Sensors Not Required: FRC Design "Sans Feedback"

[stuart2054]

Let strategy, your goals and the mechanical design guide your use of sensors. Stay true to the KISS principal. In 2011 we used the AB photo eyes for autonomous to follow the tape and an ultrasonic prosimity sensor to give us distance to the wall to know when to hang the tube. Last year we used vision to set the shooter speed and indicate the aim was centered by turning on a light ring on the back side of the robot. The driver actually postioned the shot manually. This year we don't have much for sensors but some limit switches.

If sensors can give us a significant advantage, we use them. If we don't think they will add much we leave them out as they can be just another thing to go wrong in a match.