FRC Blog - Behind the Scenes at IRI

[cgmv123]

http://www.usfirst.org/roboticsprogr...-SCENES-AT-IRI

Today's blog comes from Kevin O'Connor, FRC Robotics Engineer.

As some of the best 2015 robots gathered in Indianapolis to create some incredible walls of totes and containers at the Indiana Robotics Invitational, I and a few other members of the FRC staff were behind the scenes working to gather information to help prepare for the 2016 season. FRC Kit of Parts Engineer Jonathan Bryant and FRC Team Advocate Jamee Luce were talking to teams to collect feedback about their experience with the Kit of Parts and more. We recognize that the type of team attending IRI is very specific and that even if all 67 teams participated, we’d have barely more than 2% of the 2015 FRC teams represented. These details will be taken into account when evaluating the feedback, and this will certainly not be the only opportunity teams have to provide feedback (see this blog for more info about the FRC Team Advocate and how to provide feedback). However, when you need to take a trip to AndyMark anyway, dropping by the largest offseason event in FIRST to talk to teams makes sense.

I was at IRI to do some testing of a potential new robot radio for 2016. Some of you may have noticed that finding a new-in-box D-Link DAP-1522 Rev. B is pretty much impossible and surmised that we will be using a different radio in 2016, and you are correct. The DAP-1522 Rev B has been discontinued and we will be using a different robot radio in 2016. With the assistance, and blessing, of the IRI Planning Committee and volunteers, we were able to get some valuable match testing of a potential candidate for the new radio. While things went fairly well, and certainly had no negative impact on teams or matches, we did see some things we need to investigate further before making a final decision. Many thanks to the IRI Planning Committee, IRI volunteers (especially FTA Jerry Budd), and the 11 teams who ran the radio for some or all of the event (20, 33, 330, 469, 1024, 1114, 2468, 2614, 2826, 3015, and 5188).

Lastly, I was observing the setup of the webcast and collecting feedback from the individuals who helped run the Indiana FIRST webcasts this season. FIRST worked with Indiana FIRST this season to pilot a web streaming solution that was used to broadcast all Indiana FIRST events, including IRI, and collecting feedback on that experience is important as we evaluate the effectiveness of the pilot. We will be compiling the results of that pilot and evaluating alternatives as we continue to move towards a way to get better access to real-time and archived video of all FRC events.

The radio in the picture appears to be a Open-Mesh OM5P-AN (possibly an OM2P-HS).

[connor.worley]

Originally Posted by cgmv123

http://www.usfirst.org/roboticsprogr...-SCENES-AT-IRI



The radio in the picture appears to be a Open-Mesh OM5P-AN (possibly an OM2P-HS).

Nice, PoE.

[marshall]

Originally Posted by connor.worley

Nice, PoE.

They have a barrel jack and I'm guessing that is what teams will be using. They do look like nice APs though.

[PayneTrain]

Originally Posted by marshall

They have a barrel jack and I'm guessing that is what teams will be using. They do look like nice APs though.

I've heard it's the same barrel jack we already use, but it takes 12V.

Also a PSA: just because they have shown us what the radio is, don't go out and buy it expecting it to be official, then complain if FIRST takes a different direction.

[RyanShoff]

We use a lot of these in a mesh network. There are multiple versions. Some have POE, some don't. Even the same model number can have different amounts of memory installed.

[Caleb Sykes]

Originally Posted by cgmv123

The radio in the picture appears to be a Open-Mesh OM5P-AN (possibly an OM2P-HS).

Also, in case anyone was wondering, the goat in the picture appears to be a Little Rocky the Stuffed Mountain Goat Mini Flopsie by Aurora.

[Jon K.]

Originally Posted by Caleb Sykes

Also, in case anyone was wondering, the goat in the picture appears to be a Little Rocky the Stuffed Mountain Goat Mini Flopsie by Aurora.

Caleb,

Unfortunately you are incorrect. That would be one of the limited edition AndyMark AM-Goat goats. Since they are no longer for sale, I cannot link to one. But, having worked with every single one of those goats, I would recognize them anywhere.

[page2067]

Great blog post

1 feedback is that current system main point of failure we have seen is at the power input plug to the radio - which 1 reply indicated was the same(?)- this has been successfully mitigated by electrical tape applying sideway pressure for contact even during robot interaction (2014), but a better connector suited for some dynamic loading would be a plus.

Thanks.

[Nemo]

One of these years, the radio will get smaller, right? I know practically nothing about wireless technology, but one of the things I do know is that you can fit it into a phone or a VexNet key.

[DonRotolo]

Originally Posted by Nemo

One of these years, the radio will get smaller, right? I know practically nothing about wireless technology, but one of the things I do know is that you can fit it into a phone or a VexNet key.

One of the limits facing any radio equipment is the physics of antennas: These can be made only so small, after which they become ineffective. There is generally little need for a WiFi AP much smaller than, say, a paperback book, and so we're unlikely to see one on 2.4 or 5 GHz.

[Ben Wolsieffer]

Originally Posted by Nemo

One of these years, the radio will get smaller, right? I know practically nothing about wireless technology, but one of the things I do know is that you can fit it into a phone or a VexNet key.

When they were evaluating the new control system, I remember hearing that a USB wifi dongle was tested, but it was not used in the end. I'm assuming it was smaller than the current bridge.

EDIT: This was the thread: http://www.chiefdelphi.com/forums/sh...d.php?t=129140

[Jon Stratis]

Originally Posted by lopsided98

When they were evaluating the new control system, I remember hearing that a USB wifi dongle was tested, but it was not used in the end. I'm assuming it was smaller than the current bridge.

EDIT: This was the thread: http://www.chiefdelphi.com/forums/sh...d.php?t=129140

Yes, it was smaller, much smaller. There were technical issues with running it on a field with all 6 robots, so it was dropped.

Honestly, we don't really need anything smaller - our robots are certainly big enough that you can find room for our radios!

[AdamHeard]

Originally Posted by Jon Stratis

Yes, it was smaller, much smaller. There were technical issues with running it on a field with all 6 robots, so it was dropped.

Honestly, we don't really need anything smaller - our robots are certainly big enough that you can find room for our radios!

My ideal is a pure mechanical robot, zero volume and weight allocated for electronics and wires.

[Richard Wallace]

Originally Posted by AdamHeard

My ideal is a pure mechanical robot, zero volume and weight allocated for electronics and wires.

This REALLY deserves a spotlight!

[Mike Marandola]

Originally Posted by AdamHeard

My ideal is a pure mechanical robot, zero volume and weight allocated for electronics and wires.

Introducing the 2016 game, Automata Ascent! Once on the field, you will have 60 seconds for wind up.