Communicating with Feeder

[nighterfighter]

Originally Posted by Trent B

A little more looking into it it appears as long as you don't exceed the breakdown voltage (which is the voltage you have to reach before you can start to conduct in reverse, it shouldn't get damaged. Something to dig out the spec sheets for.

Yup.

This website has some useful info...

Of particular interest might be the "Tri-Color" LED section...

http://www.kpsec.freeuk.com/components/led.htm

[Trent B]

The bi-color ones intrigued me however they are a few bucks a piece on digikey compared to tri-color being about a buck a piece.

A consideration with the tri-colour is how the fact you have the common cathode that would somehow have to switch sides if you wanted to run it off a spike switching direction.

Additionally blue and red LEDs run at different voltages so you have to factor in resistors and how to potentially run it off a single spike. The nice part about two sets using the diode breakdown voltage is you can use a single spike and a little breadboard rather than potentially two spikes.

I suppose you could hook up one color to the positive on the spike, one to the negative and the cathode to the negative on the power distribution board.(provided there isn't a rule against this, because it wouldn't be protected by a circuit breaker as those are only on the red blocks) You could also have it merge in with the spikes negative which may violate rule R43) below.

Originally Posted by R43

Custom circuits shall NOT directly alter the power pathways between the battery, PD Board, speed controllers, relays, motors, or other elements of the robot control system (including the power pathways to other sensors or circuits). Custom high impedance voltage monitoring or low impedance current monitoring connected to the ROBOT'S electrical system is acceptable, because the effect on the ROBOT outputs should be inconsequential.

[davidthefat]

Use a laptop to flash the color fullscreen

[nighterfighter]

Originally Posted by davidthefat

Use a laptop to flash the color fullscreen

Yes. This seems to be the most effective way.

...And when it isn't flashing full-screen color, it shows random pictures of funny kittens to distract the other team!

[smistthegreat]

Another idea for a low tech system, just a simple poster that the analyst would hold up signaling which shape and which side to load on, similar to the play calling cards that Oregon uses in NCAA football like this: http://media.spokesman.com/photos/20...52 f96b62dbc7

[MagiChau]

I would say using LEDs are the best option. Seems like a lower chance of getting the desired game piece wrong.

[bassoondude]

Another low tech option would be to have the analyst hold up their right arm for one color, left for another, and both for the third. the exact colors can be decided before a match

[blayde5]

Originally Posted by bassoondude

Another low tech option would be to have the analyst hold up their right arm for one color, left for another, and both for the third. the exact colors can be decided before a match

I will second this. The simplest option is often the best. Just make sure they human player has a good memory

[Jogo]

Okay, yeah let's keep this simple. Should we try to set up a standard on CD?

[BrendanB]

Originally Posted by Jogo

Okay, yeah let's keep this simple. Should we try to set up a standard on CD?

Clarification?

[UkuleleGuy]

Personally, I really like the LED idea. LEDs are not hard to hook up, and would be much easier to see than having to peer across the entire field over robots and poles.

[KrazyCarl92]

Originally Posted by bassoondude

Another low tech option would be to have the analyst hold up their right arm for one color, left for another, and both for the third. the exact colors can be decided before a match

Although I agree that hand signals would be simplest, esp. if made a standard, left/right can be confusing for some b/c of the mirroring aspect; left for the analyst is right for the HP. Therefore I believe in a standard for Analyst--> HP comm, something like:

fist = circle
arms in a triangle (like "A" in YMCA dance) = triangle
arms out at right angles = quadrangle

^^^FRC community: IT IS UP TO US TO SET OUT A STANDARD PRIOR TO COMPETITION, WE SHOULD DECIDE ON SOMETHING WELL IN ADVANCE TO BEST SOLVE THE PROBLEM!

[Tetraman]

It's not that difficult.

Hold up a fist - Requesting a circle

Hold up a hand, palm out fingers together - Requesting a Square

Hold up a hand, back of hand fingers apart - Requesting a Triangle

[nighterfighter]

Originally Posted by KrazyCarl92

^^^FRC community: IT IS UP TO US TO SET OUT A STANDARD PRIOR TO COMPETITION, WE SHOULD DECIDE ON SOMETHING WELL IN ADVANCE TO BEST SOLVE THE PROBLEM!

Not really. You just talk to your alliance before the match.

[Joe Schornak]

Originally Posted by Tetraman

It's not that difficult.

Hold up a fist - Requesting a circle

Hold up a hand, palm out fingers together - Requesting a Square

Hold up a hand, back of hand fingers apart - Requesting a Triangle

We had issues with cross-field communication in 2009, when we were trying to communicate with our human player on the other side of the field. We tried hand signals initially, but they just devolved into large desperate waves as we tried to get his attention. There's probably going to be too much happening for the feeder to keep an eye on the drivers for the whole game. To make matters worse, the view to and from the driver stations will become obscured as more logo pieces are placed.

Thus, I support on-robot signaling. However, for that classy feel and improved visibility, use neon or LED underlighting colored corresponding to the desired color. It would be fairly intuitive to give a red piece to the robot with bright, flashing red lights.