DEWBOT VII Ramp Riot

12-November-2011. Due to the late drop-out of team 1391 (Metal Moose), FRC Team 1640 had the opportunity to field two robots at Ramp Riot. DEWBOT VII Prime, our competition robot was fielded under the 1640 team number by our competition drive team. Deux entered the competition under the nom de guerre 1641 operated by drive-team trainees, giving them invaluable competition driving experience. We also ran two pits, providing training in this area as well.

This is the first time Sab-BOT-age had ever run two robots in a competition and my heartfelt thanks go out to all those who worked so hard to bring Deux from arm-less engineering test bed up to competition condition in the space of one short week.

1640 finished qualificatiions as 14^th seed; 1641 as 29^th.

1640 was selected by the 3^rd alliance, comprising teams 103 (Cybersonics) and 365 (Miracle Workerz). An awesome alliance. We won the quarterfinals and our first semifinal match. Alas, 1640's minibot deployment was unreliable throughout the day (critically, it failed in the 2^nd semifinals match) and 103 broke down in the 2^nd semifinal match. As a result of these two factors, our alliance was defeated by the 1^st alliance (2016, 222, 1403), who went on to become champions.

By a bizarre twist, 1641 was brought into the finals as a replacement robot for 2607. We lost, but ended up as Ramp Riot Finalist.

1640 has participated in Ramp Riot every year since the team's inception, making this our 7^th Ramp Riot.

The resurrection of Deux

Our 2^nd 2011 robot, Deux, had been reduced to a inert hulk before Duel on the Delaware. The arm and minibot systems were removed to convert it to a generic testbed chassis. Two pivots were pulled to provide spares for Prime. The line photosensors were pulled. The solenoid module was removed from the cRIO for another Duel team which needed it. Altogether, Deux was far from a competition-ready robot on 4-Nov when we learned of the 2^nd robot opportunity.

In addition, improvements made on Prime were to be incorporated in Deux as well, primarily the (3) photosensor line-following (we didn't have a 3^rd sensor).

Four long nights later, Deux was ready to compete. Thanks to everyone who put in the effort to make this happen!

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  Kira, Lucy, Jack & Molly reinstalling Pivots & Minibot system

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  Kira, Gary Deaver, Molly & Jack reconnect the arm drive

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  Jack install guard as Ben Kellon looks on

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  Kucy & Kira install drive belt guards

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  Molly installs the minibot deployment mounts

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  Lucy, DJ & Molly reconnect wires

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  Teamwork (Kira, Molly & Lucy) works in cutting a new Bident shaft

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  Scott Featherman, Doug, Jack & Faith McKown connect wires and calibrate the arm sensor

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  Jack & Jarryd modify DEWBOT VI bumpers to fit Deux

Preparations for a 2-robot competition

Team Sab-BOT-age had never operated two robots in a competition before, and preparation eas necessary to make this possible.

From the "mechanical" side, we ordered two additional batteries and chargers; we built a 2^nd driver station (which required purchasing a new Cypress); and we also converted our retained set of blue DEWBOT VI bumpers to fit DEWBOT VII. Faith McKown devised very sharp and practical velcro-attached red bumper covers to allow a quick alliance change without requiring a 2^nd set of bumpers.

From the "process" side, we established pit check-lists mounted on the robots, organized two pit crews with an integrated battery management section. Preparation was a key aspect to the success of this 2-robot expedition.

Who was there

Students: Sasha, Andrew, Douglas, Ian, Nicole, Molly, Kira, Yahya, Ben, DJ, Jack, Lucy, Patrick C, Sarah, Patrick D

Mentors: Clem & Faith McKown, Julie Christopher, Siri Maley, Gary Deaver, Scott Featherman, Rita Wall

Family & Friends: Marianna Curran, Jarryd, Andrew Horvath & Reagan

1640 Driver: Andrew

1640 Operator: Sasha

1640 Human Players: Yahya, Jack

1640 Coach: Siri Maley

1641 Drivers: Douglas & Lucy

1641 Operators: Jack & Kira

1641 Human Players: Patrick D, Ian & Andrew

1641 Coach: Clem McKown

Scouts: Nicole

Pit Mentors: Gary Deaver & Siri Maley (mechanical), Julie Christopher (Programming) & Scott Featherman (Electrical)

Pit Crew: Molly, Lucy, Kira, Sarah, DJ, Patrick C, Patrick D

Ramp Riot Photo Gallery

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