1726 progress - week 4
 

Finally got everything moving at once tonight! Here it is:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U6PchiI4bDQ

drive motors are going slow due to some semi bad programming (half as fast as they should be, we JUST started wiring a pistol grip RC controller). The turret locks on but is a little slow, so we'll also need to work on some PID constants. Overall though, we're quite pleased with the intake and hopper system.

Comments / suggestions / questions appreciated!

Don't forget to check out our photo gallery and youtube page:
1726 photo gallery
1726 youtube page

and for those at school with youtube blocked:

Re: 1726 progress - week 4
 

Wow, nice bot!

Is that fire rate still with a single CIM driving the shooter? Also have you gotten a chance to test how accurately you can vary distance based on shooter wheel speed?

Re: 1726 progress - week 4
 

That is one beautiful robot.

Re: 1726 progress - week 4
 

Thanks! yea, this is a single CIM powered turret at ~3600RPM. We're still controlling the speed with a joystick but we're planning on spending all of tomorrow getting it to shoot distance-wise.
EDIT: sorry, I forgot to mention that we have indeed tested distance and even with a joystick it is pretty darn controllable :)

Re: 1726 progress - week 4
 

can the helix be run in reverse? So that you can pull in a empty ball and spit it out without having to empty your helix.

Re: 1726 progress - week 4
 

Yes it can :D :D :D

Re: 1726 progress - week 4
 

This is an amazing robot, especially for being (mostly) done by the end of week 4. Does your shooter adjust takeoff angle or wheel velocity to change the range? What percentage of shots do you make from that range (8-10 feet from the looks of it)?

Excellent robot 1726, thanks for keeping us all updated with your progress!

Re: 1726 progress - week 4
 

That looks amazing. Maybe I'm going to have to stop doubting what that camera can do. :ahh:

I wish we were as fast and organized :(

Re: 1726 progress - week 4
 

Thanks! Unfortunately we just got the camera tracking on the turret today, so we really haven't had much time to adjust anything. We're planning on creating a "leading" program based on the speed of the turret encoder, but that might take a few days to implement considering all the other things that need to get done (traction control in auto?). Stationary we can make every shot from any distance, although our shooter speed is still controlled by humans and as such keeps fluctuating slightly :P
We'll (try to) keep everyone posted on our progress with the turret!

Re: 1726 progress - week 4
 

That is really awesome! great job NERDS. I can't wait to see it at work in Silicon Valley Regional.

Re: 1726 progress - week 4
 

You'll have to wait a while, this one's only going to LA and AZ!

Re: 1726 progress - week 4
 

Darn! well Ill see you on TBA i guess

Also when I said Silicon I meant Sacramento, and I based that on seeing you there in 2007

Re: 1726 progress - week 4
 

What a crazy buncha NERDS and your robots....

Great looking bot guys. I'm loving the helical loader. Is the entire thing being painted blue and white?

Re: 1726 progress - week 4
 

The current plan is to make an improved drivebase, but painting it beforehand. The rest of the wooden parts will likely be painted blue and white as well.

Neat thing about the shooter though: since it's been operated so much, there's a nice little oil streak along the wood in line with the chain. There's also lots of oil marks on it from where we grabbed it with dirty hands... not sure how well paint will stick to it. We could always just build another one, we might actually have enough time this year to make the robot look good. :)

Re: 1726 progress - week 4
 

Woah. That's one impressive bot!