Baxter Bomb Squad: Midwest and Dallas East 2012 Video

FIRST Robot Showcase
1

We recently went to the Midwest and Dallas East regionals (back to back) and won them both. Thanks to 1986, 3874, 148, 2022, 148 again, and 4090 for help in the eliminations. To thank those teams, the transitions for the second half include their team names.

Please watch (IN HD!)

-JTN

2

From week one at GKC, 16 has been one of the best robots this season. I could easily see the Bomb Squad on Einstein. They prove that a catapult is not only possible but viable this year. Bravo.

3

Thanks for the compliments. We try hard to maintain a balance of engineering, uniqueness, aesthetics, and simplicity to bring some of the most high-scoring and unique robots on the field.

Hope to see you at world championships.
-JTN

4

I think that it’s not their catapult that makes them a force to contend with, but much more to do with their amazing ball collection and even more dizzying speed and swerve. Crazy that you went with 4 pods instead of the Bomb Squad three wheel swerve. I saw it at KC and that bump just melted under your traversing.

5

Thanks. We try to implement our trademark swerve drive into every game, even 2010. This is, however, our second year of four wheel swerve, but this year’s drive train comes packed with multitudes of new programming and EIGHT drive modes (we use them all). Every single year our drive train keeps getting better and better ever since our first rotating wheel module in the early 2000s and our first true swerve back in 2006 (which you can find documentation on in the 2006 FIRST Behind the Design book under the “Motorola Quality” section).

Thanks, and stay tuned for more videos from our competitions,
-JTN

6

I remember getting told by one of our major build students back in 2010 to go take a look at yours at CowTown. The three wheel swerve was pretty sick. I’ve read all I can out of the Behind the Design on there, and we’re looking into designing a swerve over the summer this year. We’re taking heavy influence from both you and the 3928 swerve module released this year. Using the CIM itself as a “hub” is pretty darned ingenious.

7

What I think is funny about your post is that 3928 actually used our CAD drawings we posted on Chief Delphi a few months ago and REALLY squeezed the module together! In my opinion, it looks beautiful.

-JTN

8

That’s a fancy video ya got there JTN :wink:

I’ve always had a blast working with Bomb Squad, Midwest and Dallas were no exception. Definitely one of the class acts of FIRST. See y’all in St. Louis.

9

Great video! JTN, do you have any pictures of this years drivebase?

Love Bomb Squad robots!

10

Great job on the video! It was a pleasure to team up with Team Titanium and Bomb Squad to win the Greater Kansas City Regional. Look forward in seeing you guys again in a few weeks in St. Louis.

11

Fantastic video. I cannot wait to look at this bot in St. Louis, it might just pass 2008 as my favorite bomb squad bot. That might be a tall order, that bot was incredible.

12

I’m always astounded at how well the Bomb Squad robots are driven. Many teams use omnidirectional drive systems, but few, if any, use them as effectively as Team 16. There’s a lot to be learned from watching them.

13

Thanks, Karthik. We try to set the standards for omnidirectional drive trains, as well at beat out the tank drives. The main elements that keep our swerve on top are using trigonometry to elemate ALL friction on the wheels (theoretically, of course), strength: 4 CIMs keep our drive on par with tank drives, and speed: 15 feet per second in any direction.

Thanks again for the compliments,
-JTN