Difference between revisions of "DEWBOT X"

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;<big>FRC 1640's [http://youtu.be/qEt7_PnrwcQ 2014 Season Wrap-up Video]</big>
 
;<big>FRC 1640's [http://youtu.be/qEt7_PnrwcQ 2014 Season Wrap-up Video]</big>
  
;<big>The team's photograph is features in [[media:FRC_SponsorshipFNL.pdf | ''FIRST's'' FRC Sponsorship flyer]].</big>
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;<big>The team's photographs are featured in ''FIRST's'' [[media:FRC_SponsorshipFNL.pdf | FRC Corporate Sponsorship flyer]], [[media:FRC_UniversitiesFNL.pdf | FRC University Sponsorship Flyer]] and [[media:SeasonRecap_FINAL_web.pdf | Season Recap]].</big>
  
 
==Projects==
 
==Projects==

Revision as of 13:26, 4 November 2014

AerialAssist RGB.jpg
FRC Competition Schedule.jpg
DBX 140331 csm-1.jpg
DBX 140218 csm-10.jpg
DBX Lenape 140323 csm-38.jpg
DBX FRCCMP 140426 csm-55.jpg
DBX FRCCMP 140426 csm-38.jpg
DBX FRCCMP 140426 csm-46.jpg
DBX Einstein 140426 csm-20.jpg
DBX team photos 140514 csm-1.jpg

The 2013 Einstein mis-scoring incident got the team riled (without blame to FIRST's handling of the situation, which was entirely fair and appropriate). Immediately after 2013 FRC Championships, and with fire in our bellies, the team set a single, hard goal: Go back to Einstein in 2014 and do it right. Strong words. Tough goal. While there is no way to guarantee that we will even qualify for Championships in 2014, no less find ourselves on Einstein again, this objective will determine our actions from the day it was made through the 2014 competition season.

Can it really be ten years?

DEWBOT X is designed and built to meet the unique challenges presented by FRC's 2014 game, Aerial Assist. Continuing our practice established with DEWBOT VII, we again built twin robots, Prime and Deux.

Notable events & accomplishments:

DEWBOT X Build

I love robotics competitions. Even so, the true raison d'être for FRC is found during build season, not in competition. This is where you learn. Pressure is high. Here you face your biggest challenges, and either overcome them, or are overcome by them. Build season is the lesson; competition is the exam.

Students join our team throughout the year, and most see competitions before build season, especially off-season events. Still, these students are rookies until they have passed through their first build season. Trial by fire.

Or perhaps, trial by ice this year. We were extremely fortunate to lose only four meeting days due to weather this build season. The season saw four major storms, including an ice storm which knocked out power for some people on the team (including Kelloms, Weissmans and McKowns) for five days! Fortunately, the TCHS lost power for only a day and a bit, so only one meeting lost.

Watch DEWBOT X's Reveal Video!

Design Details

Strategic Objectives
  • Primarily an offensive robot, designed to score points by accepting balls from alliance robots, passing possessed balls to alliance robots, shooting over the truss, (maybe catching from the truss) and scoring into either the high or low goals. Able to play aggressive, active defense as needed.
  • Score 20 points reliably in autonomous (randomly in the hot goal)
  • Shooter
  • SAFETY: The stored energy intrinsic to this game makes it very easy and tempting to design a robot capable in inflicting serious injury. A primary design requirement is that DEWBOT X accidents should be incapable of breaking bones or causing serious crushing injuries
  • Score in High Goal Reliably (and on the move)
  • Truss shots
  • Pass to other robots
  • Ball control
  • Rapid and reliable Ball pick-up from floor is essential
  • Able to pass quickly to alliance partners without losing alliance possession
  • Able to score quickly in low goal
  • Must be able to retain secure possession of the ball while driving through a demolition derby
  • Catching
  • It should be easy and reliable to load from Human Player by tossing in a Ball
  • Truss catch is an objective (a challenging one)
  • Drive-train
  • With a wide open field and no safe zones, we expect the field to look a lot like a demolition derby, but without the good manners.
  • Pivot has a lot to offer this year
  • Must drive straight for autonomous
  • Stable; low CG
Drive Train
Due to the very strong expected defensive nature of Aeriel Assist, and serious bandwidth limitations on our design team, we made the decision on 5-January to utilize DEWBOT IX's Drive Train design (which has been published) with a couple important upgrades.
Ball Handling
The robot employed a very effective Roller Frame to control ball movement. While originally envisioned primarily for the purpose of picking the ball up off of the floor, the finished system performed a wide variety of critical functions.
Control
Shooting
The robot was equipped with an effective 2-trajectory slingshot for shooting Aerial Assist's ball; either over the truss or into the high goal. A load cell driven dynamic winch provided consistent force tensioning of the slingshot.
Design Philosophy
More so than in any past year, the team pursued perfection in executing DEWBOT X's design and construction. This can be best seen in the attention to detail, the modularity and serviceablity of the robot. It is also visible in the repeated renditions of some parts, which we made over until just right.

