Difference between revisions of "Talk:DEWBOT VI Monty Madness"

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(23-May-2010)
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:* Pre-align wheels and set kicker to ''armed'' via tether prior to setting the robot on the field.  Remove these steps from the start of autonomous.
 
:* Pre-align wheels and set kicker to ''armed'' via tether prior to setting the robot on the field.  Remove these steps from the start of autonomous.
 
:* Turn off steering control during (at least the early portion of) autonomous period (allowing possibility of a side-move at the latter part to clear path for alliance scoring).  Thought is that in absence of steering control, the robot is more likely to continue on a straight forward path.  Currently, the steering control is in-effect (steering straight ahead).
 
:* Turn off steering control during (at least the early portion of) autonomous period (allowing possibility of a side-move at the latter part to clear path for alliance scoring).  Thought is that in absence of steering control, the robot is more likely to continue on a straight forward path.  Currently, the steering control is in-effect (steering straight ahead).
:* In order to avoid interfering with alliance scoring, we should target the middle column of ball positions for mid-field or near-field autonomous.  Our drive-train provides us with a unique opportunity in this regard, as the drive direction and kicker orientation are independent.  For mid-field, the wheels should be pre-offset 22 CW (looking from above).  For near-field, this needs to be 50 CW (again, from above).
+
:* In order to avoid interfering with alliance scoring, we should target the middle column of ball positions for mid-field or near-field autonomous.  Our drive-train provides us with a unique opportunity in this regard, as the drive direction and kicker orientation are independent.  For mid-field, the wheels should be pre-offset 22° CW (looking from above).  For near-field, this needs to be 50° CW (again, from above).  All wheels should be run at the same angle and speed (this is crab drive, afterall).  This (excellent) idea is from Jon Davis.  
  
 
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[[Category:Events]][[Category:DEWBOT VI]]
 
[[Category:Events]][[Category:DEWBOT VI]]

Revision as of 23:40, 23 May 2010

Possessor

Sab-BOT-age has struggled over the possessor, without being able an effective device.

I would like to explore a completely different approach. Team 103 Cybersonics has an effective vacuum-type possessor. There are two units, left and right, allowing space for a central kicker. Vacuum is provided by two axial 3-blade propellers (L&R) each driven by an ungeared FisherPrice motor. Two rollers (L&R) within the vacuum plenum contact the ball, allowing it to roll on the floor while in possession.

With this possessor, we would not need such a wide kicker. It could be cut down.

A drawback is the need to position the ball into the central possessor by driving. Our current possessor does not center (or possess), but allows accurate kicking over a wide portion of the robot's width.

I will work first in Inventor to develop this concept for DEWBOT VI.

Follow-up 23-May

A first-cut analysis using inventor indicates that it is geometrically feasible to replace the current possessor with a vacuum-type device along the lines of 103's
But during the S.T.E.M. Defined! domonstration, we observed that the current possessor actually works pretty well.
A low, hinged roller bar was tested on 23-May, without success.

Mirror

Suggest we install a polymer mirror on the robot front to help us see and therefore clear balls hiding behind the bumps. We need to test the concept this week. I'll arrange materials & time.

Follow-up 23-May

A large, spring loaded mirror on top of the robot is now conteplated. Angled slightly downwards to provide a view behind the bump. Sasha and Andrew are pursuing the design of this mirror.
The mirror cannot be glass, of course. Polymer or chromed metal preferred.
Spring-loading is preferred to allow passage through the tunnel. Details need to be worked out (the devil is always in the details).
In use, the robot would be run up behind the bump, facing the bump's rear (hidden) side. The the robot would strafe right and/or left to look for hidden balls. Once found, the robot could more forward to clear the balls, either by capturing them with the possessor and kicking to score, or by chipping them over the bump at close range.

Autonomous

A huge improvement over earlier autonomous! Can we make it more reliable?

Drive-train

Erratic drive-train behavior plagued us at Monty Madness. Appears to be a new problem. Cause?

Human Interface

Paul has added new drive capabilities, but these are underutilized (or unutilized) by the driver. Why?

  • not useful capabilities?
  • difficult (non-intuitive) control?
  • inadequate training?
  • complaicent driver?
  • do I really need to buy an X-Box?

17-May-2010

Changed the tread on wheel 1. The tread on this wheel (Right Rear - also the only "Deaver Attachment" wheel at Monty) had been polished smooth at Monty Madness (but still securely on the wheel). See wheel photos below.

Also replaced the jammed wheel axle collar.

Charged battery #1 with an old charger for testing.

18-May-2010

Gary Deaver upgraded the wheel tread attachments to the "Deaver" system.

All other effort was focused on preparation for the S.T.E.M. Defined! demonstration.

