Re: Prepare yourselfs
 

Merry Christmas everyone here it is. Team 888 Video It's just a download right now. Long day as a Geek Squad agent so I will not have it embed in the website to later. But here it is my friends sorry for the wait. ( The wait was because I had to win back the video in game of poker where it was lost at) Stupid poker craze. LOL

Re: Prepare yourselfs
 

This was well worth the wait :D I hope to be seeing the same thing in a robotics lab near me very soon.

Re: Prepare yourselfs
 

What is the codec I need to use for that thing? Windows media player didn't work right off the bat.

Also, I realize that I said, "I've downloaded every video codec available". That apparantly was not the case. And this is a different computer anyway.

Re: Prepare yourselfs
 

It's just an mpeg.

Re: Prepare yourselfs
 

That's an easy thing for you to say.

The problem is both Quick Time and Windows Media Player refuse to play it. Both say a codec is needed. So, again, which codec was used to encode this video???

Re: Prepare yourselfs
 

From what I can gather, it uses the MPEG-2 codec, which is normally packaged with dvd viewing software (i.e. InterVideo WinDVD, etc.)

The 'normal' MPEG codec that those two programs come with is MPEG-4.

Here is a MPEG-2 Codec for you to download, if you don't have one already:

http://www.free-codecs.com/download/...EG_2_Codec.htm

Re: Prepare yourselfs
 

Actually, I'm having problems viewing it with WMP as well... It wont work in Winamp or the DivX pyaer either... huh, I guess I'll have to give it a go on my linux box.

Re: Prepare yourselfs
 

Played on Knoppix fine, but without audio... nice Vid :D,

We'll be where you guys are... probably around ship day :)

Re: Prepare yourselfs
 

Played on WMP with no audio but winamp did not like it so much...

Re: Prepare yourselfs
 

I think you nailed it. I ran it on my laptop with Intervideo installed for the DVD player. I guess assuming every one has a DVD in their PC is a BAD assumption.

BTW, no audio on mine either.

So, the hype was that they can shoot a ball through the target form directly in front and manually aligned?.........

Re: Prepare yourselfs
 

OK.
You guys have a running robot. Nice job and congrats.
It's not ground breaking like a four speed transmition like 33 puts out (who do it quietly without thumping their chest).
In the immortal words of Flavour Flav : Don't believe the hype!

Re: Prepare yourselfs
 

When the common players don't work, I always go to VideoLan Client next. It can play just about anything, including this video. Audio is just a bunch of static though.

Team 888, get your fees paid for Pittsburgh! We'd love to see this bot up close.

Re: Prepare yourselfs
 

I have to agree, the video seems a little flat compared with some of the other great teaser videos of the past.

Just a couple of tricks for the future:
1) Get good source material. Borrow someone's digital camcorder if you need to.
2) Get lots of material. In my days of Mass Communications back at Irmo High, the rule of thumb was to shoot ten times the amount of material you think you'll actually use. (This gives you a lot of angles and such to choose from.)
3) Watch Wildstang's 2004 video (found here). They really put together a video that set the standard. Lots of match video (also note their use of old video from their Championship run), quality editing, and just the right amount of effects to spice it up. (Also note that they really didn't put too much promotion on it. Sometimes underpromising and overdelivering can pay off--but then again, there's also nothing wrong with a bit of shameless plugging ;) .)

But to get to the robot, it definitely looks good. Will the robot need to be lined up straight with the goal, or is there some sort of turret in there?

Re: Prepare yourselfs
 

Billfred's made a lot of great points. Buzz is best built on a good balance of self promotion and previous event performance. It usually takes a year to get it to its desired result.

Other things to note:
4.) Set a deadline and stick to it. "Soon" is too vague, but set a time that will grab the most attention (aka, avoid the last week of build - too many robot pictures will be posted to gain any sort of attention).
5.) When teasing an audience, try to avoid delays as much as possible, but if it can't be helped, don't draw attention to the delay. Drawing attention to it (as you saw in this thread) will have more of an impact on the mind as opposed to utilizing that time to get the product out the door.
6.) Don't give up. As I said earlier, it's a matter of balancing between self-promotion and event performance. If things don't work out, don't fret about it - just do everything you can to gain credibility at the events you're going to this year - whether that be through a technical award or winning an event. Doing well at events this year will make your team a "team to watch" in the following year - a time when promotional efforts are best used.

