Re: Successful "Y" in autonomous
 

The "Y" is probably only useful for showing off, although we're prepared to use it in the case where we get 3 robots with autonomous modes. It looks awesome with mecanum wheels--check it out: http://pobots.com/index.php?option=c...rack&Itemid=96.

Re: Successful "Y" in autonomous
 

Our team did it in both New York and Hawaii.
In the eliminations in Hawaii, both 359 and 368 did it on the same set of pegs which was really awesome to see. We stopped after a while since it was hard to see, depending on which driver station we were assigned to.

IMO, an alliance not able to score as quickly as the other should consider this when picking alliance partners. It would allow for less logos on the rack to keep up with a better scoring opposing alliance. With tube starvation tactics, that might end up working well against your opponent.

Re: Successful "Y" in autonomous
 

We could do it on a practice robot, and it was more reliable than the straight code.

Then, we got to competition.

Re: Successful "Y" in autonomous
 

Sparks 2751 did the Y autonomous. very successful with it too. their mecanum drive helped.

Re: Successful "Y" in autonomous
 

How are you all having so much success with the line/photo/what-ever-you-call-them sensors. we could never get them to give us consistent readings in our shop so we didn't even want to try it at the regional. Plus I have heard some problems with dirty tape?

Re: Successful "Y" in autonomous
 

Like I said earlier, it was hard. We found the key being setting the sensitivity of the sensors when we got to the competition. We went to the practice field and watched the lights on the sensors while moving the robot around above the tape (including the nice black tape that is on the field). Once we did that our code that we had working at home seemed to work pretty well, but there was still some adjusting to the straight line and cornering speed for us. We use a meccanum drive also, but don't drive straight with a gyro. Instead we actually corner the robot.

You can see it in action at 2:01 to 2:11 in this video.
http://www.youtube.com/user/Broncobo.../6/e1xuGX7l4j8

Message me if you want more information.

Re: Successful "Y" in autonomous
 

I am very proud to now add Team 230 to the list of successful scoring on the center "forked" line in autonomous. :D I didn't want to jinx it by posting that we could do it before it worked at a competition. We successfully scored several times using this mode at the CT Regional. In fact we were part of the first allliance at that regional (with 383 and 69) to score 3 ubertubes. The only time we missed would have scored but our alliance partner was in the way and although we were pushing them out, time ran out before they were moved enough.

I also want to interject that using the side-slide of the mecanum wheels really improves the reliability of this mode since alignment becomes a non-issue. It is a beautiful thing to watch.

I completely disagree. It is going to be even more important at Championships. Since many of the teams there will have a reliable straight line autonomous, those that can score reliably on the forked line or those that can score 2 will be in demand during alliance selection. Of course, as we all know, reliability is always paramount.

Re: Successful "Y" in autonomous
 

We did it several times at the CT Regional. In fact, we were 100% accurate in autonomous mode, never failing to place an ubertube. Our tube hanging in teleoperated was pretty good too; I think only once did we fail to make a logo on the top row, and that was when we were the only offensive threat on our alliance, so our opponents wisely double teamed us. Now, when we got that minibot working for Battlecry . . . watch out!!

Re: Successful "Y" in autonomous
 

I claim that 987, The High Rollers, have the most successful "Y" auto since it hangs 2 tubes. It starts at the Y, uses line trackers to turn at the angle, hangs the first tube. Then it backs up at the same angle grabs partner's tube that is centered on the straight line, and use the straight line to hang the 2nd tube. You can see this unique auto in any of 987's archived Las Vegas matches.

Re: Successful "Y" in autonomous
 

1126 has successful Y capabilities, we just used straight more often (at FLR).

Re: Successful "Y" in autonomous
 

Thanks Lucas! We love the line sensors this year :-) Our 'Y' is now better than our straight line auto which needs some tweaking but probably won't get used again! We even use another type of line sensor for the limit switches in our arm: http://www.pololu.com/catalog/product/958

Re: Successful "Y" in autonomous
 

After week #1 and seeing how many teams scored from straight on at one rack or the other, we decided to focus on scoring from the middle starting pos. to the outer top right (square from the field perspective) and became proficient scoring from here in auton. at Niles. Had a couple nice matches with 3 top row uber-alliances!

Re: Successful "Y" in autonomous
 

624 inadvertantly did the "Y" during one of our first Thursday matches. The other two bots on our alliance already went onto the field, taking the straight-line positions, and were back at their driver's stations when we went to put our out bot. Afraid that our bot was going to end up hitting the wall, we were shocking/amazed/freaked out when the line tracking ended up leading "CRyptosaur" along the bifurcating reflective tape to follow the "Y". Though I can't seem to remember if we actually successfully hung a tube during that match... For some reason I'm thinking not. ;)

From that point forward, we only used the side starting positions.

Re: Successful "Y" in autonomous
 

I found that they were simple to use and quite reliable. Our auton worked 100% at Connecticut with the exception of a close call that came about from some accidental contact from a neighboring robot though the tube was still on the peg. We have working Y code, however a broken light sensor led to incomplete tests and the ability to not run it reliably. We haven't used it at a competition, but it worked in practice fairly reliably (9/10 times-ish).

Re: Successful "Y" in autonomous
 

Your absolutely right! We are able to hit it very consistently now. We hung 2 two tubes in every eliminations match. We missed only 3 times during the regional due to unfortunate circumstances.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-kYSZ...el_video_title14.7 seconds.

I hope that team 987 gets a chance to team up with 365 this year in St. Louis, we loved playing with you guys in 2008! I have not had a chance to see your bot yet, but I'm sure it's sweet!

Good luck in Philly!

-Keaton