19-May-2010

S.T.E.M. Defined! demonstration night. Here's the surprise: the possessor works! Pretty well, in fact. The need to to explore a completely different approach has to be rethought.

  • Interesting. What's it look like up close if you, Carly & Sasha stand 40ft away as they drive (a la competition)? Are we missing something in drive team observation/control here?--Siri 12:16, 22 May 2010 (UTC)
  • Sound is a large part of what we miss is competition. At a demo, Carly is near the robot and can hear the change in the possessor motor's sound as the possessor engages a ball. At a competition, this sound is lost. Secondarily, drivers at demos are more relaxed. This makes the finesse needed to use the possessor effectively easier. Thirdly, I think that the driver's expectation at Monty Madness was an ineffective possessor. Little was needed to support that preconception and little effort expended to refute it at the competition.--Clem 23-May

The possessor is effective at:

  • pulling the ball slowly backwards with the robot
  • holding the ball in contact while pivoting about the ball to aim
  • holding the ball in contact while driving sideways to bring the ball into the kicking zone. This kicking zone is a generous 15 inches wide.

What the possessor is ineffective at:

  • driving forward. With the possessor driving inwards and driving the robot forwards, the possessor generally sucks the ball under the robot.
What happens if we ramp it up to where it used to swallow the balls, and then pulse the roller instead of running it continuously? Can we balance the counter-tractions?--Siri 12:16, 22 May 2010 (UTC)
  • also nervous, jerky and overly aggressive drivers will lose the ball. Finesse is needed.

20-May-2010

Paul & Clem McKown

Worked on erratic wheel steering behavior. Also, Paul practiced driving and shooting, in the process qualifying as a competition Driver.

It is clear that under either of the two conditions, that we have problems with steering motors:

  1. If robot battery voltage under load drops too low, below about 10 V.
  2. If we run the robot too long, the steering motors get hot and thermal trip.

However, it is also clear that at times pivots cease steering at good battery voltage and with cool steering motors. When this occurs,

  • the Classmate indicates that it knows that the wheel is out of position versus setpoint;
  • the Jaguar indicates that it is sending out full power;
  • 12 V is measured across the Jaguar output terminals with a voltmeter;
  • yet the motor does not turn, nor does it get hot; and
  • "rebooting" the robot corrects the problem.

Tres bizarre. I am mystified. Any enlightenment would be most welcome.

21-May-2010

Paul & Clem McKown (Paul in charge)

Autonomous development night. We ran 34 autonomous tests, varying robot speed, possessor speed and direction, and IR-kicker trigger voltage.

We also ran some tests without downloading permanent code. Operation with temporary code was strongly correlated with "happy wheels" behavior. It is understood that this is different than Finger Lakes "happy wheels", despite similar symptoms.

Best kicking performance was achieved with the possessor off. Worst with possessor reversed (where the ball is pushed away from the robot and a weak kick or no connection result). When the possessor is on, we tend to pull balls under the chassis. This either supresses kicking or results in a weak kick.

The IR trigger is very unreliable. We've tuned to to be generally too sensitive. The alternative seems to be not sensitive enough. We definitely do not have this sensor thing right yet!

23-May-2010

Paul, Sasha, Nichole, Andrew, Jen, Carly, Mike Rizzo, Gary Deaver, Rita Wall, Faith & Clem McKown

Mike Rizzo & Gary Deaver prototyped a hinged, low possessor roller. Good idea, but no joy.

Mirror concept expanded upon (changed from short below-bumper concept to taller, spring-loaded, top-of-robot concept based on obvious reality). The system design is assigned to Andrew & Sasha (Clem McKown to play role of mentor only). Carly agrees that such a mirror could be very useful in competition.

Severely worn possessor drive polycords were replaced with spares (spares were not replaced).

Some autonomous concepts were articulated:

  • Pre-align wheels and set kicker to armed via tether prior to setting the robot on the field. Remove these steps from the start of autonomous.
  • Turn off steering control during (at least the early portion of) autonomous period (allowing possibility of a side-move at the latter part to clear path for alliance scoring). Thought is that in absence of steering control, the robot is more likely to continue on a straight forward path. Currently, the steering control is in-effect (steering straight ahead).
  • In order to avoid interfering with alliance scoring, we should target the middle column of ball positions for mid-field or near-field autonomous. Our drive-train provides us with a unique opportunity in this regard, as the drive direction and kicker orientation are independent. For mid-field, the wheels should be pre-offset 22° CW (looking from above). For near-field, this needs to be 50° CW (again, from above). All wheels should be run at the same angle and speed (this is crab drive, afterall). This (excellent) idea is from Jon Davis.