Drivers

[Jeff K.]

We are actually going to have two joysticks for tank steering and use the buttons to move the arm up and down. It's going to be real simple and we're only going to have one driver, but a 2nd back up driver to take his place in case if he screws up.

[henryBsick]

Originally Posted by Stonefan5271138

We are actually going to have two joysticks for tank steering and use the buttons to move the arm up and down. It's going to be real simple and we're only going to have one driver, but a 2nd back up driver to take his place in case if he screws up.

Don't do it. If you have an arm.. use 2 drivers. Don't say "if he screws up" either. This is supposed to be a fun thing... competitive yes, but fun. You don't want to swap drivers out in the middle of a match ever. If you split the driving up into two drivers they will do soo much better. I don't know how to say this other than the drivers are "dumb"...they have NO idea what is going on on the floor. They are concerned with the robot they are driving. The less thinking required to operate a task, such as cap a tetra, the less time it takes to do it. Two drivers is the way to go with a robot that has a manipulator that is used a lot.

[Jeff Rodriguez]

Originally Posted by Kyle45

What other team(s) have driver/operator tryouts?

We have driver tryouts, also. We have a few practices during the week, with last year's robot. Interested drivers get a chance to drive and are evaluated over a period of time. We'll set up different scenarios and courses for them to complete.

[Jeff K.]

Originally Posted by Henry_222

Don't do it. If you have an arm.. use 2 drivers. Don't say "if he screws up" either. This is supposed to be a fun thing... competitive yes, but fun. You don't want to swap drivers out in the middle of a match ever. If you split the driving up into two drivers they will do soo much better. I don't know how to say this other than the drivers are "dumb"...they have NO idea what is going on on the floor. They are concerned with the robot they are driving. The less thinking required to operate a task, such as cap a tetra, the less time it takes to do it. Two drivers is the way to go with a robot that has a manipulator that is used a lot.

Alright ya thanks for the advice. I'll try to bring that up at our next team meeting.

[AJL930]

More then likely we are gonna have two drivers, one to operate the robot and one to operate the grabber arm. We had the same set up last year with two drivers, makes it alot less confusing.

[Winged Wonder]

Originally Posted by Kyle45

As always...45 will have one driver and one operator. Both of the positions are still unfilled at this time since we haven't had try outs yet. What other team(s) have driver/operator tryouts?

we have driver/operator and human player tryouts. Tryouts consist of taking tests on the rules (so we dont have to worry about our drivers getting penaltys for breaking rules they "didnt know about") and of actual hands-on driving/tetra carrying tests, where we time how long it takes to do different tasks, like stack 3 tetras on a goal or someonething, or to pick up a tetra, place it on the bot, and run back and stop at the pressure sensor pad thing. (sorry for lack of formal names on field parts; i'm tired ^^; )

we just had our priliminary test on the rules which all driver/arm operator/human player wanna-be's took, which was easy and only 22 questions long about basic rules, dimensions, penalties, ways to score, etc. in a week or so we will have a much longer and detailed test on every aspect of the game that will really determine the people truly capable of being drivers. there (of course) will be a hands-on test as well, but if two drivers/human players/ect. are about the same in the hands-on test, their written test scores will determine who will become the official driver or arm operator or human player, and who will become the alternate.

team 233 uses 2 drivers, one person to drive the base of the robot, and the other to operate the arm(s) or any other accessory of the robot. This promotes teamwork between students and their driving coach, and forces the burden of the success or failure of a team on the field across a few people, instead of just one. (although i'd rather not think of it as "success" or "failure" but more along the lines of, "we did this well" or "we shouldnt do that again" or more importantly "lets just keep in mind that this is a learning experience") Personally i believe two drivers would be ideal, for it forces teamwork and allows each driver to focus on a certain aspect of the game, excelling at their specific task, rather than having one person have to focus on everything, even if they have two coaches to help them along. Yet if you have a superior driver who is used to driving individally and can do it effectively, then by all means, go with that single driver, and use the second "driver" as another coach or as a timekeeper or whatever you wish. its really up to you.

[TheOtherTaylor]

My team had a simple solution for the debate we were having over 1 driver vs. 2 driver.

We are making the entire control board covered in velcro (or something similar) so we can rearrange the joysticks as needed, then switch which driving program we are using so we can test both ways. Once we decide which way is better we'll choose which our driver/operator (s) should be.

Also, like that, if our normal arm operator or driver is fatally sick or something, there's always the posibility that we change our control setup to accomidate different drivers/operators.


Lastly, some people say it's too hard for a single driver to control a bot with many functions, but I have seen it done (and quite well too). The driver was just 100% familiar with every single control and he had a coach right over his shoulder to keep him aware of the entire arena.

[The Dude]

Well I don't know about velcro but my team will have one driver who is in control of the actual movement of the robot, and one operator who is in charge of our arm. One person controlling both the arm and robot would be to confusing, plus communication isn't really a problem when your just telling them something like "okay boom up" or something to that effect.