[Vid]:125 NUtrons Hang and Redirect
 

I wanted to make sure what happened to 125 in Boston, doesn't happen again.


so here ya go folks.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gzS9-M8Dcxg

From another thread:
Note- these were my observations from Boston, Brandon and his crew have made changes to improve consistency.


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Re: [Vid]:125 NUtrons Hang and Redirect
 

I feel bad for 125. They couldn't feed themselves, so they probably looked bad on scouts when their partners didn't feed them, and if the ball missed a goal I imagine teams just thought that was as bad as letting it idle in the middle.

I bet a low seeded team on Newton will pick them and go very far.

Re: [Vid]:125 NUtrons Hang and Redirect
 

A few questions.
Can they hang in auto or get into position to hang?
If blocked from hanging can they clear balls out of mid-field?
Can they re-direct balls to either goal?
If yes to all then what were those teams thinking in Boston?
One more, can they get down if loop doesn't start?

Re: [Vid]:125 NUtrons Hang and Redirect
 

As of the end of Boston they were getting in position in autonomous, but not hanging, however they are working on hanging in autonomous for Atlanta.

They can't clear balls, but in Boston their positioning in autonomous was good enough such that they would begin to hang less than a few seconds after teleop started, which wasn't enough time for anyone to try to block. If they get the hanging in autonomous, then there's no stopping them.

Yes

I think everyone is wondering the same thing.

Re: [Vid]:125 NUtrons Hang and Redirect
 

I was in the "Wow, I can't believe they didn't get picked" camp. They had a few problems catching the balls at times, but that looked to be taken care of on Saturday morning. They even had a decent showing in a round on Saturday morning. I think that they suffered plainly from a bad schedule. When they hung, and were in position...partners were not scoring. When partners did score, the balls were sailing over the catcher device (fixed on saturday). Other than that...it looked just fine.

I would imagine that they will have a little more luck on Newton this year.

Re: [Vid]:125 NUtrons Hang and Redirect
 

Also, here's a video of 125 doing their thing from the Boston Regional, Match 73:

http://www.thebluealliance.net/tbatv/match/2010ma_qm73

They suffered in this match, as mentioned above, from only having a few balls in their "cycle" - 3 or 4, I believe. With a strong far zone robot (217 at MSC, for example), 125 could go far!

Re: [Vid]:125 NUtrons Hang and Redirect
 

It was so embarrassing when 125 hung in the first match, ready to begin the cycle....and their partners failed to drop even 1 ball in. That was when people got a bad first impression, because of alliance pairings.

Re: [Vid]:125 NUtrons Hang and Redirect
 

From what I can tell, it looks harder to block 125 than it is to block 469. Not seeing which way the ball will go until it is almost out means you'd need a much faster reaction time.

Re: [Vid]:125 NUtrons Hang and Redirect
 

Akash- Thanks for starting this thread on our behalf. We were quite disappointed to not be selected in Boston. The few matches we had with partners that could consistently score, resulted in fairly dominant victories. We only lost 1 match the whole weekend, and it was a tough pill to swallow not playing in the elims.


As for our robot, all of the responses to questions thus far have been accurate. The main issue we were having in Boston, was for a reason unknown to us at the time, our robot would not elevate itself to its designed point. We were consistently stopping 5-6 inches short of being "fully hung". (Fully hung in a sense that we still got 2 points, but were not at the height we were designed to catch at)

After some investigation, we decided to rip apart our gearbox for the winch we use. It uses a single CIM on approximately a 16:1 ratio. We utilized AndyMarks new 3/8" hex bearings. Unfortunately for us, the two we used in the winch were completely destroyed. We estimated the load on each of these bearings to be approximately 60 pounds near the upper limit, with almost zero shock loading of any kind. Since Boston, we have redesigned our winch gearbox to not utilize these bearings anymore. The result will be a much more efficient hang for us, and a hang at the height our robot was designed to "catch" balls with.

Simultaneously, we've decided to change a couple more features on our robot to make our design more fool proof. The primary one of these is a new "catching" device that makes our redirect MUCH more consistent. The other changes just make our robot more reliable and consistent in several other areas.

We are very excited to be playing on Newton with several other teams who are consistent, reliable scorers. We know we can be an X factor type of robot in Atlanta, and are counting the days til we get to play again!

-Brando


PS- Since the "cat is out of the bag" so to speak, I'll post a few pictures to CD Media of our design, so you can get a better look.

Re: [Vid]:125 NUtrons Hang and Redirect
 

We had almost the same thing happen to our team at the Bayou Regional. Our robot was designed primarily to be locked to the tower as a looper. We also have a vacuum ball magnet and a 3 stage kicker. At the Bayou we didn't lock our robot to the tower and return a ball because it turned out we were one of the stronger scorers. There was never a shortage of balls in the close zone. We would clear the middle or far zone then move into the close zone and score.

