Team 935 autonomous testing

[SenorZ]

What about "lit" goal detection? We haven't test (or considered) auto yet, but we're most likely going to have a "wait to shoot" feature to get extra points if our goal isn't lit.

[wireties]

Very nice - simple, repeatable, reliable! Do you use a sonar to measure the distance from the wall?

[JohnSchneider]

Good luck this season guys!

[railerobotics]

Originally Posted by SenorZ

What about "lit" goal detection? We haven't test (or considered) auto yet, but we're most likely going to have a "wait to shoot" feature to get extra points if our goal isn't lit.

We decided the extra 5 points we would get was not worth (most likely) not getting 2 shots off. It was much simpler to just time the program to be sure to get the goal when it is hot at least once. The first shot goes in during the first 3 seconds and the second at 9 seconds. So we will get the hot goal at least once.

[railerobotics]

Originally Posted by wireties

Very nice - simple, repeatable, reliable! Do you use a sonar to measure the distance from the wall?

Nope it is all just dead reckoning. Battery voltage and power levels were initially a concern, but we will have a charged battery on the board each time and even when the voltage did drop the results were not effected negatively.

[Tom Bottiglieri]

Originally Posted by railerobotics

Nope it is all just dead reckoning. Battery voltage and power levels were initially a concern, but we will have a charged battery on the board each time and even when the voltage did drop the results were not effected negatively.

Dead reckoning using time as the only feedback?

[railerobotics]

Originally Posted by Tom Bottiglieri

Dead reckoning using time as the only feedback?

Yup. The plan is to put encoders on eventually, but we could not make the brackets this week and we wanted to test it and get it to work.

[JB987]

Great job guys. Have you considered how much air the multiple cylinders you are using will require and how frequently your compressor will likely need to run if you shoot x number of times per match? Looks like you might need more than 4 accumulators for sure.

[waialua359]

I predict we will see a lot of these type of robots with 2 ball autons with the exception of those that will flip the ball over their head shooters, opposite intake collectors.

[railerobotics]

Originally Posted by JB987

Great job guys. Have you considered how much air the multiple cylinders you are using will require and how frequently your compressor will likely need to run if you shoot x number of times per match? Looks like you might need more than 4 accumulators for sure.

We actually have 7 tucked away on there. we can get about 10 consecutive cycles with no recharge time before we need to stop and wait.

[Iaquinto.Joe]

Have you tested picking up both balls at the start? Leave the first ball ready to fire and holding the second ball in your intake? This could cut several seconds off your time and increase reliability.

[railerobotics]

Originally Posted by Iaquinto.Joe

Have you tested picking up both balls at the start? Leave the first ball ready to fire and holding the second ball in your intake? This could cut several seconds off your time and increase reliability.

If we can manage to get ahold of a second ball before the end of build season, this would be a great thing to test. Unfortunately, the way our pickup and firing system is designed, having a second ball in the pickup would most likely affect the shot of the first ball.

I was originally unsure if this is legal, but after looking around a bit I found this in the Q&A section:

Q. During the autonomous period, are teams allowed to possess two balls at the same time? Say if one alliance partner is in the goalie zone and their ball remains in white zone (compliant with G5) and we start with a ball in possession, are we allowed to possess/herd that second ball after the start?
A. There are no Rules prohibiting this. However, per G5 the ROBOT may only be preloaded with (i.e. touching) one (1) BALL prior to the MATCH starting.

So it seems this is legal, and is definitely worth looking at. Thanks for the feedback!

[waialua359]

Originally Posted by railerobotics

If we can manage to get ahold of a second ball before the end of build season, this would be a great thing to test. Unfortunately, the way our pickup and firing system is designed, having a second ball in the pickup would most likely affect the shot of the first ball.

I was originally unsure if this is legal, but after looking around a bit I found this in the Q&A section:

So it seems this is legal, and is definitely worth looking at. Thanks for the feedback!

With that being said and your design, if you're able to get two at the same time, why not 3 afterwards?

[Team 2016]

Very nice! I especially like you'r pick up/catching device.

[dradel]

How many cylinders are you guys using to launch the ball? Hard to tell but it looks like 4