Go to Post Support an awesome scholarship fund for deserving students by buying sweet CAH expansion packs? Heck yeah. - Cothron Theiss [more]
Home
Go Back   Chief Delphi > FIRST > General Forum
CD-Media   CD-Spy  
portal register members calendar search Today's Posts Mark Forums Read FAQ rules

 
Reply
Thread Tools Rating: Thread Rating: 2 votes, 5.00 average. Display Modes
  #31   Spotlight this post!  
Unread 03-02-2003, 10:18
Danaca Danaca is offline
Registered User
#0624 (Cryptonite)
 
Join Date: Jan 2003
Location: Houston, TX
Posts: 10
Danaca is an unknown quantity at this point
Send a message via AIM to Danaca
What are you being so negative about? Robotics is supposed to be fun, remember? We don't build just to win, or even to perform exceptionally well.

We build because we can.
__________________
~The Slacker
Reply With Quote
  #32   Spotlight this post!  
Unread 03-02-2003, 11:48
EvilInside's Avatar
EvilInside EvilInside is offline
Robots, Cars, Physics!
#0706 (APE)
 
Join Date: Jan 2003
Location: Wisconsin
Posts: 59
EvilInside is an unknown quantity at this point
Send a message via AIM to EvilInside
Your 'bot

That is actually pretty nice for a chassis, but here is some advice on your wheels. It ooks as if you have 4 wheel drive with the grey wheels, and on carpet you may have "dancing" problems. For those of you who were at the practice competition last year in Sussex, WI you may have seen us, team 706, watching in horror as our robot danced as it turned. Not cool. Find some carpeting that is like the competition stuff, and try turning on it. If you dance, don't despair, just grind down that black strip on the black wheels that came with the kit and put them on the front or back, and that :should: solve your problem.
__________________
"All your bins are belong to us" "You can't teach God anything"
Reply With Quote
  #33   Spotlight this post!  
Unread 03-02-2003, 13:18
Ryan Meador Ryan Meador is offline
Registered User
#0190
Team Role: Electrical
 
Join Date: Jan 2002
Rookie Year: 1999
Location: Worcester, NH
Posts: 68
Ryan Meador will become famous soon enough
I noticed in those pics that your victor fans don't seem to be wired up. If you're drawing as much current as it sounds like you are, they're definately necessary! Don't cook your victors.
__________________
-Ryan

"You're not a real programmer until you end all your sentences with semicolons;"
Reply With Quote
  #34   Spotlight this post!  
Unread 03-02-2003, 13:22
ChrisH's Avatar Unsung FIRST Hero
ChrisH ChrisH is offline
Generally Useless
FRC #0330 (Beach 'Bots)
Team Role: Engineer
 
Join Date: Jun 2001
Rookie Year: 1998
Location: Hermosa Beach, CA
Posts: 1,230
ChrisH has a reputation beyond reputeChrisH has a reputation beyond reputeChrisH has a reputation beyond reputeChrisH has a reputation beyond reputeChrisH has a reputation beyond reputeChrisH has a reputation beyond reputeChrisH has a reputation beyond reputeChrisH has a reputation beyond reputeChrisH has a reputation beyond reputeChrisH has a reputation beyond reputeChrisH has a reputation beyond repute
I see the usual "there's two weeks to go and we can't move yet!" panic is setting in. Probably about half the teams have gotten their robot to move under it's own power, barely. 75% of the rest of you will probably get there in the next week. It really will be OK.

If it doesn't look like you will be able to move by the end of next weekend (2/9) PLEASE contact a veteran team NOW! We can do a lot to help but we have to know about the problem. Team 1047 should contact Beach Cities robotics team 294 (try a PM to Redhead_jokes) as I think they are supposed to be helping you. They will also know what a drive should sound like.

Now for a few corrections:

The six hour robot was The Fembots at Silicon Valley in 2001. The primary co-ordination was actually done by Gunn robotics, team 192. (maybe because they are so easy to spot in a large crowd? ) They had major help from Team 22, Chatsworth High. Various other teams including 330, the BeachBots (my team), provided assistance as needed. In our case, we were asked to make the wheels. This used our process of grinding the top flat and attaching a custom tread. We were good at it having already done several sets of four wheels.

As I recall, the Fembots seeded #10 which was higher than we did, but they were not in the finals.

I am more impressed by what they have accomplished since then. When I talked to one of their mentors last year, they were running that little guy AUTONOMOUSLY. They had a huge enthusiastic support team. Their school was behind them (unlike the first year) and I look for great things from them in the future.

