IR Jamming from 2 or more remotes - results

[Joe Ross]

In our tests, we could get a command in every few seconds with 1 remote jamming, but not with two.

[de_]

I was wondering if there is any feedback from actual matches as to how successful or unsuccessful teams were in

1) using IRs to completely drive the robot ?

2) any problems even passing a simple command at startup ?

Thanks

[Shadow503]

Originally Posted by de_

I was wondering if there is any feedback from actual matches as to how successful or unsuccessful teams were in

1) using IRs to completely drive the robot ?

2) any problems even passing a simple command at startup ?

Thanks

1) It worked fine up until after the seeding matches. There was either intentional jamming or just too much interference. We're looking for a solution right now.

2)We were unable to get any signal passed after the seeding matches while on the field.

[Alan Anderson]

Originally Posted by Matt H.

As your alliance partners are all pointing their remotes right where you are pointing your you may end up not able to do anything.

You wouldn't be aiming your remote at your alliance partners' robots. Why would they be pointing theirs at yours? And if you narrow your sensor's field of view enough, only one remote will be visible to it anyway.

I think I'll suggest mounting our IR sensor near the floor, with a shield above it. Only someone holding a remote a few inches off the ground should be able to get a command through to it.

[Matt H.]

Your alliance partners start the match very close to your robot--It would require a very directional sensor on everyone's part not to be pinging other peoples robots.

[Alan Anderson]

Originally Posted by Matt H.

It would require a very directional sensor on everyone's part not to be pinging other peoples robots.

Something as simple as a paper towel tube ought to suffice. Consider bringing a handful of them to the field and handing them out to your alliance partners if it looks like they'll be spraying IR all over the place.

[MiniNerd24]

Uhhh... I'm probably wrong but are you allowed to purposely jam the others signals? I thought that was illegal. (TEASER: Well with our modification jamming won't be a problem. )

[nparikh]

Originally Posted by MiniNerd24

Uhhh... I'm probably wrong but are you allowed to purposely jam the others signals? I thought that was illegal. (TEASER: Well with our modification jamming won't be a problem. )

Good to hear that you've found a way to eliminate jamming! I don't think that many teams will intentionally jam the field, but interference may definitely be an issue. Looking forward to seeing how it works!

[Mr. Lim]

Originally Posted by MiniNerd24

Uhhh... I'm probably wrong but are you allowed to purposely jam the others signals? I thought that was illegal. (TEASER: Well with our modification jamming won't be a problem. )

Not as worried about intentional jamming, but:

A RoboCoach who holds down a button continually, or hits it repeatedly will jam others. Intentional or not.

If you're a RoboCoach, you hit a button and it doesn't work right away, what will you naturally try and do? Chances are, you will either hold it down, or press it as fast as you can, possibly jamming the RoboCoach beside you.

Guess what the RoboCoach beside you will try and do now that their buttons don't seem to be working?

This thread has a couple of good solutions, but it looks like it'll be a combination of many things to effectively get around this. Adjusting scope of IR emissions, adjusting scope of IR reception, and the all important social engineering between RoboCoaches.

Make sure your RoboCoaches know the ins and outs of your robot's IR requirements! I'm calling it now, you WILL run into more than one team (alliance or opponent) whose Hybrid mode will depend on sending continuous IR commands to their robot.

Be prepared to deal with it - in a GP manner of course =).

[GGCO]

Unless you buy some really really really unpopular remote I am 100% sure that we are going to encounter interference.

I recommend trying to depend on the IR board as little as possible.