Recognizing the colors of the balls in autonomous mode
 

Well, as we all know the camara is not included in this year's kit. How are the robots supposed to know wich ball to hit during the Hybrid period. The rules state that the color of the ball and not the alliance that drops the ball is the one that gets the points.

Re: Recognizing the colors of the balls in autonomous mode
 

Robocoach.

Re: Recognizing the colors of the balls in autonomous mode
 

Agreed, and secondly you cannot use the CMUcam (See Below Thread) http://www.chiefdelphi.com/forums/sh...threadid=60717

Re: Recognizing the colors of the balls in autonomous mode
 

Just because something isnt included in the kit doesnt mean you can't use it. Since I have been looking through the rules, I havent found anything about the camera, so I am not sure. Even without the camera, you can use the IR remote, which is basically like just driving the robot. I personally dont understand why they incopporated this unless it is more difficult than I am thinking. As I think about it though it does make more sence, because it can help the new teams go a little bit, but when in the other lane, you might not be able to pick up the IR and it would need to be autonomous. I dont know, I need to do some thinking about this.
Joey

Re: Recognizing the colors of the balls in autonomous mode
 

That is what most of us think is going to happen. Hopefully they will let us use cameras to find the balls.

Re: Recognizing the colors of the balls in autonomous mode
 

Your right. It seems like the rule is trying to say you cant use the camera this year, but is confusing. I dont know why they wouldnt just flat out say that you cant use the camera this year though.
Joey

Re: Recognizing the colors of the balls in autonomous mode
 

@Alex: Read my previous post and read linked thread AND/OR read R36 below.

<R36> COTS ITEMS from ROBOTS entered in previous FIRST competitions or COTS
MECHANISMS that are no longer commercially available may be used under the following
conditions:
• The item must be unmodified, and still in its original condition as delivered from the
VENDOR
• The item must not be a part custom made for the FIRST competition and provided in the
Kit Of Parts for a previous FIRST Robotics Competition (e.g. 2006 FRC transmissions,
custom-made motor couplers, custom sensor strips, 2006 IFI CMUcam II modules, etc.
are not permitted)
• The item must satisfy ALL of the rules associated with materials/parts use for the 2008
FIRST Robotics Competition)

Re: Recognizing the colors of the balls in autonomous mode
 

Confuses me too.

Re: Recognizing the colors of the balls in autonomous mode
 

There are three possible locations for the TRACKBALL, so the ROBOCOACH can tell the ROBOT where to go via IR:

Channel 1: Knock down on the left
Channel 2: Knock down in the middle
Channel 3: Knock down on the right
Channel 4: Drive straight, turn left.

Since this year the robot must be in contact with the alliance wall, it should not be hard to be able to recreate your bot's starting position with regularity (and practice), negating the need for a camera.

Re: Recognizing the colors of the balls in autonomous mode
 

Camera use topic:

http://www.chiefdelphi.com/forums/sh...threadid=60751

Re: Recognizing the colors of the balls in autonomous mode
 

Well, last year one of our members fried the camera, so we purchased another one. At this point I think that we could use it (COTS MECHANISM which wasn't provided in the KOP, thats a loophole, right?)... but to no effect. Besides, who wants to program the camera again!?!

Re: Recognizing the colors of the balls in autonomous mode
 

Well, Mr. Robocoach is going to be pretty important.

Re: Recognizing the colors of the balls in autonomous mode
 

I will say one thing, i know the programmers on our team are very disappointed for the "Robocoach". I kinda am too. I think its a cool concept, but like they even said, they made it too easy and i know for a fact those IR remotes and Sensors aren't going to work half the time when the robot is turned the other way... (Not to mention the glass where the driver station is.. That will have some kind of effect). I guess we will have to wait till we all get building to find out how its really going to work out.

Re: Recognizing the colors of the balls in autonomous mode
 

A couple thoughts about the IR system and the robocoach.
1. You may need to "re-train" your board before a match to use different buttons if two robots happen to be using the same remote.
2. Being limited to 4 functions (and I'll leave that definition open) makes for a very important programming decision regarding what you'll use them for.
3. Hybrid is only 15 seconds long so obviously they want us to use it to knock the balls down because I don't think you could get around the track in that time.
4. Unlike autonomous, the IR is active for the whole match so you may want to use that fact to help you decide on its functions.

All that having been said, while the game is a little more simple, deciding how to play it is not. There are going to be a wide variety of solutions which should make things interesting.
So let's get out there and "trade some paint!"

--mark :D