The only reason this robot was possible was that the Veteran teams involved were warned ahead of time and began planning in advance. The use of direct, van door motor drive didn't hurt either, but it's not an option this year.

BTW we haven't moved yet either. We thought we had the right size chain in our spares but alas it was not so. Should be moving tonight or tomorrow though, after we go buy some chain.
__________________
Christopher H Husmann, PE

"Who is John Galt?"
Reply With Quote
  #35   Spotlight this post!  
Unread 03-02-2003, 14:08
Redhead Jokes's Avatar
Redhead Jokes Redhead Jokes is offline
Door Opener Mint Mentor
AKA: Cheryl Miller
#0294 (Beach Cities Robotics)
Team Role: Mentor
 
Join Date: Oct 2002
Rookie Year: 2003
Location: Redondo Beach, CA, USA
Posts: 1,282
Redhead Jokes is a glorious beacon of lightRedhead Jokes is a glorious beacon of lightRedhead Jokes is a glorious beacon of lightRedhead Jokes is a glorious beacon of lightRedhead Jokes is a glorious beacon of light
[quote]Originally posted by ChrisH
[b]If it doesn't look like you will be able to move by the end of next weekend (2/9) PLEASE contact a veteran team NOW![quote]

They've had all our contact numbers, Mark's called them several times. They've emailed when they needed help. Haven't seemed to want visits or to visit us. We invited them to send 2 student reps with us to Phoenix, but they replied they "didn't see the point". I pm'd him when he first posted here, but never heard back.

Hey guys, I think you can tell from all the answers on this forum many teams are willing to give you help and support. You don't have to do this on your own, and you're probably doing better than you thought.
__________________
Cheryl Miller, SCRRF Southern California Regional Robotics Forum cheryl@scrrf.org SCRRF Calendar So Cal FIRST Lego League
Beach Cities Robotics Team 294 Team Mom cheryl@bcrobotics.org
2004 Robot name: Orange Tide
motto: Two Rival Schools, One Team...ride the Tide.
2004 So Cal Chairman's Award, Phoenix Regional DaimlerChrysler Team Spirit Award
2003 So Cal Regional Finalist and Sportsmanship Award, Phoenix Regional Engineering Inspiration Award
2001 So Cal Regional and National Champions, Regional Image Award
Gracious Professionalism Poster
Mint: To invent; to forge; to fabricate; to fashion. Mentor: a wise and trusted guide and advisor.
Reply With Quote
  #36   Spotlight this post!  
Unread 03-02-2003, 20:07
Redhead Jokes's Avatar
Redhead Jokes Redhead Jokes is offline
Door Opener Mint Mentor
AKA: Cheryl Miller
#0294 (Beach Cities Robotics)
Team Role: Mentor
 
Join Date: Oct 2002
Rookie Year: 2003
Location: Redondo Beach, CA, USA
Posts: 1,282
Redhead Jokes is a glorious beacon of lightRedhead Jokes is a glorious beacon of lightRedhead Jokes is a glorious beacon of lightRedhead Jokes is a glorious beacon of lightRedhead Jokes is a glorious beacon of light
Hey guys! Mark and our robotics engineer were just looking at the pics you sent Mark, and they BOTH said you guys are doing great. Mark said he already sent you his ideas.
__________________
Cheryl Miller, SCRRF Southern California Regional Robotics Forum cheryl@scrrf.org SCRRF Calendar So Cal FIRST Lego League
Beach Cities Robotics Team 294 Team Mom cheryl@bcrobotics.org
2004 Robot name: Orange Tide
motto: Two Rival Schools, One Team...ride the Tide.
2004 So Cal Chairman's Award, Phoenix Regional DaimlerChrysler Team Spirit Award
2003 So Cal Regional Finalist and Sportsmanship Award, Phoenix Regional Engineering Inspiration Award
2001 So Cal Regional and National Champions, Regional Image Award
Gracious Professionalism Poster
Mint: To invent; to forge; to fabricate; to fashion. Mentor: a wise and trusted guide and advisor.

Last edited by Redhead Jokes : 03-02-2003 at 20:09.
Reply With Quote
  #37   Spotlight this post!  
Unread 04-02-2003, 00:56
bigqueue bigqueue is offline
Registered User
#0811 (A.R.C.)
 
Join Date: Dec 2001
Location: Nashua, NH
Posts: 231
bigqueue will become famous soon enough
Send a message via AIM to bigqueue Send a message via Yahoo to bigqueue
Re: Anyone else with a really bad robot?

