[GeeTwo]

For those who are interested in our progress (most likely people on 3946, but you never know):

The two teams have analyzed the game, determined priorities, and described (but not clearly drawn or otherwise rendered) their designs, and begun prototyping (and possibly building).

The "Nameless" team (including my son Perry) has placed a priority on scoring at least one, and preferably both "hand goals" during autonomous. They have "bought" a third gearbox, CIM, and omni wheel from team inventory (am-2598, am-0647, am-0255, am-3047, for $130 at AndyMark, or $65 as it's all in team stock and therefore half price). They plan a kiwi drive, and a rather complex pickup/placement which involves sweeping balls into a length of PVC pipe located outside the frame perimeter, locking them in with a couple of servos, and sweeping them out later with a (probably different) set of wheels, either into the hand goals or the tote. This pipe will be extended outside the frame perimeter and lifted with pneumatics. As I believe their pipe is only capable of holding three or four balls, my thought is that they will not be able to score a lot of balls in the tote in three minutes; they're going for quality at the expense of quantity. I hope they get that autonomous working, both for their own purposes, and because that knowledge will then belong to 3946. Nameless will sport red bumpers, decorations TBD.

The "Jazzy Hippos" (including my daughter Veronica) is planning a simple four-wheel tank drive (currently all KoP rubber wheels, but designing to swap to omnis on two corners if needed). Their manipulator is also very simple, but perhaps diabolically inspired. They intend to have a 10" gap in the front bumper (the widest allowed by the rules, given an 18" frame perimeter and 4" bumper setbacks from the corners) and make an 8" wide, rather tall (shooting for 30+ inches high to score hand goals) conveyor belt of velcro hooks, located at the frame perimeter. As the balls are essentially the same thickness as the bumper, they expect to be able to pick up balls against the wall as well as on the field (the need to compress the bumpers may make high traction a necessity). To score balls in either the hand goals or the tote, they will pull right up to the goal, reverse the belt, and "scrape" the ball off on the edge of the goal. (The actual language they used to describe the action isn't quite as delicate, and explains why little balls of hardened mucus can be found on school desks.) The Jazzy Hippos aren't planning much in autonomous, possibly a bit of ball pickup but probably no scoring. On the flip side, given their wide, tall belt, they will have to be careful not to control more than 12 balls at a time, and will be able to carry and score a bunch of tote balls with each trip. So far, velcro one-wrap strips are all they have "bought" with their $200 allowance (about $30 so far, if I can find the 1.5" x 30' strips at either Slidell Home Depot). JH will carry blue bumpers, decorations TBD.

I am a bit disappointed in the lack of detailed drawings for both groups, though from speaking with the lead builders, I believe they have a solid concept in mind as to what they are building. I am very definitely glad to see two distinct approaches to the game. I hope that both teams execute (roughly equally) well and that the difference comes down to strategy. Unfortunately, the Jazzy Hippos have had a significantly smaller attendance the last few weeks than have "Nameless". We shall see what we shall see, and we shall learn what we shall learn.