She's ALIVE!!!

FIRST General Forum
#2

Posted by Anthony Lapp.

Engineer on team #221, MI Roboworks, from Michigan Technological University.

Posted on 2/14/2000 2:12 AM MST

In Reply to: She’s ALIVE!!! posted by Joe Johnson on 2/13/2000 11:51 AM MST:

: She’s ALIVE!!!

: We’ve been close for about a week, but between one or 2 rapid redesigns and a crash diet, we were never able to ger her going… …until Saturday, late.

: Chief Delphi V (a.k.a. C.D. 5) is at long last sucking up balls and spittin’ 'em out like a champ.

: Looking forward to driving the wheels off this week. Who knows, we MAY even make weight this year (only 1.5 pounds left to loose – not too bad at this point).

: Saw a team from Detroit on TV last night (perhaps Team 249, DaimlerChrysler/ Jeep-Truck Engineering & Breithaupt Career & Technical Center).

: Seemed very tough.

: How goes the battle elsewhere? Raul & Dan (WildStang), Bill & Brian Beatty (Team Hammond), Mike Betts (Int’l Fuel Cell), David Asano (Nynex - Greerwich), Moe (TJ2), Greg Mills (Baxter Mountain Home), Andy Baker (TechnoKats)…

: Do tell…

: Joe J.

Even though you didn’t ask for us specifically, I decided that because of our roots(us both getting started in FIRST at the same time, and always having to see you, i.e. the airport at kickoff)we’d give everone a little dirt on Francois II.
We have a very unique and heavy drivetrain inspired by GM Proving Grounds '99. It’s 8 wheels with a tilting motion to help gain control over the ramp. We also use the drivetrain to hang from the bar. We used our standard telescoping lift and are able to hold and distribute five balls with each trip to the goal. There is also plenty of polished copper, we’re going for back to back most photogenic awards!!!

Sincerely Anthony Lapp MI Roboworks, Da U.P. eh!

#3

Posted by Daniel.

Coach on team #483, BORG, from Berkeley High School and NASA Ames & UC Berkeley.

Posted on 2/14/2000 5:11 AM MST

In Reply to: Re: She’s ALIVE!!! posted by Anthony Lapp on 2/14/2000 2:12 AM MST:

I can’t get any work done anymore when I’m at our workshop. Way too busy drooling over our bot =)

That sucker’s got looks. Expect a pretty one from rookie team #483

(now all we have left is to get it to DO stuff instead of just sitting there fat dumb and happy)

#4

Posted by Nate Smith.

Other on team #66, GM Powertrain/Willow Run HS, from Eastern Michigan University and GM Powertrain.

Posted on 2/14/2000 8:36 AM MST

In Reply to: Re: She’s ALIVE!!! posted by Anthony Lapp on 2/14/2000 2:12 AM MST:

Well, we’ve been playing around with our drive base for just about a week now, and we should have the rest of our parts bolted on in the next day or two …then comes the fun part, trying to get everything wired before we have to ship next week tuesday! We’re in pretty good shape though, so it shouldn’t be a problem…see everybody at Great Lakes!

Nate

#5

Posted by Michael Betts.

Engineer on team #177, Bobcat Robotics, from South Windsor High School and International Fuel Cells.

Posted on 2/14/2000 8:36 AM MST

In Reply to: She’s ALIVE!!! posted by Joe Johnson on 2/13/2000 11:51 AM MST:

: How goes the battle elsewhere? Raul & Dan (WildStang), Bill & Brian Beatty (Team Hammond), Mike Betts (Int’l Fuel Cell), David Asano (Nynex - Greerwich), Moe (TJ2), Greg Mills (Baxter Mountain Home), Andy Baker (TechnoKats)…

: Do tell…

: Joe J.

Joe,

The Bobcat is complete and functional with the exception of the ‘final’ end effector. Our fourth prototype of that mechanism worked like a charm. We are now making it out of aluminum instead of PVC (much easier to prototype). We can suck up balls at full speed (7 FPS) and our start to limbo time was measured at 3.7 seconds. Our ball carrying capacity will be about 10 balls.

I simply love the new ‘additional parts’ rules this year! having unlimited quantities of materials such as aluminum extrusion and polycarb has been a godsend.

There are going to be a lot of fine looking and operating machines out there this year. We will surely not be The Best, but we will be competitive.

Mike

#6

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 2/14/2000 6:08 PM MST

In Reply to: Re: She’s ALIVE!!! posted by Michael Betts on 2/14/2000 8:36 AM MST:

Michael, Michael, Michael,

Sucking up balls at 7 fps!

10 balls!

3.7 seconds from Start to Limbo!

10 seconds from scoring position to hanging!