Quote:
Originally posted by Lord Nerdlinger
Our team is composed of 11 high school kids, no mentors, no college kids, etc. This is our first year, and the only real reason we have a team going is b/c we got lucky with some funding. Anyway, I finished the drive system today (almost) and our robot moves, but it's loud, shaky, covered in grease, stuff falls off, it's just all around terrible. We have nothing else on our robot except for the wheels, and the motors. Which we ran for a while, didn't realize they were getting so hot, and actually melted the wire onto the frame

So, does anyone else have a piece of junk robot? Becuase I've seen some pictures and were're getting pretty depressed.

*note Pictures can be seen here if you don't believe the crappyness, you have to copy/paste for it to work (my server sucks)
http://68.4.94.105:60000/robot/bin/


Whats wrong with that? It looks pretty good....looks robust....all you probably need is some debug time....no problem , everyone needs some of that.

Congrats on getting it going as quickly actually....we are still crawling while you are walking.

Keep up the good work!

-Quentin

The files are compressed for you peoples with 56k's, pics are about 60 k, and just in that directory.

Please give us hope :-)
__________________
Team 4987: Megarams
Reply With Quote
  #38   Spotlight this post!  
Unread 04-02-2003, 02:14
hacksaw692 hacksaw692 is offline
Registered User
AKA: Sherry Batin
FRC #0692 (The Fembots)
Team Role: Coach
 
Join Date: Apr 2002
Rookie Year: 2002
Location: Sacramento, CA
Posts: 133
hacksaw692 is an unknown quantity at this point
Send a message via AIM to hacksaw692
Quote:
Originally posted by ChrisH
Now for a few corrections:

The six hour robot was The Fembots at Silicon Valley in 2001. The primary co-ordination was actually done by Gunn robotics, team 192. (maybe because they are so easy to spot in a large crowd? ) They had major help from Team 22, Chatsworth High. Various other teams including 330, the BeachBots (my team), provided assistance as needed. In our case, we were asked to make the wheels. This used our process of grinding the top flat and attaching a custom tread. We were good at it having already done several sets of four wheels.

As I recall, the Fembots seeded #10 which was higher than we did, but they were not in the finals.

I am more impressed by what they have accomplished since then. When I talked to one of their mentors last year, they were running that little guy AUTONOMOUSLY. They had a huge enthusiastic support team. Their school was behind them (unlike the first year) and I look for great things from them in the future.

The only reason this robot was possible was that the Veteran teams involved were warned ahead of time and began planning in advance.
I'm glad to hear that we're remembered. I wasn't quite sure if that six hour robot that was mentioned was ours or not, so I didn't want to stick my foot anywhere if it wasn't. Although, I wasn't on the team that year, I heard many things about our rookie year.

Just a little story for all those rookies out there, we were once you, in fact all the other teams were once you:

2001: I haven't the foggiest as to what the girls did that year for the six weeks, but obviously nothing got done. They were about ready to drop the competition completely because they had nothing. But they were encouraged to go anyways as they did pay $5,000. So, they traveled from Sacramento to San Jose (2 hour drive) each morning and home each night, for they didn't have any reservations for a hotel. They just brought with them their kit of parts. Our teacher last year told us that it was awesome to see the veteran teams helping out in the creation of our little six hour robot. Thank you so much to teams 22, 330, and 192 (I heard people on my team were rather fascinated by the red hair)! Oh, and I thought my team placed 26th that year. *shrugs* I'm not too sure on that though. We still have it. We have dubbed it "the-piece-of-wood-on-wheels." And it works beautifully in autonomous mode.

2002: This was our "second" rookie year. All members were new as the previous year consisted of solely seniors. It was kind of rough to begin with since all members needed to be trained in workshop etiquette. We went well beyond our piece-of-wood-on-wheels, or six hour robot as the rest of the populous had called it. Major improvement. But we didn't place quite as high as we did the year before, but the experience and satisfaction of six weeks well spent was the best part.

2003: Those who do remember the six hour robot will be shocked to see us this year. But I'm not going to give anything away. You shall all see at SVR and/or Sac. It's simpler than last year's, but it works and I'm happy with it.

