Robot Capabilities?

[MrJohnston]

There is a lot of talk about what robots should be able to do and how to accomplish different tasks, but what things will your robot (likely) be able to do in your first competition? Mark all that apply.

[Thromgord]

Our robot can:

>Pick up a single tote! (Because this list has to start somewhere.)
>Pick up a single bin! (At least, we'll probably be able to do this reliably in a day or two.)
>Place a single tote on top of a stack of 1-2 existing totes! (We could have made it capable of placing a bin on top of a larger stack, but we decided it wasn't worth it)
>Place a bin on top of a tote! (Again, probably a day or two before this happens.)
>Make a stack of up to six totes and a bin! (This is the Big Kahuna right here.)
>Pick up a stack, add to it from the bottom, and drop it off again! (This will probably come in handy too.)

We're working on autonomous right now, and hoping to get a 2-3 tote auto before Bag & Tag.

~~~

[Edit: Should this be a poll?]
[Edit edit: Poll added! Thanks!]

[Shrub]

>Make a stack of about 4-5 totes
>Lock them into place when they're on our bot
>Hopefully with a bin+noodle combo
>Drive into the auto zone during autonomous
>Do a barrel roll (soon...)

[IronicDeadBird]

>Frustrate Cadders and Programmers
>Cut engineers with blunt surfaces
>Move on its own
The usual
4-5 tote capacity can do bins and strafes

[Doug Frisk]

I expect a stack of 3 totes in autonomous to be fairly rare, so the claim by close to half of the respondents that they will be able to do a 3 tote stack seems somewhat overconfident.

In 15 seconds you have to pick up a tote, move, pick up a tote, move, pick up a tote and then move to the autonomous zone, set them down and move away so you aren't supporting them.

That's a tall order. The video posted this morning of a bot picking up a tote and container then moving to the auton zone took 12+ seconds and that didn't require much movement or autonomous alignment.

[MrJohnston]

Originally Posted by DareDad

I expect a stack of 3 totes in autonomous to be fairly rare, so the claim by close to half of the respondents that they will be able to do a 3 tote stack seems somewhat overconfident.

In 15 seconds you have to pick up a tote, move, pick up a tote, move, pick up a tote and then move to the autonomous zone, set them down and move away so you aren't supporting them.

That's a tall order. The video posted this morning of a bot picking up a tote and container then moving to the auton zone took 12+ seconds and that didn't require much movement or autonomous alignment.

I think we'll see at least two or three robots at each district/regional with this capability.... If robots:
* Have a strong intake system
* Internal stacking
* Load totes the long way
* Have a strong, fast lifter
* Have a way to push recycling containers out of the way

... it isn't that hard. We designed our robot with the the autonomous stack in mind and specifically made several design choices so that we would have the capability.... I am pretty darn certain that our robot has the capability of doing it pretty easily - the only question is whether or not we have given our programming team enough time to get it (and a million other things) running before our week two competition....

If we can do it, so can many other teams... Strong autonomous routines are a focus of many teams.....

The real question to me is: How many robots will have an autonomous routine allowing them to stack all three totes *and* drag the three recycling containers into the auto-zone for a 28 point autonomous?

[GeeTwo]

Originally Posted by MrJohnston

I think we'll see at least two or three robots at each district/regional with this capability.... If robots:
* Have a strong intake system
* Internal stacking
* Load totes the long way
* Have a strong, fast lifter
* Have a way to push recycling containers out of the way

... it isn't that hard.

I agree with the beginning and end, but your list has several items which have alternatives or may not be important at all. We only meet #3 and #4 of your list, yet reasonably hope to have a tote stack autonomous. We're replacing a strong intake system with a constellation of sensors, and because of our lifting style, to misquote Darth Vader:

Originally Posted by Darth Vader, sort of

Recycle Containers do not concern me.

The key things are to:

1. Find and drive to the totes autonomously (whether guided by encoders or vision sensors) or have a "hooks and cords" setup to bring them close
2. Quickly/efficiently line up and load the totes into a stack (may include active loaders or sensors that know where the tote is)
3. reasonable speed and consistency driving to auto zone and disengaging from the stack.

[Doug Frisk]

Originally Posted by MrJohnston

I think we'll see at least two or three robots at each district/regional with this capability.... If robots:
* Have a strong intake system
* Internal stacking
* Load totes the long way
* Have a strong, fast lifter
* Have a way to push recycling containers out of the way

... it isn't that hard. We designed our robot with the the autonomous stack in mind and specifically made several design choices so that we would have the capability.... I am pretty darn certain that our robot has the capability of doing it pretty easily - the only question is whether or not we have given our programming team enough time to get it (and a million other things) running before our week two competition....

If we can do it, so can many other teams... Strong autonomous routines are a focus of many teams.....

The real question to me is: How many robots will have an autonomous routine allowing them to stack all three totes *and* drag the three recycling containers into the auto-zone for a 28 point autonomous?

See, I think you and I are just disagreeing on nomenclature. Most regionals have 50 to 60 teams, so if 2 or 3 at any given regional have that capacity that's on the order of 5% and I'd call that fairly rare.

I also don't think it's so much capability as time that will be the limiting factor. I suspect that if autonomous were 20 seconds there would be plenty of teams that could get 3 totes. At 15 seconds I expect a lot of "darn that was almost there."

[bEdhEd]

Current capabilities:
Six tote stack with RC
coopertition stack
take RC off of step
Wide and narrow tote intake/elevator
Clear landfill zone of totes
Robot auto set
Tote chute receiving

Capabilities in progress:
3 tote stack auto set
Tote auto set
Landfill clearing/RC grab autonomous

[matthewdenny]

These are either a misrepresentative sample, skewed by very good team, or their are some very optimistic people out there, or we have seriously under achieved with our robot.

We can:
-Make stacks of 4+ totes
-Load from the chute
-Pick up other totes that are right side up

We are working on:
-Autonomous (Moving an RC and tote)

We have a withholding allowance:
-To get a RC lift working (up to 5 totes)

[orangemoore]

The least surprising statistic from this poll is that no one has chosen to pick-up pool noodles and place them in Recycling Bins.


sarcasm
I wonder why?
/sarcasm

[TDav540]

Originally Posted by MrJohnston

I think we'll see at least two or three robots at each district/regional with this capability.... If robots:
* Have a strong intake system
* Internal stacking
* Load totes the long way
* Have a strong, fast lifter
* Have a way to push recycling containers out of the way

The more I begin to see more about the Quality of Competition during at least regional events, finding a way to do the three tote stack while keeping the bins upright will be extremely valuable. Plenty of teams will be able to deal with upright bins - how many can deal with them knocked over?

[who716]

Grab two containers off the step in auto and also stack yellow totes
Carry two countainers around at the same time and stack both in two stack parellel to each tour simotsiniously
Stack gray tops however highs we need

[JohnFogarty]

Our robot can;
Stack ~4+ totes & potentially a RC w/ litter on top.
Auto Collect 2 Recycling Containers from the step. Keeping them upright.
Co-op stack place up to 3 totes on step.
Auto 3 tote, 1 RC, 3 totes & 3 RC.

Primarily load from chute.

[GeeTwo]

OK, I'm trying to figure out this bit from the poll results:

Teleop: Make stacks 4+ tall (no RC)    55    61.11%
Teleop: Make stacks 4+ tall w/RC       72    80.00%

So there are seventeen of us on CD who can't make a stack of four or more totes unless an RC is on top? I can't wait to see those designs!