So after the end of the season, what does your robot do and how does it do it?
Ours has a giant claw that grabs the ball and releases it over the overpass, also is can hold on to the ball until we need to let it go.
We have a lifter that can push the ball off of the overpass. Once it’s down, we can herd it around the track very quickly with a 36" diameter hoop. The hoop comes down on top of the ball, and the best description I’ve heard is that it looks like a halo of sorts.
Our has a massively overpowered double jointed arm. Why massively overpowered you ask? Well, in addition to its normal herding, placing, slow hurdle, and removing capabilities, our arm is a catapult. The catapult function was never tested due to chain slippage and a software bug (both easily fixable), but with over a horsepower driving the shoulder joint (none of this stored energy nonsense, we just use raw power), that ball is going somewhere fast. The robot also can run a 12sec lap with six robots and four balls on the field, and it will only get faster as I get more practice driving it.
we have a poker that pokes the ball off, and we have a claw that grabs and releases the ball . . we may have a catapult if we can get it working(with out any one having to tap it every time to set it off ) on Thursday.
we can also drive around poking our colored balls and drive around really fast while not hitting any thing . . . with out any input from the drivers
we have a bendy claw that is able to create an iron grip on the ball, and a double jointed arm to lift it. The arm is springy, so our drivers are able to use it to do an overhead throw.
our arm also doubles as a ball knocker in high speed.
401 can Capture the ball off the over pass, herd, hurdle, and place!
We use claws attached to a globe motor to lift up the ball and a large “hammer” to kick the ball over the overpass.
When a judge asks you this question, he or she really means “How does your robot do what it does?” Every team member should be able to answer that question in detail, or at least be able to refer the judge to someone who can answer it: “Well, I didn’t work on the pneumatics myself, but Andy over here can tell you …”
A couple years ago I was judging in OCCRA, a fall competition in Oakland County. I asked one team member to tell me about her robot. "Well, it drives and, um, " And that was about it. I didn’t get back to see them again, and consequently they didn’t get recommended by me for an award.