Statistics on top 20 teams?

[RobertG]

Programming:

• Language: C++
• Threaded code or just poll in the teleop loop: We had most of our code in a loop with the exception of the PID controllers
• Did they do something in autonomous?: We had nine autonomous modes. Our autonomous code essentially would kick everything in its path until it reached a certain distance. We also could drive over the bump and wait a few seconds for the air tanks to pressurize. At the championship we usually kicked three from the far zone and went over the bump.
• What problems did you encounter, if any, with WPILib?: We encountered a few problems with the vision code.
• Did you download the sources and rebuild WPILib/CanJaguarLib?: We made a few modifications to WPILib.
• CAN or PWM control?: CAN. This allowed us to sense the increase in current from the pincher motor when we had the ball.
• Did you use the Classmate for programming your robot or student/school supplied computers?: Team supplied computers.

Robot Design:

• What sensors were used?: Encoders on the kicker gearbox and drivetrain, VEX Limit Switches to calibrate the kicker gearbox encoder, and current sensors in the CAN Jaguars
• Did you use the vision system?: Yes. We mounted the camera below the bumpers so our drivers and coach could see the balls.
• What drive system?: 6 wheel tank
• Wheels?: 7 inch tractrion
• How many motors?: 4 cims for the drive train, 1 cim for the pincher, 2 Fisher Prices for the kicker
• What material was used for the frame (Aluminum, steel, unobtanium)?: Aluminum
• How did they control the ball?: A pincher with rubber splicing tape
• Energy storage for kicker (elastic, pneumatic, motor driven, etc.)?: Rubber sheeting
• Did you hang?: No

The Driver Station

• Did you reprogram your dashboard code?: We used a custom dashboard for a fast (30fps) video feed. I believe we found it on Chief Delphi.
• Did you use external controls beyond your joysticks?: No
• Any problems in getting the USB to behave?: No, except once during the finals on Newton when it refused to recognize the stop button.
• Did you use any unusual controls like WiiMotes, XBox controllers, etc.?: No, although we did use a heads up display to signal ball possesion and whether our kicker was ready to fire.
• Did you feel that the Classmate was fast enough?: I did not notice any delays during robot operation.

Any techniques that you feel might be beneficial to others in the future?: Secure the CAN bus cables. During one match a stray wire or hose depressed a tap allowing the cable to come out. Also, during the Newton finals we had watchdog errors most likely because a CAN bus cable (still secured by its tab) had come out slightly.

I'm just looking to try to collect a "lessons learned" from this year's competition. I'll collate the results and post them back to CD.

I am not sure what lessons we could learn from just this data. I suggest collecting data from as many teams as possible so you can attempt to control for variables or at least have results to compare the top 20 teams with.