Quote:
Originally Posted by mcmouse
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I had the idea to use the camera with the preprogrammed tracking code to as a carrier forthe IR sensor. then give the ROBOCoach a green light at his location. the camera [locks] on to the light, no matter were the robot goes....
what are your thoughts, esp. about a big green light for the Robocoach?
and if the 2007 camera would be allowed in 2008?
or any other ideas to use the IR sensor while the robot is driving and being [pushed] arround?
The CatAttack 451 - Jens
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We were kicking this same idea around.
I worried that this might be considered sending more than 4 discrete pieces of information from the RoboCoach to the Robot, but frankly, I think the idea is so cool that it would be worth getting DSQd just to see it work! I promise that if you call me as a witness at your trial, I will testify that wearing hats with big green lights is all the rage among teenagers these days, and certainly can't be construed as trying to influence a robot.
I am not an authority on it, but it seems to me the Robot rules preclude use of the CMU camera as shipped in previous KOP because it is a custom made part for the FIRST competition.
For example, here is a piece of <R36>
The item must not be a part custom made for the FIRST competition and provided in the
Kit Of Parts for a previous FIRST Robotics Competition (e.g. 2006 FRC transmissions,
custom-made motor couplers, custom sensor strips, 2006 IFI CMUcam II modules, etc.
are not permitted)
And I agree with both sides of the comments here: it was really hard to get the CMUCam to stop looking at the MountainDew signs and stage lights, but now that we've figured that out, we wish it was integral to the competition again this year. And the other side I agree with is that now that we've figured it out, it is time to remove it and put some other stress on our brains. (but I really hope it comes back again in the future).
I think the right answer is to have something you could do if you can get the camera working, but also have some useful things you can do even if you can't.
For this year's game I think a good twist would have been to allow the camera, but not have the green light. That will present a whole new set of calibration issues (similar to the Tetra challenge) if you want to use it to figure out which ball to knock off, or whatever.
I don't see any preclusion against using cameras this year, it seems you just aren't allowed to use the one all the veteran teams already have. I can understand that as a way to prevent Rookie disadvantage, but hey, we Vet teams are broke too. :-(
[EDIT: I read on some other threads that they think just the 2006 camera is explicitly disallowed, and the 2007 camera is OK because you can buy it COTS:
http://www.ifirobotics.com/camera.shtml - - again: only imho]