If it were any other team, I would doubt your veracity.

Yet, I know team #177 and I have to admit that I believe what you say.

I will tell you true, right at this moment, I have a knot in my stomach and my fingers are a bit shaky…

Well, I am sure there are down sides to some of your design choices.

If we are pair with you, we will hope to fill in the voids. If you are on the other side, well, we will do our best to make them work to our benefit.

One thing is for sure, you have disturbed my sleep more than you know…

I suppose it wouldn’t be sportsman like to hope that your team gets out of practice waiting for the NE regional to come around :wink:

Good luck to us all.

Joe J.

#7

Posted by Bill Beatty.

Other on team #71, Team Hammond, from Team Hammond.

Posted on 2/15/2000 10:19 AM MST

In Reply to: I am sorry I asked :slight_smile: posted by Joe Johnson on 2/14/2000 6:08 PM MST:

stay the course.

#8

Posted by Michael Betts.

Engineer on team #177, Bobcat Robotics, from South Windsor High School and International Fuel Cells.

Posted on 2/15/2000 10:51 AM MST

In Reply to: I am sorry I asked :slight_smile: posted by Joe Johnson on 2/14/2000 6:08 PM MST:

Joe, Bill, et al…

There are always trade offs… We are slightly overweight and it’s a bit of a bother to put into the stowed position.

It’s a simple design… I think you are going to love it…

BTW, not for a moment do I think that either of you are loosing sleep over us!

Mike

PS: Did I mention that we can steal 5 to 6 balls out of an opponents goal fairly rapidly? :wink:

#9

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 2/15/2000 2:36 PM MST

In Reply to: Re: I am sorry I asked :slight_smile: posted by Michael Betts on 2/15/2000 10:51 AM MST:

Mike,

Thanks for offering more comfort.

Joe J.

#10

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 2/15/2000 6:20 PM MST

In Reply to: and this by way of oferring comfort!?!? posted by Joe Johnson on 2/15/2000 2:36 PM MST:

I went to the bother of using a spell checker to find out whether offering has one R or two, only to fix it in one place and erase the double F in the second place while leaving the wrong double R intact.

Ah well…

I suppose I can suffer the humiliation with gracious professsionalism :wink:

Joe J.

#11

Posted by Bill Beatty.

Other on team #71, Team Hammond, from Team Hammond.

Posted on 2/16/2000 8:29 AM MST

In Reply to: and this by way of oferring comfort!?!? posted by Joe Johnson on 2/15/2000 2:36 PM MST:

Hmmmm. Maybe you were right!

All kidding aside, we have discussed the three things necessary to win the robot competition and I am willing to bet that you have two of the items covered well. That is all you need.

Bill B

#12

Posted by Lora Knepper.

Student on team #69, HYPER (Helping Youth Pursue Engineering & Robotics), from Quincy Public Schools and The Gillette Company.

Posted on 2/14/2000 7:59 PM MST

In Reply to: Re: She’s ALIVE!!! posted by Michael Betts on 2/14/2000 8:36 AM MST:

At this point all I can say would be a question…

Bobcat, you guys want to ally with us again in Hartford??? ;o)

Good luck,
Lora Knepper
Team 69

#13

Posted by Tom Calef.

Coach on team #88, TJ², from Bridgewater-Raynham Regional High School.

Posted on 2/15/2000 5:22 PM MST

In Reply to: Re: She’s ALIVE!!! posted by Michael Betts on 2/14/2000 8:36 AM MST:

In reply to your comments on your robot, you want news on how our robot is coming along. Lets just say that we can not only move from one side of the field to the other in 4.7 flat but we can also jump and swing around the pole. We’re so good at handling balls, you have to pay us for the two minutes we’re out there. Among the possibilities of our robot, we have a 7’6’ human player who makes Michael Jordan look like a munchkin and we are VERY well equipped to handle the balls. As soon as we get a picture… we’ll post it

#14

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 2/15/2000 6:05 PM MST

In Reply to: TJ² is moving right along posted by Tom Calef on 2/15/2000 5:22 PM MST:

I am beginning to suspect that you folks are playing some head games with the ole Dr. Joe…

Jump the pole?

If you say so…

Joe J.

#15

Posted by Mike Kulibaba.   [PICTURE: SAME | NEW | HELP]

Student on team #88, TJ², from Bridgewater-Raynham Regional and Johnson and Johnson.