Official Events

Kick-off - 4-January-2014
Hatboro-Horsham - 1 & 2 March-2014
Our performance was seriously compromised by an unanticipated Shooter Failure which was only diagnosed and corrected after the competition. We finished qualifications as 19th seed with a (6-6-0) record. We were the first pick of the 8th alliance, but did not advance past the quarterfinals. We earned just 21 MAR qualifying points at this event.
Lenape - 22 & 23 March-2014
Big turn-around from Hatboro-Horsham! Our detailed analysis of the shooter failure facilitated an effective correction. 1640 finished qualifications at 2nd seed with a (10-2-0) record. Joining the 1st alliance, we finished the event as FINALISTS. The 56 MAR qualifying points earned secured a spot for us a MAR Championships.
MAR Championship - 10-12 April-2014
Another strong performance. Sab-BOT-age completed qualifications as 4th seed with a (9-3-0) record. We lead the 4th alliance and while not advancing past quarterfinals, we earned a spot at the FRC Championship.
FRC Championship - 24-26 April-2014
Thanks to alliance partners 1678 (Citrus Circuits - alliance captain), 1114 (Simbotics) and 5136 (Mechapirates), we were Newton Division Champions and Einstein Finalists at FRC Championships.

For the record, we finished our official FRC season with a (45-25-0) match record.

Unofficial Events

Midknight Mayhem - 28-June-2014
Our all-new drive team and pit crew, together with a highly reliable 2-ball high autonomous earned us a 4th seed spot with a (4-1-0) qualification record. We accepted team 869's (Power Cord) invitation to join the 3rd alliance, but were eliminated in a quarterfinals rubber match.
Indiana Robotics Invitational - 18 & 19 July-2014
Held at Lawrence North High School in Indianapolis, Indiana 18 & 19 July-2014. Participation is by invitation only and the level of play is simply awesome.
Team Sab-BOT-age has participated in IRI every year since 2010; every year of swerve drive for us.
On the way home, we will be continuing an ancient and time-honored team tradition by spending the morning of Sunday, 20-July at the National Museum of the U.S. Air Force at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base near Dayton, OH.
Duel on the Delaware - 18-October-2014
Held at Salem Community College in Carney's Point, NJ and hosted by teams 365 (Miracle Workerz) and 316 (LuNaTeCs), Sab-BOT-age has participated every year starting 2007.
Teams 316 (LuNaTeCs), 1640 and 1089 (Mercury) were Duel on the Delaware CHAMPIONS! This is Sab-BOT-age's 4th consecutive Duel victory.
Ramp Riot - 1-November-2014
Hosted by team 341 (Miss Daisy) at Wissahickon High School in Ambler PA. Team 1640 has participated at Ramp Riot every year of its existence.
Team Sab-BOT-age was 4th seed, alliance captain and FINALIST at Ramp Riot.

Other Events

I love it when a plan comes together!
DAR FLL Scrimmage
The team hosted an FLL scrimmage on 23-November-2013 at the CCIU TCHS. 18 area teams participated.
Downingtown Area Robotics-TCHS-Penn FLL Qualifying Event 2013 - 7-December-2013
Downingtown's second annual FIRST LEGO League Qualifying Event was held at the CCIU TCHS Brandywine Campus in Downingtown, PA. This competition was hosted by Downingtown Area Robotics to allow area FLL teams to compete and qualify for the Penn FLL Championship in this year's game, NATURE'S FURYSM.
Congratulations to teams 763 (Robo Engineers), 1503 (Notre Dame) and 14042 (Ciberneticos), who qualified for the Penn FLL Championship Tournament.
MAR Team Day at Dorney Park - 12-July-2014

