Nintendo Style Speed Booster

[Billfred]

We've implemented it on Ockham for parade duty.

However, as we found out at the Okra Strut, you really need to be able to get the full power if you need it. (We had the robot running at 1/4 power normally, up to 1/2 if we hit the turbo button. We still had to push it.)

On the subject of encoders and such, do teams ever implement some sort of open-loop control as a backup in case one of them starts spazzing out mid-match?

[Alan Anderson]

Originally Posted by Billfred

On the subject of encoders and such, do teams ever implement some sort of open-loop control as a backup in case one of them starts spazzing out mid-match?

Absolutely. Our driver last year was used to the equivalent of a direct flightstick-to-Victor connection. He didn't like the feel of the closed loop speed control, and always kept the OI switch in the "manual drive" position. Maybe if we'd spent more time tuning the PID parameters it could have been better.