Re: 2012 Suffield Shakedown Scrimmage
 

Webcast crashed.

Re: 2012 Suffield Shakedown Scrimmage
 

Webcast is back

Re: 2012 Suffield Shakedown Scrimmage
 

A few observations just from watching the webcast. Hybrid and Balancing seem to determines most of the matches. This will probably be less and less the case as the season goes on though as more points will be scored in teleop. It also seems like up close scoring is the way to go early on. This is probably because there is not much defense being played so there is no need to shoot from the key and people haven't got their tracking working. It does seem as someone said earlier that a lot of balls end up under the ramps which prevent people from balancing. one last thing I noticed was that I think we will see quite a few robots end up on their back trying to double balance because the robot on the bridge tips it while the other robot is half on and the bridge tips the robot that's half on. It should be interesting to see how the game develops!

Re: 2012 Suffield Shakedown Scrimmage
 

Also noticed there were way more catapult like shooters then I would've expected.

Re: 2012 Suffield Shakedown Scrimmage
 

Just added a 2012 Initial Match Observation thread here. Check it out here!

Re: 2012 Suffield Shakedown Scrimmage
 

Congratulations to Aces High, 176, The Whos'cteks, 716, and 2168, The Aluminum Falcons, on their win.

Many great teams and unique designs

Team 23 returns after a >10 year absence. Their design is unique and enviable. Pics later.

Here are some interesting observations:

Scoring balls matters, so hybrid matters.

In the endgame there were two robots on each bridge without much trouble, so those scores cancel.
The amount of time that they spend balancing and then waiting can be a tradeoff while others score. 230 could score from the ramp, but didn't.

Balls get stuck under the ramp, and the drivers can't see it as they try to trip the bridge. FIRST will probably fix this, but it could still become a defensive strategy to prevent balancing at the end, without physically touching the bridge.

Catapults work. There were two, Buzz, Team 175, and Team 558 RoboSquad. They take ball wear and variability out of the shooter equation, but usually require specific placement of the robot, which can be defended.

The barrier was not a problem. Balls under robots were.
I am thinking of suggesting the addition of some brushes under the bumpers to keep balls from getting under the robot. (without keeping them there!)

Bobcats were there and will probably be on Einstein again. :rolleyes:
They have a unique design in their ball acquisition device that, while not great at the scrimmage, will greatly reduce their scoring cycle time if they can make it work.

Team 23 was the only team to use the Kinect system. They used it to tip the coopertition bridge for balls in hybrid.

I will post some videos shortly, including:
The season's first coopertition score.
Team 23's Cool Vacuum Cannon.
Buzz's Catapult.
Some shooters.

This is going to be a very interesting game this year, it may rank pretty high among favorites.

Re: 2012 Suffield Shakedown Scrimmage
 

Here are some videos from the Suffield Shakedown.

Here is the FIRST coopertition qualification points scored of the season:
http://youtu.be/HBwPsmAPN5M

This is the Team 23 Robot with a cool shooter cannon:
http://youtu.be/i1VVEy0sNow

This a the first of the finals matches that shows some good shooting and both bridges balanced with two robots each:
http://youtu.be/zbmAYkPZJHI

Re: 2012 Suffield Shakedown Scrimmage
 

Great day at the Suffield Shakedown!

Thank you 176 Aces High for hosting this event and to 230 Gaelhawks for the webcast.

Congrats to 176, 716, and 2168 on their win.

About the game:

1) Balls getting lodged under the ramp appears to be a problem. :eek:

2) Not too much defense (yet) or crossing over. Didn't see any team go for the feeder station.

3) Balancing two will be a breeze with just a little more practice. Three is where the fun begins.

4) Getting the balls on the coopertition ramp should be in autonomous.

5) Autonomous and balancing are key.

Re: 2012 Suffield Shakedown Scrimmage
 

Team 23's "cannon" is also a vacuum and a bridge tipper, bi-directional. They were trying kinect control but as a stopgap for autonomous since they have shortage of programming people. I chatted with their videographer in the stands.

Re: 2012 Suffield Shakedown Scrimmage
 

Wooh feeling the Team 23 love. But yes Kinect control was actually written less than 12 hours before the scrimmage since our programming team basically learned how to code in the last 6 weeks.

But the scrimmage was great. as a driver, i found this has helped fore practice more than anything else.

Re: 2012 Suffield Shakedown Scrimmage
 

Thank you team 176 for this great event. you did a great job organizing it.

One thing that surprised us very much was the force that was needed to pull down the bridge. The bridge that we made did not need nearly as much force, so unfortunetly the minipulator did not work. but other then that the game went really well, I feel it has the potential to be a high scoring games as during the eliminations there were scores into the 30. balancing was good never tried to go three as seems very difficult.

thanks again 176 and 2168 for a great time

Re: 2012 Suffield Shakedown Scrimmage
 

G14 prevents this.

Re: 2012 Suffield Shakedown Scrimmage
 

Best day of robotics ever!

Whos-C's, Aces, you are great! Hope to meet again on the same side of the bump!

Re: 2012 Suffield Shakedown Scrimmage
 

What were you using to manipulate the bridge? I was wondering how differently the actual bridges acted compared to many that teams built.

Did you notice how this happened? Were they thrown under there by the human players or what? I noticed a few human players trying to bounce balls to their offensive halves but saw few actually succeed. Also didn't see many balls thrown.

Re: 2012 Suffield Shakedown Scrimmage
 

OK, here's my take on the Suffield Scrimmage. @ RufflesRidge; G14 really didn't apply here. They weren't put there on purpose. As robots attempted to tip the bridge to acquire the balls, they rolled in between the bot & the bridge as they backed up to retrieve them, bouncing back underneath. FIRST is aware of the balls getting stuck underneath. Balls getting stuck underneath was unintended. The drivers were unable to see what was happening. I'm sure there were some who thought things didn't go perfectly. Well, this IS a shakedown is it not?. FIRST discovered some difficulties & will be addressing them. Oh, and on team 23, I thought that was a grand design. A little tweaking, more practice & they will be a serious contender.