Thoughts
- Ball is bouncy
- Probable 5 second delay if ball is given a good kick
- Defense can just kick the ball around (making chaos)
- 2 bots could squeeze the ball into the corner
- Missed shots will go all over
- Ball control will be difficult
- Throw over the truss is very difficult (hard to throw, catch, control)
- but truss and catch are not bonuses: added to score immediately
- Safe 31 points by scoring in the low goal (controlled)
- Play defense by forcing robots off the ball
- Be ready for “opportunistic” defense
- This is the year for maneuverability
- Mecanum wheels!
- Driving practice!
- Low robots for the low goal (high vulnerable to loss of control)
- potential for catching
- Can we contain the the ball inside the robot?
- Arms are vulnerable to, well… amputation
- can we build very strong arms that grab the ball under the equator
- Stick to the sideline — can only be hit from one side
- One robot dribbles/runs, one blocks, third scores
- Defend against this by positioning a bot on the sideline
- How many cycles can we reasonably expect?
- Last year, best teams made 6-7 cycles with frisbees
- Throw and catch is slooooow
- If there’s no one to pass with, we need to be able to put up some points
- In theory, one robot could block a single low goal solo
- Does this push shooting from a “should” to a “must”?
- A team that dedicates itself to blocking hurts its own potential for assists/scoring
- Need to protect ball when holding it
- Don’t want it cantilevered in front of the robot
- “Elephant tusk” lifters
- Use our 30 lb. allowance for spare arms? — or just build something good’n’sturdy the first time
- Second robot
- At least identical drive train
- Hammer out software
- Driving practice
Priorities
Must
These will happen no matter what
- Drive
- Herd
- Score >= 6 pts
- Bumpers
- Do this first week, while prototypers prototype
- Documentation
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Should
Prioritize, try to get to as many as possible
- Maneuverable (drive train and practice)
- Mecanum wheels
- Hold (hardware) a. with potential to shoot if that system comes online b. Loading (hardware) — might not even need this
- Shoot 8’ (hardware)
- Some aiming (software)
- Second robot for driving practice/thinkin’
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If Time Permits
Reach goals
- Catch
- Differential power settings
- Vision system
- Modular goalie arm (sub 30 lb, replace shooter at competition)
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Housekeeping
- Clean up after yourself
- Help teammates clean up after themselves
- We don’t leave until we scrum… we don’t scrum until the shop is clear
- Half-finished projects go on shelves, not the floor
- Scrap is only useful if it’s stock, stock is only useful if it’s organized
Building Tonight
- Frame up Mecanum chassis avec Mssr. Eacho (CAD your work! — Alex & Varun?)
- Jane, Ryan L., David E., Will
- Wiring with Mr. Roche —> feeds into software
- Kevin, David B., Roche
- Bumper constuction con Sr. Wells
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Current Projects
Things we can do before we have a design finalized…
- Bumpers
- Drivetrain
- Drive stations
- Documentation
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