REWARD OFFERED: A CAPPED VISION TETRA ON THE CENTER FIELD GOAL

[Greg Marra]

We got our camera working the last two matches. The robot drove to the tetras, but something wasn't working right so it stopped autonomous to avoid breaking things. (We have error checking code to avoid burning the FPs).

Maybe in Philly?

[team66t-money]

First off from being a member of team66 thanks to all with the support for our alliance during the semi finals and finals we went 6-0 no loses it was so great and congrats to all who received a award today at glr. thanks to 67,68 we were a great alliance also we did cap 3 times in practice on Thursday and once today in the finals i know ya said close isn't good enough but it wasn't really on all the way but it was on (center) our main problem was they changed the camera code on us and decided not to tell us but before the semi finals we figured it out but once again we came this close () from getting the center all the way on so far i think we are the only ones to even place a tetra on any goal if not please pm me i would love to find out who else figured it out we spent 3 weeks doing (not easy what so ever) but hey yeah once again thanks to all for all the support.

[ldeffenb]

Originally Posted by team66t-money

so far i think we are the only ones to even place a tetra on any goal if not please pm me i would love to find out who else figured it out we spent 3 weeks doing (not easy what so ever) but hey yeah once again thanks to all for all the support.

Team 386 came really really close to doing the center numerous times at the Central Florida Regionals, but always had something come up. We threw the initial tetra into the mix, and almost put *BOTH* of them on in auto. We've got the moves, and with a new tilt sprocket and replaced lift motor, it just could happen the first time for us in Atlanta.

I'll be scaring up some video of how close we came (man, driving 22 feet and ending where you want it is nigh on impossible!) so watch this space.

Lynn (D) - Team Voltage 386 Software & Coach

[Shu Song]

w00t!

congratz to team 66!

Does anyone have this on video? I'd love to see it.

[Brandon Holley]

Wayne - watch for team 11 at NJ

[JonBell]

Originally Posted by team66t-money

First off from being a member of team66 thanks to all with the support for our alliance during the semi finals and finals we went 6-0 no loses it was so great and congrats to all who received a award today at glr. thanks to 67,68 we were a great alliance also we did cap 3 times in practice on Thursday and once today in the finals i know ya said close isn't good enough but it wasn't really on all the way but it was on (center) our main problem was they changed the camera code on us and decided not to tell us but before the semi finals we figured it out but once again we came this close () from getting the center all the way on so far i think we are the only ones to even place a tetra on any goal if not please pm me i would love to find out who else figured it out we spent 3 weeks doing (not easy what so ever) but hey yeah once again thanks to all for all the support.

Not quite using the vision tetras, but...
At our regional, two teams (Elm City and Shelton) had "lifter" bots (one had a scissor lift, the other just had a long pivoting platform). They found that if they could start with the extra tetra (or whatever it's called), they could simply orient themselves towards the side goal, and then in autonomous they just had to push it on to the goal. If they brought it down with enough force it would also knock off the hanging tetra (a 4 point play!), and this worked pretty much every time.

Our bot uses a fairly inarticulate arm, so it wouldn't be very feasible for us to do a similar move, but instead we just always start facing the side, and can always knock down the hanging tetra for 1 point. It probably wouldn't be much harder to pick it up after we knocked it down, back up, and place it back on the side goal, all using dead reckoning. I didn't think of this until we were in the semi-finals though, so I didn't have time to try it at our regional.

I didn't watch all of the matches, so I can't say that no one capped the vision tetras, but 230 (shelton) and elm-city were both pretty sweet with their 4 point plays.

So the moral of the story?
Perhaps dead reckoning and using the hanging tetras would be easier than relying on the camera?

My team (854) came very close at the Toronto Canada Regional, I am not sure but I think we were the only team at the Waterloo Regional and Toronto Regional using the camera, but at the Toronto one we missed by like 1-2 inches. It hit the top of the center goal but fell off when our robot backed up.

[thoughtful]

i would say there are about 6 teams that have a realistic possibility of doing this at the nationals. However, these Brilliant teams also need a tad of luck at thier side to accomplish this in the 15 seconds. I think that the probability that we see this happen at the nationals is 0.167.

