Disappointing Autonomous

[Chris Bright]

I don't know about you guys but i find the autonomous mode this year is a little disappointing. I was expecting somthing a little bit more challenging. Something that built upon last year. I realize there is more to than just removing the bonus ball but still. What you guys think?

[Cory]

I agree, the autonomous mode is way too simplistic. Perhaps so rookies arent at a huge disadvantage, like last year.

Cory

[IMDWalrus]

Just wait until next year...

Dave told us to "get used to" the infrared sensors. I think autonomous in 2005 will be a bit more complex...

As far as 2004 goes, yes it's simple. Given the number of teams that had problems with auton last year, though, that could very well be a good thing.

[M. Hicken]

i agree that this is not more challanging than in years past, but it is my teams first try at autonomous, so hey, im not complaining. Perhaps they decided not to make it more difficult due to the substantial number of rookie teams this year. It kind of helps them, like what the "experienced" teams should be doing in the first place.

[IMDWalrus]

Originally Posted by M. Hicken

i agree that this is not more challanging than in years past, but it is my teams first try at autonomous, so hey, im not complaining. Perhaps they decided not to make it more difficult due to the substantial number of rookie teams this year. It kind of helps them, like what the "experienced" teams should be doing in the first place.

So in other words, the short auton is built in Gracious Professionalism?

[sanddrag]

You can do a lot more than just knock off the 10 ball. You can get the goal(s), move around the small balls, etc.

[KenWittlief]

simple auton mode?! what kickoff did you attend?

based on last year, you could probabally get to the trigger ball in 3 seconds

ok - 18 balls drop on your side of the field

and your bot is sitting there, with 12 seconds left

and a porta-goal nearby, all dressed up with nowhere to go

with a big juicy 2X ball on it

and another one under the bar

and all those purple balls all over the floor

is your bot just gonna sit there for 12 seconds

like a fancy statue?

posing for the cameras?

simple?!

[Chris Bright]

Yeah I know there will be a lot of time left after knocking and there is a lot more you can do. I am just saying I thought it was going to more of a challenge. Your robot doesn't even need to do anything just point it at the ball and go. I do suppose this will be better for rookie teams.

[Gabriel]

Originally Posted by KenWittlief

simple auton mode?! what kickoff did you attend?

based on last year, you could probabally get to the trigger ball in 3 seconds

ok - 18 balls drop on your side of the field

and your bot is sitting there, with 12 seconds left

and a porta-goal nearby, all dressed up with nowhere to go

with a big juicy 2X ball on it

and another one under the bar

and all those purple balls all over the floor

is your bot just gonna sit there for 12 seconds

like a fancy statue?

posing for the cameras?

simple?!

Yeah, but it might be hard to get someone like a computer science professor excited about FIRST over 12 seconds. I wish there was a system where you had the option of going autonomous for an additional 30 seconds for extra points.

[Skabana159]

I believe that FIRST's reasoning was not to throw programmers two curves in the same year. It is true that the new microprocessors will be much more powerful, but they will definately take some getting accostomed to. They decided to give us one year to warm up to the new microcontrollers, and I think next year will be the vast change in autonomous sections.

[KenWittlief]

even during driver mode there are plenty of things your bot can do by itself

grabbing balls off the floor

a hand that grabs the 2x ball as soon as it touches it

if your bot shoots or rolls the balls back to the corral, you can have it point to it automatically (if it knows where it is at all times)

Ive seen lots of teams over the years have things like claws or grippers that are fully under the control of the drivers - its VERY difficult to drive up to something and have a claw latch onto it, if you are doing it all manually

its much easier if there is a sensor of some type that detects the object is within reach, and IT grabs on when it wants to.

Dont feel you have to limit the things your bot does automatically to the first 15 seconds.

[Joe Johnson]

A concur with those who think that this years Autonomous will be anything but easy and boring.

The number of options for things to do is HUGE compare to last year.

There will be more full speed crashes as teams BOTH try to go for the bonus balls (or more interesting perhaps -- both try to PREVENT the other team from getting THEIR bonus ball -- can you say jousting?)

Bored with that, move the other team's or your own team's goal around.

How about getting that middle big juicey ball while you are at it?

How about capping your opponents stationary goal?

How about letting them opponent get there bonus balls only you rake in the balls to YOUR side of the field?

Still looking for a challenge? How about getting in position to block the opponent's purple chute during autonomous?

I believe that Autonomy will be HUGE in 2004. And I don't think there is a chance of it being boring or easy.

Joe J.

[Aaron Lussier]

Originally Posted by KenWittlief

is your bot just gonna sit there for 12 seconds

like a fancy statue?

posing for the cameras?

For some reason I found that absolutely hilarious when I read, I can actually imagine Ken's eyes bugging out of his head (Even though I've never met him) with that little headache vein pounding on the side of his temple.

[Gabriel]

Originally Posted by Joe Johnson

A concur with those who think that this years Autonomous will be anything but easy and boring.

Joe J.

I don't think it will be boring or easy, but I do think it will LOOK boring and easy to people whose chief interest is the autonomous programming. I have a mentor who is a brilliant CS professor. When I first described the game to him he said "so you do all this work for three minutes of play?" I think that tomorrow he might say "so I have to do all this work for 15 seconds, and I already have some of the problems figured out for me?" And to be honest, I can talk about all those options you described, but it seems like most teams will end up accomplishing that by dead reckoning, and thats just developing a simple framework for step-by-step movement and then testing and plugging in numbers. It isn't boring because everyone will do it a different way and there will be all sorts of interesting collisions and erratic behavior, and I'd imagine that for most teams it isn't easy, but to a brilliant CS professor, or a certain kind of sponsor, it might not be too interesting. I don't know at this point how much room or need there is for sensors and artificial intelligence and weird algorithms I won't understand. I'll have to think about it.

~Gabe

[KenWittlief]

Originally Posted by Aaron Lussier

For some reason I found that absolutely hilarious when I read, I can actually imagine Ken's eyes bugging out of his head (Even though I've never met him) with that little headache vein pounding on the side of his temple.

:^) you know you can click on those little photos in our posts and see the full photo

my eyes dont buldge out that far, do they? OvO