Most... um... "entertaining" autonomous.

[dtengineering]

Okay, there is a poll out there for the best autonomous, which typically means that the robot accomplished what it was SUPPOSED to do... like scoring keepers and stuff like that.

But every now and then something goes just a bit unhinged and... well... the robot gets "creative". We had the pleasure of putting on a show for the opening ceremony crowd at Portland... first weekend... second match of the tournament... that set a high standard for creativity and drama... if not -unfortunately - effectiveness.

Take a look here as we demonstrate mastery of the pirouette. (Thanks, by the way, to our partners (360, I believe) for putting us back into action.)

Then, perhaps, post some links to other auto modes that -- if not effective -- were at least entertaining.

As for the "what the heck"? Well, this is what happens when you don't quite give the programmers enough time to test their code (a well-established tradition amongst many teams, I am sure). We had three sonar sensors on the front of the robot that were to detect the base of the rack and position us to score. Unfortunately the mecanum drive code used PID speed controls running off encoders... and used the user routines timing loop to keep track of time, but that loop was missing in auto. So while the sonar was working (I think... we didn't usually hit anything) the robot had no clue what the wheels were really doing. Or at least that is what the programmers tell me... they had it working pretty good in telop mode, but this was our first real try at full auto. We considered a few fixes, but eventually settled for just driving forward a bit and setting the arm into position to pick up a tube. But if only the "claw" had opened and we had scored this keeper... what a way it would have been to start the year!

Enjoy,

Jason

[Billfred]

Since I saw them on the field at two of their three events, I have to say 342. Not just for the autonomous mode, but their sense of humor about it.

Sure your robot can score, but can it dance?

[Lil' Lavery]

As much as I would like to say it was 116 lodging a tube in the rack in Galileo SF2-1 (http://www.thebluealliance.net/tbatv...?matchid=4334)....
....it HAS to be 340 scoring despite being blocked.

Even though 340s was doing what it was supposed to, it was the most amazing auto maneuver I've seen all year.

[Joe J.]

Or could it be 862 scoring 1114's Keeper?


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NAsgJeGGA5I

[Dan Petrovic]

I found the autonomous mode of this match quite amusing.

Who knows why 1189's robot would do something like that?

You kind of have to wait for a while before the match even starts.

[dtengineering]

Wow! Those are some great clips! How 1114 and 862 did that... (the whole match is linked here http://www.thebluealliance.net/tbatv...hp?matchid=968 ) is well... I'd say it was a fluke, but having had the honour of playing 1114 three times at GTR this year (yeah, ask how much I like that match scheduling algorithm...) I don't think much of what they do is based on luck. That is one skilled team.

And for 340 overcoming the block... wow... that is some solid coding to deal with unexpected interruptions like that.

If anyone wants to see 342 do their dance there is a clip at The Blue Alliance http://www.thebluealliance.net/tbatv...hp?matchid=573

What I don't see is the drive team... were they dancing along, too?

And big thanks, by the way, to the people who have been cutting and encoding and hosting the video, so that we have the luxury of saying "take a look at THIS". It is a real treat and really appreciated!

Jason

[Nuttyman54]

I would like to nominate 668's "wavy arm dance" from SVR. I don't know which match it was, or if it was even intentional, but it was amazing. I'll try and find on soap if I've got time...

[Dan Richardson]

LoL I have to go with 342, not only because of their crazy spin of death but because that robot packs a lot of bling.

Bling + Spinning = Dizzy Announcers having fun with it.

[danshaffer]

i would like to nominate the joint team 8/1425 from LVR semis. We shook the rack, took off a diamond plate, and 1425's ringer bounced onto the rack. That said, we were on different alliances.

[geeknerd99]

Match 49 @ VCU, AKA "Jumping to Hyperspace". I thought we had broken the rack, but I think it came out in better shape than we did.

Note our slapping of the rack with our ramp later in the video. This actually prevented two tubes from being scored.

[Zach Wydick]

Originally Posted by danshaffer

i would like to nominate the joint team 8/1425 from LVR semis. We shook the rack, took off a diamond plate, and 1425's ringer bounced onto the rack. That said, we were on different alliances.

I must say that was pretty cool...i was on the field when it happend and i didnt realize how cool it looked til i saw a video recording later

[=Martin=Taylor=]

I don't have a video of it, but in one of our first practice matches in Atlanta our robot "Break Danced." Those who saw it will agree that it was one of the most extraordinary auto-modes of 2007.

Our robot raised its arm to full height and bounced in a circle for 30 seconds - at each moment almost loosing contact with the ground !

It was one of the most terrifying sights I have ever seen....

This was NOT supposed to happen, and it resulted from mechanics related turning problems that were later solved with omni-wheels.

[Stephi Rae]

Originally Posted by danshaffer

i would like to nominate the joint team 8/1425 from LVR semis. We shook the rack, took off a diamond plate, and 1425's ringer bounced onto the rack. That said, we were on different alliances.

you beat me to it, i was just about to post that but i wanted to find it first. That was pretty much amazing, that ended up being the highest scoring match of the regional, it was pretty exciting! you guys were really great, team 8. and thanks yet again to error code and the poofs! we were cheering for you guys in atlanta! it was almost as much fun as if we had been picked! we hope to see you all again next year!

so ya, that match was semifinal 1 match 2. http://www.thebluealliance.net/tbatv...p?matchid=3165

[Qbranch]

Wow is all i can say.

-q

[Swampdude]

Lol that first one is good. We had one in the first match of finals at UCF. We accidentally left it in "Kill Mode" which was meant to go across the field and cut across the rack. But we meant to "do nothing" here. So instead it took off in high gear and nearly took out both alliance partners by and inch, but somehow didn't hit anything. This match we discovered our arm was broke from the previous match as well, and had to play some defense.

UCF Final match 1