Team 254: World's Fastest Climb Teaser

[Kellen Hill]

Going back to my earlier post, are you using anything to aid in centering the robot or just eyeballing it? Looks like you don't leave yourselves much room for error with how tight of a fit your hooks are between the top gussets.

Nonetheless, an incredible mechanism.

[Walter Deitzler]

Originally Posted by Samwaldo

Do it in less time than Team 1114 DURING competition. Then you will truly beat them for fastest climb.

Other than that, im very impressed. Is this automated or human done? if automated do you trust that?

Climbing that fast, I would not trust a human doing that, because the reaction time needed on those swings would be INSANE. I am betting software controls this, so 6.4 seconds would happen every time.

[Mark Sheridan]

wow nicely done.

[Tom Bottiglieri]

Originally Posted by Jared341

Awe inspiring work as always.

I am most interested in learning about how the climb is software aided. Specifically I am wondering about how you ensure you line up correctly with the 30" bar to ensure you don't "run out of real estate" by 90", and what sensors/control techniques are used to activate the arm retraction at the correct instant. I am guessing a gyro in the pitch axis, along with vision aiding for horizontal alignment.

Also, does the software ensure the arm doesn't extend during the portion of the swing that would angle the arm outside of the pyramid?

Yup, a pitch gyro is the main sensor. We use it to see when we lift off the ground as well as where we are in the swing. We use the position and rate to predict where the arms will end up and either send them to the top or to a safe position right below the bar. The arms themselves are just controlled with an encoder as feedback.

[Akash Rastogi]

It's okay I guess.

[MrForbes]

Yep, that's how to climb.

Well done

[SM987]

I'd say I was surprised if this level of excellence wasn't the norm for you guys. Can't wait to see it in action in St. Louis. Best of luck at SVR, though it doesn't seem like you'll need it. Too bad it's the same weekend as Vegas.

[gobrewcrew95]

First off, very impressive. It was just WOW.

Second, it seems as if you tend to get a massive amount of swing once you reach the top. I suggest you try to implement a mechanism that can swing over the front bumpers or from the bottom of your robot to stop/catch yourself on the 2nd rung during your back swing once you're hanging from the 3rd rung. It would just have to be sturdy enough to withstand the force of the robot swinging as well as being fast and easy to deploy/retract. That would help keep you from violating the "5 seconds after the match" rule. Just an idea that popped into my head.

[Kusha]

This is the teams reaction. This describes my feelings 100%.
Wow.

[s_forbes]

Neat! Was catching the third bar before swinging something that was planned, or a fortunate coincidence? Seems like the extending hooks just barely make it up in time to catch it. I'll definitely be taking a closer look in St. Louis, I want to see all the clever mechanisms hidden inside! (nice big pictures of your magic gearboxes would work too. )

[Derek Bessette]

That's "Hella Fast"!

[Mark Sheridan]

Just realized that their robot is a good mascot for their school because 254's high school is Bellermine and their mascot is a bell. They should totally add a bell to that robot so it rings from the swinging after they finish the 30 point climb.

[MooreteP]

Is it just me, or is this one of the most annoying posts ever?

[AdamHeard]

Originally Posted by MooreteP

Is it just me, or is this one of the most annoying posts ever?

Please clarify.

[Mk.32]

Originally Posted by AdamHeard

Please clarify.

I think he meant it as that 254 just demonstrated the most awesome solution to a problem that no one else has came up with...