Radio problems -- not

FIRST General Forum
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Posted by Joe Johnson.   [PICTURE: SAME | NEW | HELP]

Engineer on team #47, Chief Delphi, from Pontiac Central High School and Delphi Automotive Systems.

Posted on 3/14/2000 6:45 PM MST

Hi all,

I just want to give a salute to the brave boys at Innovation First.

Did anybody notice that there were ZERO replays at the Great Lakes Regional?

118 qualifing matches plus another 20 or so elimination rounds and NO radio problems.

I LOVE THAT!

Well done Innovation FIRST.

Joe J.

P.S. I encourage everyone who wants to have smooth driving & moving robots in 2001 to BUY an extra controller or two. You need the time to learn the strengths and weeknesses of PBASIC and, more importantly, Innovation First could use the sales in order to have the capital to invest in other cool innovations for next year. This is a Win-Win situation.

P.P.S. I have no interest in Innovation FIRST other than the general interest of wishing them success so that we can have even more cool stuff and even fewer radio problems in future FIRST competitions.

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Posted by Mike Gray.

Engineer on team HOT from Huron Valley Schools sponsored by GM Milford Proving Ground.

Posted on 3/15/2000 6:48 AM MST

In Reply to: Radio problems – not posted by Joe Johnson on 3/14/2000 6:45 PM MST:

Echoing Joe’s comments, the Innovation First control system appears to be completely immune to radiated and conducted transients. I noticed no tempermental robots on the field, a problem common in the past and probably due to multi-path, packet collision, and commutation noise.

One team had some difficulties, but the problem was very high motor loads while turning their rubber-tracked machine. Not a control system problem.

The drill motors are electrically very noisy, and we’ve had to wind wave traps to reduce the problem. Not so with the Innovation First control system.

The improved control system and more liberal materials list both contribute to a more rewarding FIRST experience, and more robust machinery.

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