Outreach

B.S.A. Troop 9 Workshop
DWHS Demo
In our first Merit Badge workshop, six members of Boy Scouts Troop 9 (Honey Brook) successfully fulfilled the requirements for Robotics Merit Badge on 7-December-2013.
FIRST Demo in Exton Square Mall - 21-December-2013
Together with the MASH family of FTC robots (4077 MASH, 4856 Minnie MASH and 7690 New Mash), FRC 1640 participated in a FIRST demonstration and display at the Exton Square Mall in front of JC Penny's.
Demo at Downingtown West High School - 2-May-2014
Mackenzie and Dana led a robotics demonstration for incoming freshmen and Downingtown West High School.
Chester County Library Mini Maker Fair - 17-May-2014
DEWBOT X, now temporarily released from the endless drudgery of robotics competition, was able to enjoy some sunshine and play with some younger Chester Countians. A good time was had by all.
Visit by FRC Team 365 Miracle Workerz - 11-June-2014
Kiwanis demo
Mentors and students from MOE visited for a detailed review and examination of Sab-BOT-age's swerve technology.
Kids Fest - 21-June-2014
Downingtown Area Robotics responded to a request from the office of PA State Representative Duane Milne (167th District) and put together an FRC, FTC and FLL demonstration at Great Valley Middle School.
Main Line Kiwanis presentation & demonstration - 30-July-2014
Team Sab-BOT-age met with the Main Line Kiwanis to discuss our robotics program, the benefits to students and the team's competitive success.
MAR Competitiveness Workshop
FRC 1640's Clem McKown and Mike Rizzo participated in a workshop organized by David Bodmar of FRC 11/193 (MORT & MORT Beta) on how to make MAR more competitive. Teams 25 (Raider Robotix), 222 (Tigertrons), 225 (TechFire), 341 (Miss Daisy), 1923 (Midknight Inventors) and 2590 (Nemesis) also participated.
Sab-BOT-age with DASD School Board President Jane Bertone and Superintendent Lawrence Mussoline
Tippermans run Robot Springboard to teach robotics
For two years, FRC 1640's Hannah and Rachael have run Robot Springboard, bringing robotics, lessons to young students and attracting the attention of the US Secretary of Education, Arne Duncan. Their successful program has had international reach.
DASD School Board Presentation - 13-August-2014
As a consequence of the team's outstanding competitive performance this year, we had the opportunity to present at the Downingtown Area School District's board meeting. While we are no longer affiliated officially with DASD, Sab-BOT-age is a DASD team by birth, and most of our students are from the district.
Exchange Club of West Chester presentation & demo - 9-October-2014
Abbilyn, MacKenzie and Nicholas, with support from mentors Gary Deaver, Faith McKown and Andrew Weissman, reviewed FRC 1640's robotics program and community service to the Exchange Club of West Chester.

Media

With last year's outstanding competition performance, and the fact that we managed to go a step further this year, the team has received more than the usual amount of media attention. Summarized below, together with the team's media output.

2013 FRC Photo Gallery
Two of the 48 marketing tool photos in FRC's 2013 gallery show DEWBOT IX. One of these ended up in ROBOT Magazine.
2014 Kickoff Video
We're in there as a team, with Mike Rizzo making a separate appearance.
2014 FRC Competition Schedule
Features Kira and Douglas on its cover (see top of this page, right side).
Photo in ROBOT Magazine (March/April 2014 edition) p44
DEWBOT IX photo represents an FRC robot.
Daily Planet - 27-Feb
The Daily Planet, a Discovery Channel Canada science and technology program, featured team 1640's final build season weekend in a program aired on 27-Feb.
DEWBOT X's Reveal Video
Sponsor Arkema Inc. facebook postings
Arkema placed three pieces on their facebook page during the competition season and an additional piece following our Duel in the Delaware vistory.
FIRST Championship 2014 Program Guide
Excellent photo of Mike Rizzo on p108.
Photo for 2015 FIRST Championship facebook page
DEWBOT X is featured in FIRST's 2015 Championship facebook page.
FRC 1640's 2014 Season Wrap-up Video
The team's photographs are featured in FIRST's FRC Corporate Sponsorship flyer, FRC University Sponsorship Flyer and Season Recap.

Projects

Shifting Swerve
3-Wheel Swerve

Teams

Programming

People

Team Sab-BOT-age is what it is only due to the efforts of the people involved. DEWBOT X's success will be in the hands of the students, mentors and parents engaged. The team's very existence is possible only through the gracious generosity of our sponsors.

DEWBOT X Students
DEWBOT X Mentors
Sponsors 2014

See our other robots in the Robot Archives.