Re: Preloading uber-tubes
 

remember that you also have to be able to remove tubes that are stuck in your gripper at the end of the match.

Re: Preloading uber-tubes
 

what we did last year was have the electrical team make us a small pwm signal generator that connected into a quick disconnect on the robot, got power from the robot's battery and used their speed controller.we used it to pretension our kicker and adjust the position of our winch. it was allowed then under the condition that the signal generator could not be brought onto the field itself as that would be considered having another device control the robot. if you are using can bus this would be a bit more difficult as i don't think the rules allow having both wired at once, but it is still doable.

Re: Preloading uber-tubes
 

Last year's rules and rulings do not apply this year. What may have been allowed last year under conditions may or may not be allowed this year whether under conditions or not.

If a pole to retrieve the Minibot is considered special equipment, even if it could have been standardized to every Minibot, then a device that alters power pathways (or alters control signal pathways, bypassing the cRIO) for a specific robot could easily be counted under the same category.

I would suggest asking Q&A if you could have a device to power the motor before the match, if it was a) off-field and b) on-field before and after the match times.

Re: Preloading uber-tubes
 

I also have a quick question about this subject.

Our claw is powered via pneumatics. Could we have a valve that would block the air to the solenoid to the claw while we preload the air? This way we can force it open, place the tube in, then turn the valve to pressurize it. I can't see why this wouldn't be legal.

(Sorry for slight topic hijacking)

Re: Preloading uber-tubes
 

as someone else mentioned before, just have your claw stay open and close as soon as autonomous starts. its the surest bet you got

Re: Preloading uber-tubes
 

Depending on the solenoid, there might be manual firing buttons. If there are, you might be able to use those. You'd lose a little air, but the compressor should be able to make that up in automode.

I'm not the Q&A, but I can't think of a rule that would prohibit that valve.

Re: Preloading uber-tubes
 

How could I forget that!

We do have those solenoids. Thanks!