Hopefully we'll get a chance to demonstrate the looper in Atlanta.

Re: [Vid]:125 NUtrons Hang and Redirect
 

I was very surprised when 125 was not selected. Even if they couldn't score the balls off of the return they could at least return the balls into the zone by the end of qualification matches and that is such an advantage in the elimination rounds.

Re: [Vid]:125 NUtrons Hang and Redirect
 

Haha, sorry Brandon, we really wanted to make sure that what happened in Boston wouldn't happen again. I figured I'd advertise a little ;)

Re: [Vid]:125 NUtrons Hang and Redirect
 

Thanks for posting the video. I thought that 125 was just over hyped before Boston and just couldn't come through. Match schedules are very disappointing when you have teams like 125 who need decent robots to help them like in match 73 and just don't get them. :o

Great to see you will be down in Atlanta and hope you guys play well into Saturday afternoon! :)

Re: [Vid]:125 NUtrons Hang and Redirect
 

I just realiized something. This thread may not have been that good of an idea. 125 has just recieved a large target. Their matches are going to be the proving ground for many teams looking to impress other teams," We stopped 125. We can help you on Einstein with 469." Good luck guys, you have along couple of days ahead of you. One question not answered yet, can you get down off of tower if loop doesn't start?

Re: [Vid]:125 NUtrons Hang and Redirect
 

I'd rather have a target on my back than be invisible to the competition, and after Boston happened, it's clear that you have to make that choice.

Re: [Vid]:125 NUtrons Hang and Redirect
 

By no means would I have considered 125 "invisible" at Boston. The NU-TRONS have an amazing reputation as a team that consistently dominates these competitions, and I assure them that our team kept very close watch on all of their matches (and we were very eager to align with them in match 73).

Our decision to not select 125 was a result of much complication, but it was a conscious decision. 125 was NOT overlooked, and I'm sure 125 will be a valuable asset to Newton.

I just wish you guys made extra shirts! I've wanted one since freshman year :(

Re: [Vid]:125 NUtrons Hang and Redirect
 

No, once we're up, we're up. At least at that point we are good for the hanging bonus

Re: [Vid]:125 NUtrons Hang and Redirect
 

Have you guys practiced playing other facets of the game such as being a front zone striker? It might be valuable to be a little flexible during qualification matches.

Re: [Vid]:125 NUtrons Hang and Redirect
 

Ding ding ding! Multiple zones is a very good way to "show off" skills to the crowd/scouts and increases your chance of being picked. 469 can only stay in the middle zone, but they are still very good in that zone as well.

I don't think this thread "puts a target on their backs" at all. Most teams during pre-scouting have seen them as a team that have not been in eliminations presenting them as a low ranking robot. 125 is a very valuable team to an alliance and I just don't know why they weren't picked at Boston with several alliances picking robots to just get the hanging bonus as a third pick.

Re: [Vid]:125 NUtrons Hang and Redirect
 

While we could do that, I don't think it will A. help our alliance all that much in the actual qualification match or B. help display our ability to be a dominant "loop" bot. In Atlanta, with the competition being much more adept, I feel we will be able to "loop" in every match.

Quite honestly I would rather show the ability to hang and get into looping position every single time rather than show our most likely lackluster ability to be an effective striker (as it will look compared to the great bots in Atlanta).

If we are being picked, we are going to be picked for our ability to recycle. This is the reason I feel working in a position which our robot was not designed for is not advantageous.

Re: [Vid]:125 NUtrons Hang and Redirect
 

My suggestion is to prove that you can be a valuable team member to whichever alliance you are on in that particular match. Play to your strengths, but do what gives your alliance the best chance to win.

If you are with other teams that can score and start the loop for you, then go ahead, hang and loop.

If not, then do not spend the entire match trying to hang or hanging in the air while the rest of your alliance struggles to score 2 v. 3.

Use objective scouting data to determine the strength of your partners and your opponents for each match. This should dictate the strategy used.

Any well driven robot can push balls into the goal, if needed. If you don't have partners that can do that. Then show all the scouting teams that your robot is driven well enough to accomplish this task too.

If you are a dominant looper, teams will figure out a way to stop you from hanging. You will have to play from the ground in the eliminations at some point.

The HOT team will be watching every match. If we are in a position to select teams, we will select teams we feel are most valuable to our alliance and give us the best chance at winning the division.

Re: [Vid]:125 NUtrons Hang and Redirect
 

Adam,
By no means should you get the impression that we are not team players. Our goal every single match is to go out and help our alliance win. The comments I made were referring to the fact that I feel in Atlanta, we will be in a position to play to our strengths far more often than not. However, there are always extenuating circumstances, and if those should arise, we are ready to take whatever role is necessary.

-Brando