[Bendito]

Our basic plan for the Rescue Beacon involves starting in a consistent position and using encoders and gyros to traverse the field. Then, a color sensor reads the beacon to decide which beacon pressing flipper (we call them "Color Wackers") to use. If the encoders do not provide reliable enough positioning, we may implement line following technology to do last minute realignment with the beacon based off of the white line. We already have color sensor on the bottom of the robot to detect tape colors to determine which way to turn (as the red and blue sides require different programs, automatic detection is one less thing for drivers to forget). The color sensor should work as a line follower as well.

Also fun would be tracking the center line with a color line follower, using trigonometry to calculate distance left to traverse in the hypotenuse before making the turn to beacon. The variable would be the distance taken (measured with encoder) taken to get to the middle. While overall accuracy isn't necessarily improved when compared to a consistent start position, it allows more variety as to where the robot starts. Of course, care must be taken to not cross the center boundary in the first 10 seconds, requiring clever sensor placement.

We are definitely going to the Allendale competition, and possibly the Freeland one.