Problem with losing communication while on the field.

[gordonsolo13]

It could have also been a problem with your classmate. If you allow it to go into hibernate after turning it on, it will have problems with connecting. We had problems on the first three matches at our regionals because of such a problem (along with our the fact that our during our first match our mechanics forgot to reconnect the speed controllers.)

[Chris_Elston]

Originally Posted by gordonsolo13

It could have also been a problem with your classmate. If you allow it to go into hibernate after turning it on, it will have problems with connecting. We had problems on the first three matches at our regionals because of such a problem (along with our the fact that our during our first match our mechanics forgot to reconnect the speed controllers.)

Oh, this is a GOOD point. This happened to us once and also when you close the lid on the classmate too. I know...ask my drive team :-) I closed the lid on them during drive practice one day, to ween them away from the camera feedback. I said "You just lost the live feedback from the camera during the match, so keep on driving..." Right when I closed the lid, the whole robot died...guess you had to be there. It was a funny moment.... Moral of the story, don't close your Classmate lid in the middle of a match, instead put a piece of paper over the screen to cover up the video feed...

[TubaMorg]

Originally Posted by Chris_Elston

Oh, this is a GOOD point. This happened to us once and also when you close the lid on the classmate too. I know...ask my drive team :-) I closed the lid on them during drive practice one day, to ween them away from the camera feedback. I said "You just lost the live feedback from the camera during the match, so keep on driving..." Right when I closed the lid, the whole robot died...guess you had to be there. It was a funny moment.... Moral of the story, don't close your Classmate lid in the middle of a match, instead put a piece of paper over the screen to cover up the video feed...

I know this isn't really part of thread, but why is it bad to have video feedback? We worked hard to get ours working well, now I'm wondering if there is a consequence we haven't thought of. Are the drivers staring at it too much?

[Chris_Elston]

Originally Posted by TubaMorg

I know this isn't really part of thread, but why is it bad to have video feedback? We worked hard to get ours working well, now I'm wondering if there is a consequence we haven't thought of. Are the drivers staring at it too much?

We trained them both ways. But not totally relying on the camera only. Definitely if they can look at the robot to get an AIM or if you have "auto aim" in tele-op is the best way to drive but to look at the camera to aim seems like it takes the driver longer to make the decision to kick verses looking at the robot and making the alignment shot.

[Mark McLeod]

Originally Posted by Chris_Elston

Moral of the story, don't close your Classmate lid in the middle of a match, instead put a piece of paper over the screen to cover up the video feed...

It's easier to just minimize or close the Dashboard window.

[topgun]

Also, check the connection between your Classmate and the ethernet cable. Our plastic retention clip on the Classmate (not the ethernet cable) is broken off and any jostling of the cable will cause it to temporarily lose connection (hence, communication to the robot).

- T

[robself705]

We were having this same problem A LOT at the Wisconsin regional. We were about to win the entire regional when our middle zone bot lost communications in the last two matches. (we won the first match of the final round 10-4). From what I saw almost everyone had these problems all day. I am trying to consolidate the issue so we don't have it again.

Before every match we:
log out and log in on the class mate
DO NOT close the lid on the class mate
make sure everyone's class mate wireless is off
check all Ethernet cables are plugged in
check for FMS connection and voltage before we give the judges the ok

Twice during our matches we lost connection in the middle of the match
Our alliance in the final rounds lost communications twice in a row AFTER autonomous mode. The judges told us it was NOT the field or FMS, it was the team's robot. Well then what is it? The bridge? Let me know if any of you have had this issue and what solved it. It sounds like people are replacing their wireless bridges and that solves the problem.


Thanks!

[psyco_klown]

Check the game adapter power cable. We had problems with communications on the field too. Come to find out the the power cable hole was too big for the pin and it would move and reset the game adapter. So find a cable that is closer to the pin size.

[Alan Anderson]

Originally Posted by Chris_Elston

Invest in a HOT GLUE gun, and hot glue the Ethernet connectors into the radio and crio.

Please don't do this. You will regret it as soon as you need to power up your robot in the pit.

[Chris_Elston]

Originally Posted by Alan Anderson

Please don't do this. You will regret it as soon as you need to power up your robot in the pit.

I should have left the crio part off in my post. Hotglue the RADIO side only. That's the side that normally comes loose. sorry.

[The Lucas]

Originally Posted by Chris_Elston

I should have left the crio part off in my post. Hotglue the RADIO side only. That's the side that normally comes loose. sorry.

That works until you have to use a practice field radio.

Our robot periodically lost communication (something like run for 10sec, lose comm for 2 2sec, repeat) in our last match SF 1-4 in MD. I think it was related to the critically low battery on the Classmate at the time. Also the wifi was on again, I am not sure when it got enabled (it was off when we started elims but I think the Classmate was rebooted).

[Chris_Elston]

Originally Posted by The Lucas

That works until you have to use a practice field radio.

Must be nice to have practice radios at your practice field. We go to the same regional every year, and we tether always so only the crio side gets unplugged.

[Mark McLeod]

Originally Posted by Chris_Elston

Must be nice to have practice radios at your practice field. We go to the same regional every year, and we tether always so only the crio side gets unplugged.

I find the practice field radios annoying more than helpful, unless you're looking for wireless issues.

It just takes too long to setup the practice radio when you could be driving immediately on tether.

[The Lucas]

Originally Posted by Mark McLeod

I find the practice field radios annoying more than helpful, unless you're looking for wireless issues.

It just takes too long to setup the practice radio when you could be driving immediately on tether.

Agreed, long tether cable and someone to hold it is best solution. Unfortunately, Championships will probably require practice radios again. Hopefully they will not run them like 3v3 practice matches again this year. Last year, it was completely useless. You would be trying to test auto routines and then another robot would ram into you and try to fill your trailer.

Who goes to the practice field for more driver practice? It is there to test programming and mechanisms that maybe having problems.

[nighterfighter]

Originally Posted by The Lucas

Who goes to the practice field for more driver practice? It is there to test programming and mechanisms that maybe having problems.

We only used it for practice in two situations:
1) Testing our bump climbing on an official bump
2) No one else was signed up, or in line.

The practice field at Peachtree only had 2 practice radios, and no one was allowed to tether....