Botka the Balancing Robot

[chris31]

Originally Posted by Tottanka

and is it FIRST-capable?
voltage etc?

Looks like it. Here is the data sheet. http://www.invensense.com/shared/pdf..._Datasheet.pdf

[AdamHeard]

Wow.... this never clicked in my head, but I bet some games would have some sort of challenge that could be solved via a balancing robot. It would definitely amaze the scouts and judges at least!

[Billfred]

Originally Posted by AdamHeard

Wow.... this never clicked in my head, but I bet some games would have some sort of challenge that could be solved via a balancing robot. It would definitely amaze the scouts and judges at least!

Personally, I could see it being most useful in cases where you'd otherwise bottom out or tip. Games like 2006 or 2007 might be the best applications, though the anti-tipping nature might've been particularly nice in 2003, where an ill-timed run up the hill could land you on your back.

The problem would be making sure the robot could handle a disable command without self-destructing; some kind of kickstand would be in order, along with software that didn't allow the robot to spaz out when going back and forth between the two states (see also: 2005).

I offer a tip of the hat, and perhaps also some Krispy Kremes, to any team that can pull off this kind of feat on the field.

[Richard Wallace]

If you don't want to (or don't have the resources to) build your own PC board, InvenSense offers an evaluation board. $150 = not cheap.

[joeweber]

I guess you guys don't remember, I think it was the 2001 game we had to ballance our robot on a bridge with two goals. A few teams could do it with no problem back then. That was when they gave us the first gyro.