Autonomy: How Did You Guys Do It?

[Jetweb]

We used the camera 100%. I have a feeling previous years vision targets have given the camera a bad name. The retro-reflective tape used this year is simply awesome to track and is the only target in my history that is not affected by the stage lighting used at the competitions. I hope that stuff is around for a long time to come.

[nighterfighter]

Originally Posted by Jetweb

The retro-reflective tape used this year is simply awesome to track and is the only target in my history that is not affected by the stage lighting used at the competitions. I hope that stuff is around for a long time to come.

Yup. Our autonomous works in normal lighting, pitch black, or intense lights. We love that stuff.

[theNerd]

Originally Posted by Jetweb

We used the camera 100%

Wow! I've never done this before! I attempted to "track" still objects in various still pictures - a ball, a stick, a box - all color and at different lightings but I never was able to do this successfully. My main question is not how to apply an hsl threshold or clean up the photo after a threshold, but what to do with all that data I get using the stat VI's and such - I'm using labview. What does it all mean? and what on earth am i supposed to do with it to make my program know that it's looking at the target? thanks

[aaronweiss74]

We used light sensors for line tracking, encoders for auto-correction, and an encoder on the arm for height determination. It's never failed. It's also kind of showy since instead of placing the tube it throws it down onto the peg.

[RoBoTiCxLiNk]

I used a gyro on the base to keep it straight, an encoder for distance, and a second gyro to determine arm angle. I'm hoping to rig up another encoder so as to have two straight-correcting sensors and average the two corrections, or use one as a safety net in case one malfunctions.