Autonomous Period

[Jnadke]

Originally posted by Ian Mathew
I don't like the idea of having the bots run around for 15 seconds without anything to keep them from ramming eachother. I think FIRST decided to make scoring for fans easier, but actually forming a strategy for it harder than anything.

That's why the disable button was created. If you're concerned about what your robot's gonna do, hit the button. You can re-enable it when the human-controlled match starts.

If anything, just program your robot to go forward (or backward) at the start of the match. Then hit the button when you're at the spot where you want to start.

[AJ Quick]

Well just remember, there is no where in the rules where it says your robot must do something in the autonomous period. So anyone that is afriad for their bots sake, or for injury from a poorly coded automater... can just sit tight for 15 seconds.

[Ian W.]

everyone is complaining. i think this is great! i finally have something to do as one of the main programmers. sure, it'll be hard, but hey, i plan to have at least 2, maybe more mini programs. if you guys don't want to do anything for the first 15 seconds, fine by me. more time for my robot to work with .

[Alexander McGee]

well, it can and will be done. we had a feeling that this would happen, so we practiced with it a bit. it will alll work eventually.

[Keith Chester]

Originally posted by Spikey
One correction, only the 15 seconds are apart of the actual 2 minutes of the game. The other 10 seconds for the human players are seperate from the game time.

I liked the direct drive robot in the demo All that crashing was funny.

I don't think anyone will go it on all AI for the game but who knows.

I believe I read in the manual otherwise...

15 seconds of autonomy, and then 1 minute 45 seconds of Human controlled robots...

Anyone know if there will be a stop between the human controlled and autonomy, or will it just turn on the human controlled with no stopping transition?

[BandChick]

Originally posted by Replic
Anyone know if there will be a stop between the human controlled and autonomy, or will it just turn on the human controlled with no stopping transition?

there isn't supposed to be a stop between, just after 15 seconds, the human control should be active.

[Matt Attallah]

yea, and thoes 15 secs. are comming off of our 2:00 time for the match...

I'm glad that the other 10 isn't...

[Thorin]

The matches will be won and lost by the first 15 seconds, it's easy to see.

[Winged Globe]

Originally posted by Thorin
The matches will be won and lost by the first 15 seconds, it's easy to see.

Well, 1:45 is a very long time for someone who got ahead in the 15 seconds to run into major problems or be terribly dumb. But if planned well, yes, the 15 seconds will be a major decision maker. Hence the need to plan and code .

[Thorin]

Yes, but look at it this way, those 15 seconds are going to determine who gets the wall...

Now, unless your robot has a crazy massive chucking rate, or some crazy way to plow 5+ at a time, then it is quite critical.

[Winged Globe]

Exactly. Perhaps they'll steal your human-built stack, too. And since you took the wall, their stack still stands... it would also be in your interest, i think, not to shut your opponent out. Remember, own score+2(opponent's). And if it's not a shut out, there's always a chance a good bin stealer could gain points. And remember, the hill is 50 possible points. The automation is important, but nothing is guaranteed until the power is off

(Or maybe someone will have a few coasting bots or unstable stacks, so a few seconds after the power is off...)

[EStokely]

For the record, I was at the Seattle kick off and I think most teams were excited by the idea of actually having a robot on the field for 15 seconds, not just a big RC car.
Of course we are home to the SRS (also well represented in the teams) (SRS -> Seattle Robotics Society)

I think the game will be won in that first 15 seconds. Linefollowing can be done on a Lego Brick. IR sensing also (remember the Lego Segway??)

I just hope we have Manual control code space left after we try and have 12 different auto programs (OK maybe just 8)

This is gonna be a great year. But so far it isn't obvious what the exact plan is gonna be...

Have fun, its started!!

[Cory]

has anyone noticed how choppy those lego line readers are? Ive watched them, and I saw about three inch jumps from either side of the line. I dont know if this is an issue with our sensors as I know nothing about them. Did anyone think of placing multiple bins along the lip on the ramp. When robots started going towards the ramp in autonomous mode, more likely than not they would hit these, and they could get caught on the lip, making it impossibleto move by. If nothing else, I'd imagine this would really confuse the bot.


Cory

[generalbrando]

The lego line readers are only choppy depending on how you program them. It will be a challenge for line followers in this game as well to make sure that their robot is efficient and smooth with their movement. For you code junkies, think about how you might use the code to make a quick and smooth turn onto the ramp. I bet you'd want to use some sort of degredation of motor speed rather than just shutting them off for instants which is what the lego bots do if they aren't programmed correctly.

And for the record - this whole autonomous thing is the greatest. I think it's going to add a lot of depth, strategy, excitement and of course luck. Not only that, but it makes the whole thing just a little more magical and awe inspiring for those young spectators we're trying to draw in.

[ragelax]

everyone seems to be fearing this period of autonomous operation. I see this as a challenge. First has asked us to make our robots a little smarter than ever before, and i think that even with the problems at kick off, some teams will find ways to use this short period of unmanned operation to their advantage. A team doesnt have to have a perfect robot, tons of money, or fancy designs to complete this part of the game. All they need is some vision, and a little imagination, and i think that they could take this a long way. Good luck to all the teams out there who are accepting the challenge and are going to attempt to make their robot do more than run around crashing into things blindly during the first 15 seconds of play.