pic: Team 148 - Robowranglers 2010 - Armadillo

[ks_mumupsi]

I look forward to seeing this in Dallas... impressive.

[Paul Copioli]

With regards to the ball magnet, think of it this way:

If the normal force between the ball and the floor is less than the normal force generated between the ball and the "magnets", then the ball will stay possessed by the robot. This doesn't mean the normal force between the ball and the floor is zero.

The instance you see in the video near the goal was an implementation issue that has already been resolved. The ball will always be touching the floor when the magnet is on.

I can tell you this: we (148 + 217) created the ball magnet concept using only 9th grade geometry and 11th grade physics (1st semester).

[sanddrag]

Originally Posted by =Martin=Taylor=

Try designing and prototyping an entire robot in two weeks, and then working with a team of amateur machinists and welders

Hey hey, who you callin amateurs? But seriously, this is why their robot is good. It all comes down to material removal. The secret is in the laser. We spend 2 minutes to drill a hole. They spend 20 seconds to CAD it and laser cut it. We spend many minutes milling solid, they spend a few burning through sheet. Multiply that by hundreds of parts, and you get the idea.They can do more in less time, and this is why it's done and good. Quite smart. This robot makes me feel like for 9 years I have not been working hard enough (or perhaps not smart enough). Great job 148!

All I can say is, if this robot ever comes head to head with 254, the match will be one for the books.

[Chuck Glick]

Paul,

I think everyone is just a little jealous of the 148/217 "ball magnet" skills.

I thought something like this would work but we never got around to prototyping it... boy do I wish we did now.

[=Martin=Taylor=]

Originally Posted by sanddrag

Hey hey, who you callin amateurs? But seriously, this is why their robot is good. It all comes down to material removal. The secret is in the laser. We spend 2 minutes to drill a hole. They spend 20 seconds to CAD it and laser cut it. We spend many minutes milling solid, they spend a few burning through sheet. Multiply that by hundreds of parts, and you get the idea.They can do more in less time, and this is why it's done and good. Quite smart. This robot makes me feel like for 9 years I have not been working hard enough (or perhaps not smart enough). Great job 148!

All I can say is, if this robot ever comes head to head with 254, the match will be one for the books.

Well I was referring to the team 100 students... It took them a week last year to cut a single keyway And that’s not for lack of trying! They worked on it every day!

[Chris Fultz]

Originally Posted by Chuck Glick

I think everyone is just a little jealous of the 148/217 "ball magnet" skills.

All I know is I went to Home Depot and the guy there said they did't sell ball magnets. Maybe only the Texas and Michigan stores carry those.

[Chuck Glick]

Originally Posted by Chris Fultz

All I know is I went to Home Depot and the guy there said they did't sell ball magnets. Maybe only the Texas and Michigan stores carry those.

I think 1726 found some in Arizona too.

[Dmentor]

I’m progressing well this year through what I think of as the FRC equivalent of the Kübler-Ross model (commonly known as the five stages of grief). I imagine that there are many other folks going through this as well and hopefully we won’t dwell too much more on the negative aspects. Anyways, here’s where I am in my process:

First came “awe”. What an awesome robot! Function AND form nicely wrapped together! Great video! What an awesome TEAM!

Next came “envy”. Wish we could create a robot like that. Wish we had such an established and well-grounded design process. Wish we had access to such a great world-class production facility. Wish I could be part of a team like that.

Followed quickly by “depression”. How can we compete with that? Am I lacking as a mentor since we aren’t capable of creating robots like? Why even try?

Hopefully I’m solidly into the “acceptance” phase now. Regardless of how good any team is, I can still reach out to my team and inspire them in their pursuit of STEM fields. We can still play Breakaway to the best of our abilities. And since FRC is played with alliances of three teams, any robot that can drive can contribute to their alliance’s success. Great strategy can often counterbalance exceptional single robot performance. So how do we win with what we have? Quite frankly we’re happy to have been able to produce a robot at all with all the snow outages…

[tangent] What I particularly like about 148’s design is the potential ability to score 3 in autonomous and 2 in the end game. I envision eliminations to be defensive struggles with limited scoring, so capitalizing on these “guaranteed” points is vital. I’ve long admired 217’s and 1114’s (among others) ability to integrate robot design with overall game strategy to maximize the probability of winning.[\tangent]

Eventually I’m sure I’ll move into “inspired”. Particularly when teams like 148 are there to help us by providing white papers, robot design, experience, insight, etc.

[Tom Bottiglieri]

Originally Posted by Chuck Glick

I think everyone is just a little jealous of the 148/217 "ball magnet" skills.

I thought something like this would work but we never got around to prototyping it... boy do I wish we did now.

I can assure you the reason the ball magnet that 148, 217, and few others teams have works so well not some black magic, but due to the fact that 148 is amazing at prototyping, and spent hundreds of man-hours on "system 5". They deserve all the success (and defense) they are bound to get this year, 10x over.

[Chuck Glick]

I totally agree Tom. 148 is one of the few teams that inspires me every year. They truly live by the phrase "design is an iterative process." All teams in FIRST should strive to live by this and 148 is just a prime example.

I just happened to have a major facepalm moment when I saw that roller. Just goes to show, you can never prototype too much.


Man do I wish our magnet worked this well.

[Jay Trzaskos]

If i could spend just one build season with this amazing team as a mentor, I would be a happy happy alumni of the JVN school of innovation, inspiration, and design

[Karibou]

Originally Posted by Chris Fultz

All I know is I went to Home Depot and the guy there said they did't sell ball magnets. Maybe only the Texas and Michigan stores carry those.

Nope, not a MI product...Home Depot doesn't have any (or #25 masterlinks, for that matter). Must be a Texas product.

Originally Posted by Paul Copioli

I can tell you this: we (148 + 217) created the ball magnet concept using only 9th grade geometry and 11th grade physics (1st semester).

It's really cool to know that this is something that I could do, with a little thinking and application of my physics homework. Note to self for next year, apply physics rather than "well, this SEEMS like it would work." 1-sentence inspiration, right there.

Again, way to go 148 (and 217). Seriously cool stuff, srs bizniz, kick-butt, whatever way you choose to describe it.

[JVN]

We're getting too much credit for the Ball Magnet. The Ball Magnet design is a 100% collaboration between 148 and 217. The Thunderchicken Prototype and Design teams are as good or better than their 148 counter-parts.

Every compliment that is paid to 148 should be echoed 10 times over to our counterparts up north. Years later, I still love the Thunderchickens!

-John

[Racer26]

Something tells me we need to fear 148/217 in Atlanta, and 1114 at all of our competitions... not that I wasnt ALREADY expecting that.

[GaryVoshol]

Hey everyone, you don't have to try to beat teams like 148 and 217 (and teams like 67, 1114, 45, etc. - whatever they come up with). All you have to do is be good enough that they want you on their alliance.

You've seen this; now think of what can you do to complement them, not try to oppose them. And give a few compliments along the line too.