So, rookies out there, don't worry so much. This is a learning experience. Teams have to start somewhere and then learn from that for the next year. Every year is a gradual progression from the year before. Hope the story of the Fembots shines a ray of hope in people.
__________________
2002 - Team 692, Robot Driver/Historian
2003 - Team 692, President/Pit Leader/Lead Mechanic/Robot Driver
2004 - Sitting on the Sidelines...
2005 - Sac Robot Inspector
.
[as much as you may not believe it, Real Life can get in the way of FIRST]
.
2009 - Team 692, Alumni Mentor/Drive Team Coach

Cal Poly, BS Mechanical Engineering, 2008
Reply With Quote
  #39   Spotlight this post!  
Unread 05-02-2003, 13:32
FAKrogoth's Avatar
FAKrogoth FAKrogoth is offline
Registered User
#0990
 
Join Date: Jan 2003
Location: Vegas, baby!
Posts: 95
FAKrogoth is an unknown quantity at this point
Team 990 is also running into the usual late-stage design problems. We just found out that our stacker can't put one box on top of the other. Thus, we modified the design a little, and promised to fix the downsides in programming.

As far as I know, we haven't even tried to get it to move. Electrical is still mounting components on the whiteboard (will this setup be tournament legal? Who knows?) and we haven't connected it to the motors.

Finally, our chassis (Mad of channel and angle iron), while looking fairly sharp and providing lots of empty space, is surprisingly heavy. We're probably going to have to swiss-cheese our 'bot, even though it already is built like a catwalk.


Even so, we can see a marked improvement from last year. Now, we have a few dedicated college freshmen who worked on it last year, several involved seniors, and two sophomores who give a $@#$@#$@#$@# [wow. didn't know $@# was censored]. No adults take part in it other than our combination physics teacher/team leader. I'm a little scared for next year, but I think they'll (not me; I'll be somewhere in the Midwest) pull through.
__________________
Never underestimate the power, number, or magnitude of stupid people. - me

Last edited by FAKrogoth : 05-02-2003 at 13:34.
Reply With Quote
  #40   Spotlight this post!  
Unread 05-02-2003, 16:05
MissInformation's Avatar
MissInformation MissInformation is offline
falling can be fun
AKA: Heidi Foster
FRC #0116 (Epsilon Delta)
 
Join Date: Feb 2002
Rookie Year: 2001
Location: Sterling, VA
Posts: 1,652
MissInformation has a reputation beyond reputeMissInformation has a reputation beyond reputeMissInformation has a reputation beyond reputeMissInformation has a reputation beyond reputeMissInformation has a reputation beyond reputeMissInformation has a reputation beyond reputeMissInformation has a reputation beyond reputeMissInformation has a reputation beyond reputeMissInformation has a reputation beyond reputeMissInformation has a reputation beyond reputeMissInformation has a reputation beyond repute
Last year, our robot ED, the laundry basket on wheels, didn't do so well. I think the main reason it didn't do so well is because we didn' t keep it simple (and for this I do not blame the students, I blame the engineers... ) And we are not a rookie team, so robot problems don't just occur with new teams. We have over 30 students, and a handful of engineers, and we talked about keeping it really simple this year as well, but it was sort of decided that if we did, the students wouldn't get as much (? experience, fun, knowledge, enjoyment, inspiration- choose any they all fit) out of building it. It's still too early to tell what our robot is going to be like. It may be great, but there's a chance it will run just as poorly as last year's, however, I won't ever call it a bad robot because I know those who built it and I know how much time and effort went into it. Win or lose, they will always be my favorite team. Now, for second favorite, I like underdogs, so I can give you my vote...

Good luck with this year, and I hope you are all hooked, and I hope you have a team next year, so as soon as your robot ships, get working on funding for next year and if you want more students and some engineers, start advertising for them now!

MissInformation

<============>
There's nothing wrong with being amazing, but being amazed is more fun.

Last edited by MissInformation : 05-02-2003 at 16:39.
Reply With Quote
  #41   Spotlight this post!  
Unread 05-02-2003, 16:27
Matthew936 Matthew936 is offline
Registered User
#1158 (Eagle Corps)
 
Join Date: Jan 2003
Location: Collbran
Posts: 68
Matthew936 is an unknown quantity at this point
well we got our robot built
then we started to drive it

there went one drill motor, a van door motor, and other electronics start to smoke. so just getting done fast isn't a major concern. if you take your time and do it right you are doing just fine
Reply With Quote
  #42   Spotlight this post!  
Unread 05-02-2003, 17:46
Gope Gope is offline
Registered User
#0016 (Bomb Squad)
 
Join Date: Jul 2002
Location: Mountain Home, AR
Posts: 230
Gope is on a distinguished road
Don't worry bout it man. I'm actualy very impressed with ur drive train, execelnt work for a rookie team

