Driver Selection

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Posted by Kate.   [PICTURE: SAME | NEW | HELP]


Engineer on team #190, Gompei, from Mass Academy of Math and Science and Worcester Polytechnic Institute.

Posted on 2/26/2000 7:23 AM MST


In Reply to: Driver Selection posted by Kate on 2/26/2000 6:55 AM MST:



Step One (1) - Send out general email to team announcing dates of try-out.. Applications are in the robotics lab.. This makes it so anyone that doesn't know where the robotics lab is, doesn't know where to apply.. Therefore they shouldn't be trying to drive anyway.. Also.. If anyone is too lazy to come down and fill out an application, then there's no way they're going to be committed enough to drive..

Step Two (2) - Actual try-out on last year's 'bot.. Two (2) rounds.. One (1) for weeding out people.. One (1) for deciding on the final four (4).. Basic layout of try-out explained..

Step Three (3) - Round One (1)

* Drivers are behind a window to simulate player stations at competition
* No outside pressures

Time frame: Two (2) minutes

Objectives: Within the two (2) minutes allotted, the following tasks MUST be completed:
* Drive across the floor to align the 'bot with the black and yellow ball such that if there were a roller device, it would pick up the balls
* Drive backwards until you are within one (1) foot of the 6' high bar to simulate scoring in the goal
* Repeat for a different set of balls
* Be centered under the 6' high bar at the end of the 2 minutes

Bonus:

* Hit balls scattered about the playing surface with the side of the machine declared to have the rollers, yellow balls worth one (1) point, black worth five (5) points, but be sure to complete the last objective

Step Four (4) - Criteria

* Time it takes to collect first 2 sets of balls
* Accuracy
* Depth perception
* Ability to figure out how much time there is to do the extras with respect to the end of the match
* Non-destructive driving (no jerky driving)
* Aggressive driving

Step Five (5) - The Judges

This is a blind judging panel of four (4) WPI students / staff.

Random order, drivers chosen originally by number. Number is assigned by our Human Leatherman Jon Abad who chooses them randomly out of the applications.

Step Six (6) - Eliminating

The judges rank the drivers against each other with respect to what day they did their try-out on.. If any disagreement, discussion arises.. The two lists are then combined into one to find who the top 4 drivers are.

Step Seven (7) - Round Two (2)

Mostly the same as Round One (1) with the exception of coaching added and the judges are no longer blinded.

Step Eight (8) - Selection of top four (4)

More discussion about same topics as round one (1) plus how pressure was handled.

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We now have our top 4 'operators' with no differentiation between drivers and controllers.. It was felt this year that each position was going to need the same kind of abilities to be able to do well in the competition, therefore it was all the same tryout.. First string and second string will be chosen at our first regional which happens to be the Mid-Atlantic regional..

That is all.. Pardon the attempt at organizing it into steps.. Lack of sleep last night.. But it's all good, right??


Kate
Team190