calling all Winners of Excellence in Control

[IndySam]

I'll also say that the presentation is a huge part of the award.

You need to be able to tell the judges what the problem was, your thought process and the solution.

Last year when we were testing our robot the drivers could tell when they were in possession of a ball when the vacuum noise would change pitch. We soon realized that that wouldn't be sufficient during the competition because of the isolation from the field caused by the drivers station and the loud constant volume of a FIRST event.

The team discussed many ways of mounting various sensors or using current detection. All were too complicated to implement or not just doable in the last week of build season.

Then one of our mentors Tim came up with a simple solution. He put a flag on a micro switch and mounted the flag in the stream of air from the output of the vacuum. When the vacuum was not in possession of a ball the air would keep the switch closed and lights (tubes from Aim High) on the robot would be on. When we had a ball the air from the vacuum would be reduced causing the switch to open and turn the lights out.

While we thought it was cool we never considered it to award worthy. We were shocked when we got the award. I later asked one of the judges why we won the award she told me that not only did they think is was cool but the fact that the team members they interviewed in the pits were able to explain it all so well.