Also, the great thing about this year is that a robot that just moves with a good driver can be an incredible defensive robot, knocking down a stack and shoving totes out of zones is really easy, so you might do much better than expected.
__________________
College and its wonders. First year and alot of other FIRSTs.
Reply With Quote
  #43   Spotlight this post!  
Unread 05-02-2003, 18:45
DanLevin247 DanLevin247 is offline
Missing In Action
#0247 ('da bears)
Team Role: Alumni
 
Join Date: May 2002
Location: Berkley Michigan
Posts: 494
DanLevin247 is on a distinguished road
Send a message via AIM to DanLevin247
I only stayed at 247's build session today for about 2 hours, but while I was there we came across a huge problem that really made my heart sink, and later I realized the current fragility of our drivetrain. Unless our electric guys can work miracles....
__________________
'daaaaaaaaaaaaaa bears!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

It's all fun and games till someone gets hurt.....then it's hillarious!
Reply With Quote
  #44   Spotlight this post!  
Unread 05-02-2003, 19:48
Adam Y.'s Avatar
Adam Y. Adam Y. is offline
Adam Y.
no team (?????)
 
Join Date: Mar 2002
Location: Long Island
Posts: 1,979
Adam Y. is a splendid one to beholdAdam Y. is a splendid one to beholdAdam Y. is a splendid one to beholdAdam Y. is a splendid one to beholdAdam Y. is a splendid one to beholdAdam Y. is a splendid one to beholdAdam Y. is a splendid one to behold
Send a message via AIM to Adam Y.
Quote:
ok, I'm sorry, I'm an aluminum type person... Wood just scares me, I would be afraid that it would crack, but you're right, it is is assembled properly it should be ok. And yes it is lighter...
Wood is a lot more durable than plexiglass as our team has discovered this year. It is odd because for the purpose we are using it for wood is an excellent choice because it is uber easy to attach stuff to it.
__________________
If either a public officer or any one else saw a person attempting to cross a bridge which had been ascertained to be unsafe, and there were no time to warn him of his danger, they might seize him and turn him back without any real infringement of his liberty; for liberty consists in doing what one desires, and he does not desire to fall into the river. -Mill
Reply With Quote
  #45   Spotlight this post!  
Unread 06-02-2003, 00:32
EStokely's Avatar
EStokely EStokely is offline
Registered User
AKA: Eric Stokely
FRC #0360 (Revolution)
Team Role: Mentor
 
Join Date: Nov 2001
Rookie Year: 1998
Location: Tacoma
Posts: 195
EStokely has a reputation beyond reputeEStokely has a reputation beyond reputeEStokely has a reputation beyond reputeEStokely has a reputation beyond reputeEStokely has a reputation beyond reputeEStokely has a reputation beyond reputeEStokely has a reputation beyond reputeEStokely has a reputation beyond reputeEStokely has a reputation beyond reputeEStokely has a reputation beyond reputeEStokely has a reputation beyond repute
Quote:
Originally posted by DanLevin247
I only stayed at 247's build session today for about 2 hours, but while I was there we came across a huge problem that really made my heart sink, and later I realized the current fragility of our drivetrain. Unless our electric guys can work miracles....
As a general rule I have found that the mechanical build team relies on the electronics group to work miricles in the same way that the computer group relies on mechanical to fix its problems and the electronics guys figure eveything will be fixed in software.

So I bet you ship a decent machine in spite of the set back

So many holes to drill.......
__________________
Eric Stokely
Team 360 The Revolution, past mentor of 258 The Sea Dawgs
Experience is what you get when you don't get what you want.
Reply With Quote
Reply


Thread Tools
Display Modes Rate This Thread
Rate This Thread:

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

vB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Forum Jump

Similar Threads
Thread Thread Starter Forum Replies Last Post
How much planning goes into your robot? Jnadke General Forum 41 29-01-2006 21:29
serious problem found - robot controller resets when jarred! KenWittlief Electrical 23 19-03-2003 13:30
WASH Palm scouting at the Championship Mike Soukup Scouting 2 19-04-2002 15:14
Index of team's post about their robot... Ken Leung Robot Showcase 1 20-03-2002 17:10
about how Drive Train push the robot... shouldn't the force accelerate the robot? Ken Leung Technical Discussion 12 26-11-2001 09:39


All times are GMT -5. The time now is 16:52.

The Chief Delphi Forums are sponsored by Innovation First International, Inc.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.6.4
Copyright ©2000 - 2017, Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd.
Copyright © Chief Delphi