Posted on 2/15/2000 7:56 PM MST

In Reply to: Now I think you’re playing head games… posted by Joe Johnson on 2/15/2000 6:05 PM MST:

Joe,

I think my teammate over exaggrerated a little bit about our robot. It is working and going well but in no way can it hop over the bar. Swinging from the bar we can do but I don’t like doing it, having a team going full speed at you hanging from a bar isn’t my idea of fun. I also think the stopwatch they were using was a little off cause I don’t see any robot going all 50 ft in 4.7 seconds but I think many will be close(5.5- 6.0 seconds)one thing I can say is true is that we will post a picture as soon as we get one. Good luck to everyone. From what I’ve been reading I’m going to be very impressed with the robots that people are talking about. We’ll see some of you in Jersey and hopefully most of you in Florida

Kuli team 88

#16

Posted by Mike King.

Other on team #88, TJ², from Bridgewater Raynham and Johnson & Johnson Professional.

Posted on 2/15/2000 8:59 PM MST

In Reply to: Re: Now I think you’re playing head games… posted by Mike Kulibaba on 2/15/2000 7:56 PM MST:

This is coming direct from MOE, so get ready

The One, the only

TJ²

*optional Cheezeit’s box not included

#17

Posted by Greg Mills.

Engineer on team #16, Baxter Bomb Squad, from Mountain Home and Baxter Healthcare.

Posted on 2/14/2000 12:48 PM MST

In Reply to: She’s ALIVE!!! posted by Joe Johnson on 2/13/2000 11:51 AM MST:

:
:
We are driving around and can pick up balls fairly well. We are using a transfer conveyor to deliver the balls to the goal. We can hold seven at a time and can empty in eight seconds. Our speed is 8 fps and we can swivel under the 30’ before we can get to the rail. Our drivetrain is probably our strength this year. Hanging is not a problem but I don’t like it. The machine will lift the weight but I feel very exposed and I’m still not convinced it is worth the five additional points to risk it until the finals. We have some shortcomings but we should be able to compete.

I have always felt that it is a shame that we have to go against each other - if there was a collective goal and each team had a small part to design and complete - just think what an amazing effort we could put forth as one huge team!! I am looking forward to seeing everyone’s final product.
:

#18

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 2/14/2000 5:52 PM MST

In Reply to: Re: She’s ALIVE!!! posted by Greg Mills on 2/14/2000 12:48 PM MST:

Keeping score is a big part of the game as far I can see.

I know that it would be nice to celebrate success in a Platonic world where we are all philosopher kings comparing the shadows cast by our machines on the cave wall to some TRUE robot in some other realm.

Yet…

In the world we all live in, it is the risk of winning and lossing that motivates the hearts of men (and women).

So… While I scared to death of your robot, I would not trade competing against you for cooperation (unless it is as an allinance partner and then we would be back to back taking on all comers).

Here’s to competition. And seeking for the National Championship Trophy.

Joe J.

#19

Posted by Greg Mills.

Engineer on team #16, Baxter Bomb Squad, from Mountain Home and Baxter Healthcare.

Posted on 2/15/2000 6:24 AM MST

In Reply to: Don’t go soft on me Greg… posted by Joe Johnson on 2/14/2000 5:52 PM MST:

:

Didn’t mean to imply that I don’t crave the chance to go head-to-head, just that I am always impressed by what everyone else comes up with. There is an incredible amount of talent hidden within the walls of every organization that takes on the challenge of FIRST. I feel the kindred spirits of everyone that has worked so hard and it is just a shame that rules cause someone to ‘lose’.

Now having said that - I can’t wait to get into the ring with the best and renew some of those heated rivalrys, make some new ones, all while whipping the pants off of all comers!!

#20

Posted by Andy Baker.

Engineer on team #45, TechnoKats, from Kokomo High School and Delphi Automotive Systems.

Posted on 2/14/2000 11:11 PM MST

In Reply to: She’s ALIVE!!! posted by Joe Johnson on 2/13/2000 11:51 AM MST:

OK, since you’re all being so giving out there, here’s what team 45’s bot can do so far.

The performance of our drive base is very encouraging. The expectation and hope of getting our arm operational is kinda taxing… but we’re not quite to the panic stage yet.

We’ve been tweaking our drive base for a week. It’s fast at a max speed of 12 fps… from start position to the limbo bar in 2.8 seconds. BUT our traction is lacking. We are getting use to spinning wheels again, compared to last year’s cleats o’ terror.

The arm-ball collecting chute was married with the base on Sunday, but we have not powered it up yet. We hope to hold many balls also, but we are behind on testing and operating the ball collection system.

I’m wondering if we will be continually driving out from under our arm… we shall see soon.

Our 'bots nickname should be the extrusion-mobile for all of the t-slot extrusions that we are using. The good thing is that this fastening technique is adjustable… the bad thing is that this fastening technique is adjustable. We shall see if this adjustability is a blessing or a curse.

Keep the candles burning at both ends,
Andy

#21