[JoeXIII'007]

Originally Posted by thoughtful

i would say there are about 6 teams that have a realistic possibility of doing this at the nationals. However, these Brilliant teams also need a tad of luck at thier side to accomplish this in the 15 seconds. I think that the probability that we see this happen at the nationals is 0.167.

Luck, hope, prayer, and a lot of support. Optimism is mandatory, for it is that which usually makes it happen. Don't lose it.

[Wayne C.]

Well- the regionals are all over- over 30 tournaments and still no capped center goal.

Am I taunting?- yeah maybe a little.

I've seen several VERY close tries. Its pretty amazing to watch.

I'm surprised nobody has drop down guides to center the robot on the middle goal when they go to place.

Of course once you get it on there for 9 pts. you need to make sure you don't get a 10 pt deduction for some silly penalty.

In any case, the offer still stands. The TIKI is waiting. And the Championship is just days away.

WC

[FDAapproved]

We were really pulling for you, I'm almost certain if you were able to attend nationals you would have gotten that tiki trophy.. Someone should really post a picture of how it was.

I believe someone got a picture of our cap somewhere in the forum, the plank of spray painted wood kept the tetra from falling into place, but it was close enough to make our team go crazy with joy, espically our head teacher....(hehe) I am very proud of our programers

(I would like to note that it was occasionally distracted by the yellow and black caution tape that was around the gates onto the field.)

Although we are sure that this was a distraction to the camera, we are now debating if it is reasonable (and legal) to request for the removal of the tape (maybe a substitute could be put down?) The removal of the tape could be the deciding factor for any team at nationals that is using the camera and we want them to have the best chance to make history!

[dradius]

Originally Posted by FDAapproved

I believe someone got a picture of our cap somewhere in the forum, the plank of spray painted wood kept the tetra from falling into place, but it was close enough to make our team go crazy with joy, espically our head teacher....(hehe) I am very proud of our programers

Although we are sure that this was a distraction to the camera, we are now debating if it is reasonable (and legal) to request for the removal of the tape (maybe a substitute could be put down?) The removal of the tape could be the deciding factor for any team at nationals that is using the camera and we want them to have the best chance to make history!

the deal at the houston regional occured when i asked the head referee (northumberland) before the beginning of our match. he said that it had been there the entire time and nothing could be done about it--at the time, true. however, in future competitions, i feel it can be argued that the caution tape, though a safety-cautious and necessary part of the playing arena, is not part of the playable playing field. thus, it poses a distinct distraction for the robot which itself alone cannot accomodate for. because of this, there are potential problems for robots who, in normal curcumstances, using the camera, would have little issue tracking.

i think a possible change in caution tape color should be an appropriate accomodation for those who need it, or possibly covering that one line of tape that is in direct contact with the tip of the loading ramp. realistically, it doesnt change anything for the non-camera-using robots, but poses a significant threat and possible malfunction for those who strive for optimum use of the onboard vision system.

[FDAapproved]

Originally Posted by dradius

however, in future competitions, i feel it can be argued that the caution tape, though a safety-cautious and necessary part of the playing arena, is not part of the playable playing field.

Very true, If the tape isn't included as a necessary part of the field, it is an accessory for safety and there shouldn't be any reason against replacing it with a different color tape.
If only we had thought of that before the regional started.

[Beta Version]

by the way, if you want to see a video of 624 capping the goal, and another close atteempt at the houston regional, you can watch it at our site, www.cryptoniterobotics.com (you can also see me and my awesome human-player skills)

[ldeffenb]

Originally Posted by Beta Version

by the way, if you want to see a video of 624 capping the goal, and another close atteempt at the houston regional, you can watch it at our site, www.cryptoniterobotics.com (you can also see me and my awesome human-player skills)

Thanks for the videos! I know that our team would have gone absolutely nuts (along with the crowd) at Central Florida Regionals if we had been *that* close!

Great Job! Looking forward to seeing one or more of us actuallyl do this multiple times in Atlanta (assuming you're able to compete there!).

Lynn (D) - Team Voltage 386 Software Mentor and Coach - Two Reasons to *REALLY* want a Vision Cap!