As I said in the beginning, there are a lot of teams out there - many of which have spent years building up their reputation, and having been in the situation that your team is currently in myself, getting noticed is an uphill battle. Promotion alone can not create good reputation - event performance is crucial. Best of luck in 2006, I'm sure you'll do great!

Re: Prepare yourselfs
 

Of course, if you are trying to "fly below the radar", the last week is perfect for posting, as many will miss it in the flurry of photos/videos being posted. It's always great to get to a competition and find that one team who is "breaking out" from the ranks. It keeps the vets from becoming complacent, and often forces teams into new areas of strategy.

Everybody knows WWBD, (Thanks, Andy Grady) but "What will the new kid in town do?" is the surprise at competitions.

Surprise us! We will enjoy your success!

Re: Prepare yourselfs
 

Nice video.

Was it worth the hype and wait...not so much.
Good job on being this far along in the build.

Keep up the good work.

Re: Prepare yourselfs
 

Like I said earlier, my intent was to have a better video, but someone (Jeff Dewberry) failed under the pressure from the cd community. Is this a groundbreaking video? Of course not. However, I haven't seen any team's teaser(and this is a teaser) show any capabilities that will win matchs.
There is a lot more strategy this year and it will be important for teams to know each others capabilities before nationals.

We can't wait to get our bot(s) to Pittsburgh and we'll also be at the shakedown competition in DC.

~~~~~~~~~~~
"Its only Rock and Roll"
Rolling Stones
Balmer, MD

Re: Prepare yourselfs
 

Oh, by the way, thanks guys for finding the bugs and fixes for the codecs.

~~~~~~~~~~~
"Its only Rock and Roll"
Rolling Stones
Balmer, MD[/quote]

Re: Prepare yourselfs
 

Yeah Well sorry guys for dropping the ball!:p I'm a video production major right now, and was not there when they made this video. But don't worry we will have some cooler stuff coming out of here soon.

Re: Prepare yourselfs
 

I personally loved the robot, but I think if you take that long in between shots, you will get hit. Definitely one of the fastest robots I've ever seen built that is in a final configuration.

Re: Prepare yourselfs
 

Ya know, I've been wanting something like this for a long time.
Thanks for pointing it out Bill!

Re: Prepare yourselfs
 

Interesting video.

I didnt see a camera, nor a vision target. Can I assume this bot will shoot based solely on the drivers?

Also, how are balls loaded into the shooting mechanism?

Re: Prepare yourselfs
 

It seems as if there is somewhat of a pneumatic piston that pushes the balls up until they get grabbed by the shooter...

Re: Prepare yourselfs
 

Hmm.. let me reword my question.

How are balls transported from the ground/human player to the shooting mechanism?

Re: Prepare yourselfs
 

Great job for this early in the season, but it looks to me like the balls are coming out a bit hot. Do you know what your exit velocity is?

Re: Prepare yourselfs
 

The exit velocity may have been to high in the video, but it's configured with a victor to keep the speed legal.

If you look in the picture galleries, you can find our camera testing platform. It can find the light, maintain distance, and reposition itself for better shots. Code-wise it will be a simple switch to the full robot version. We haven't mounted it to a full-size prototype yet because we are still discussing other part designs that will need plenty of space.

Let me make this clear:
This is definitely not our finished robot.

However, it is a prototype of our shooting mechanism and drive train and the final version will have greatly improved performance characteristics. If we had to ship the robot today, we would have a solid defensive robot that could also shoot its starting load into the 3 pt goal. Thankfully, we still have time to refine our designs and mechanisms.

By the way, if anyone wants more detailed information, feel free to contact me by email or IM

Re: Prepare yourselfs
 

Right now the balls are hand loaded, we are working on a feeder mechinism.

Re: Prepare yourselfs