Re: pic: Seattle Cascade tubes.
 

We experienced tremendous difficulties at FLR because the tubes were much more inflated than we were led to believe they would be, even with the gauges specified before week one.

Now that we finally have our claw working well with the super-inflated tubes, I wonder if we'll have to modify it again when next we play...

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The lesson I learn every year, and then seem to have to re-learn every year: never engineer too closely, because all FIRST specs are nominal, even if they aren't labeled nominal -- and if they are labeled nominal, they could be anything.

Re: pic: Seattle Cascade tubes.
 

Anyone getting the webcast yet?

Re: pic: Seattle Cascade tubes.
 

I finally got it working!

Re: pic: Seattle Cascade tubes.
 

we used a roller with spokes comprising of rubber bands to solve this problem, the roller has 2-3 inches of compliance while still gripping tubes well. the roller is about 6 inches in diameter and then some grip.

Re: pic: Seattle Cascade tubes.
 

And I finally gave up. It never worked for me.

Re: pic: Seattle Cascade tubes.
 

Ouch. The audio had some issues and it was kind choppy but it was better than nothing. I know that you can watch previous matches which is really nice!

Re: pic: Seattle Cascade tubes.
 

Personally would appreciate it if FIRST would set an expectation that the tubes would have a mean of 7" for the body of the triangles and an mean of 8" for the body of the squares and circles.

I think that this could minimize the general tendency to inflate and compress with the C's- which generally renders the spec as it is currently being implemented fairly meaningless. In addition, I personally think this type of expectation would be more consistent with what was the more common reading of the tube size rules.

Re: pic: Seattle Cascade tubes.
 

I could hardly miss a quick glance at CD during this great competition! I actually haven't had the chance to check out the webcasts, but you can bet that I think Cascade is louder than Olympic... but then again, I'm biased... I'm doing inspection and judging on Cascade!

I'm really looking forward to getting some time to check out the Olympic field tommorrow. Not often one gets to see two great regionals take place in one great venue!

I was also doing my little "happy dance" today when it was announced that Robert Steele, "the Skunkfather" was Cascade's WFFA recipient (not to mention a volunteer of the year!). A great recognition for a great guy, who heads up a great team.

Jason

Re: pic: Seattle Cascade tubes.
 

Agree. Hats off to Bob Steele (and the Skunks) for their never-ending help to all teams, big or small, new or old. Many deserving individuals in both Cascade and Olympic... tough choice for the judges!

Aviation HS: time for a bigger trophy case!

Congrats also to Donna Lew (FRC488) for recognition of her tireless efforts (Outstanding Volunteer of the Year shared award w/Bob Steele).

Re: pic: Seattle Cascade tubes.
 

The Olympic tubes were similar, but the worst that I saw was a triangle on Cascade where it really had to be forced through the slot. I only caught 2 matches though as I was over there to see 1 of our minibots get successfully deployed by MRT 3216.

Re: pic: Seattle Cascade tubes.
 

Thanks go to all! I agree with all of you whom have said that our coach's WFFA was long overdue...

What an amazing weekend and we get to do it all again in three more days!

Re: pic: Seattle Cascade tubes.
 

Ideally robots would be designed to handle almost any level of tube inflation without much difficulty. I know 1983, 488, 360, and other such teams who grabbed the inside of the tubes were fine. 1510's claw was modified a little bit, but we got it working by midday Friday and it could handle any tube.

Re: pic: Seattle Cascade tubes.
 

Even our whisker had some trouble with the overinflated tubes. In our lab, tubes displayed a sort of "arch" along their length, leaving a gap between the tube and floor at the center of each edge of a triangle or square. The overinflated tubes do not have this gap and it made picking up from the floor challenging.

Re: pic: Seattle Cascade tubes.
 

My brother and a friend of ours inflated the first 60 or so tubes for the Olympic field and they said they pumped it up till it looked right and then they popped the u shaped stencil thing on the tube, making sure both sides were touched. They let off a little air if the tubes were compressed, but they also said they didn't have to do that. They said the way it was explained to them it was only illegal if it was too small to touch both sides, not if it was really large.

Re: pic: Seattle Cascade tubes.
 

Yeah being the HP for my team during finals I can attest to that.
The triangles were literally shoved through the slot on my part, which was not what any one on my team wouldve expected. More specific specs wouldve been nice.