Yellow Totes

[frcteam4450]

Is there anything in the Game Manual about whether we are allowed to start touching the yellow totes in autonomous? If so, would someone tell me where it is?
Thanks,
Olympia Robotics Federation

[xXhunter47Xx]

Section 3.1.4 in Rulebook, blue box, January 30th Update.

DRIVE TEAMS may not move, nor preload TOTES (regardless of color), RECYCLING CONTAINERS, or LITTER onto their ROBOT prior to the start of the MATCH per G13. There are no rules that prohibit a ROBOT from being in contact with TOTES or RECYCLING CONTAINERS at the start of the MATCH, as long as those items were not moved from their STAGING ZONE as described in the paragraph above.

[frcteam4450]

Thank you Sir. Have a nice day.
Olympia Robotics Federation

[xXhunter47Xx]

Welcome.

[petercooperjr]

Be sure to read from the Q&A: Q58, Q94, Q162, and Q283.

You may touch the totes as long as you aren't supported by them in any way.

[2130driven]

what would be a good strategy when using the yellow totes in autonomous mode? any suggestions?

[rich2202]

Originally Posted by 2130driven

what would be a good strategy when using the yellow totes in autonomous mode? any suggestions?

1) Take the tote w/ the RC to the autozone.
2) Take the RC to the autozone, and leave the tote for another team that can stack them.
3) push the tote to the autozone.
4) Be the team that can stack and carry the totes to the autozone.

[frcteam4450]

Yes, it is a good strategy to mess with the yellow totes. However, our team has figured out that it is more trouble then it is worth to stack totes autonomously because we will not reliably know where the other totes are, and sensors can be rather inaccurate.
Hope this helps,
Olympia Robotics Federation

[Caleb Sykes]

Originally Posted by frcteam4450

and sensors can be rather inaccurate.

That is a rather broad generalization.

[JamesBrown]

Originally Posted by frcteam4450

Yes, it is a good strategy to mess with the yellow totes. However, our team has figured out that it is more trouble then it is worth to stack totes autonomously because we will not reliably know where the other totes are, and sensors can be rather inaccurate.
Hope this helps,
Olympia Robotics Federation

I would challenge both of those points. You know where the totes are withing a few inches. and a robot could be mechanically designed to pick up a tote as long as you are reasonably close to it.

Their are plenty of options for sensors that can locate the totes. It just takes some thinking about how to apply the information you collect.

[rich2202]

If the other teams can clear the RC's, it simplifies the problem dramatically. Too bad they didn't put vision targets on the short sides of the tote.

[Whippet]

Originally Posted by rich2202

Too bad they didn't put vision targets on the short sides of the tote.

The FIRST Logos on the sides of the totes work pretty well as vision targets from what I've seen.

[notmattlythgoe]

Originally Posted by Whippet

The FIRST Logos on the sides of the totes work pretty well as vision targets from what I've seen.

The yellow of the tote works as a pretty good tracking target too. As long as the walls of the auditorium that you practice in aren't also yellow >.<