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Team 772 ends its season among the Champions of
FIRST
Please see the daily
updates from Atlanta here
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Club Sandwich Shines in FIRST's largest
regional
See the live
updates from Mississauga
Although our performance at this regional came to an abrupt
end, the Sad Walrus
was one of the dominant forces at the Hershey Center.
We could tell we had one of the better robots in the practice
rounds, even though not all
the robots even showed up for them. This was proven when the
qualifying rounds started and
we won our first match. However, it was a very low-scoring (4-0)
match due to penalties so we
weren't as high in the rankings as we wanted with one win.
As the matches progressed we were up to a bumpy start (we lost
our second match) but we came
back in style and won every match after that except one, which
we lost by two points because of a 10
point penalty. This put us in an extremely good position after
the qualifying rounds, and we were 7th
out of 66 teams, certain to enter the elimination rounds.
However, before the elimination round started some exciting
things happened. First of all, we
received the Team 1547 "Where's Waldo" Team Spirit award, which,
considering how energetic the
Waldo girls are, was a great honour. Additionally, we registered
for The Championship, but at the time
we weren't sure if we would go or not; only time would tell.
For the elimination rounds, we were very excited to be the
second pick out of every team in the
competition. The second alliance, lead by team 1241 (the third
place team), and with the assistance
of team 1006, became the GM Alliance of this regional event. We
went into our first match against the fourth alliance
(1482, 773, 1330) feeling extremely confident, and our team
dominated the field. Before the penalties had been called
the score for the match was 69-30 for us, but as it turned out,
40 points in penalties were called on our partner, 1006,
and we lost the match by a single point.
We knew we were the better alliance and were confident we could
come back with two straight wins. As the second match started
things were looking good, but after the Sad Walrus went to the
auto-loading zone to get another tetra, it stopped moving.
This problem hadn't happened to us since the practice rounds in
Rochester, and this was the worst time it could come back
to haunt us. The problem was that our battery connection had not
been zip-tied together before the match, and it came loose.
This disadvantage was too much for our other two team members to
handle and we ended up losing, and our time in the competition
was over.
We are proud that we were able to compete so well against so
many teams, and we left Mississauga satisfied with the
knowledge that this is the best we had ever done. But we were
hungry for a little more...
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Club Sandwich Leads #3 Alliance and wins Autodesk
Visualization Award
See the live
updates from Waterloo
Well if we were the sleeper robot of Finger Lakes, we
certainly woke up in Waterloo.
The Sad Walrus performed beautifully, and was definitely one of
the stars of this
regional competition.
At the end of Friday we were ranked 3rd out of the 24 teams
with 5 wins and 2 losses.
On Saturday we had a few tough opponents and lost another two
matches but won three more
to end up in 5th place with 8 wins 4 losses. Additionally we
gave the #1 seeded team (team 68)
its only loss of the entire competition and held the highest
scoring match of the elimination rounds (74-9).
Although we did not make it to the finals our amazing alliance
was certainly capable. For the first time
ever, Club Sandwich lead the #3 alliance in this competition
with teams 188
(Blizzard) and 1503 (Spartonics).
Team 188 had won the Xerox Creativity award on Friday for their
unique tetra grabber which is able to hold two
tetras and drop them one at a time. Team 1503 was a rookie team
who had proven themself on the field
throughout the entire competition with their extremely versatile
and reliable robot.
In the quarter finals we eliminated the #6 alliance
(758/1114/843) in two straight matches
with scores of 79-4 and 66-0. In the semi-finals we faced the #2
alliance (1084/40/1605) and
lost the first match 66-28. Before the second match we tried to
call a time-out since our chain
had broken on one side, but we couldn't because we had to call
it within 3 minutes of the last
match. We ended up running with just one of three wheels
spinning on one side, but we had
made three rows and would have had a score of 48-30 for us, but
after penalties the score
came to 20-18 for alliance #2 and we were eliminated. The 30
point penalty our alliance received
was a loading zone infraction that was caused by the other
alliance forcing 1503 into one
of their own robots while it was still in the loading zone.
Unfortunately we were not able to
see a tape to confirm whether this was the case, but regardless
the competition proceeded
without a hiccup.
See a video of our second quarter final match here (41
MB).
In addition to our robot's performance, Aruj Chawla, Deniz
Alpas, and James Herdman received
the Autodesk Visualization Award for their hard work. As rookie
animators, this is a great accomplishment
for the three of them. They are now eligible to be judged at The
Championship in Atlanta both for the
National award and for a Rookie Animation award.
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Team 772 Takes Home Silver for the First Time
Ever!
See the live
updates from Rochester
Hey Everyone,
There is mention we are a sleeper robot this year. Well thats
not hard to understand
after we finished 32nd out of 33 teams for the qualifying
matches at the Finger Lakes
Regional this past weekend. Once our robot got working there was
no stopping it. After
the first two days of competition Club Sandwich came out
stronger then ever. The Sad
Walrus was a force to be reckoned with. We were choosen to be in
an alliance with
teams 229 and
1507
to make up the 4th seed alliance. Our alliance then went on to
win
the quarter finals 2 matches straight taking out the 5th seed
alliance (1567/1126/145)
and then we faced the 1st seeded alliance (237/217/340) and made
a huge upset taking
them out with 2 straight wins once more.
For the first time Club Sandwich went to the finals with their
alliance. The 4th
seeded alliance had to take on the 2nd seeded alliance
(191/494/639). Again we were
the underdogs looking to make another upset. We took the first
match in a close
battle to the buzzer. Then however the 2nd seed alliance took
the next match with
some agressive play to just sneak past our alliance to tie up
the best of three 1-1.
In the deciding match it was again very close. Either team could
have won. Team 1507
just at the end of the match accidently knocked the centre goal
which in turn resulted
in tipping the tetras over negating the diagonal row of blue
tetras and after a long
thought out decision the refs decided that the 2nd seed alliance
was to win the
Finger Lakes Regional. You may see the video at the link below.
This was by far
the best Club Sandwich has ever done at any regional event
despite the poor
qualifying standings we recieved.
Final Match Of FLR Finals
Video (14 MB, *.wmv format)
Courtesy of Team 639 (Code Red
Robotics)
Club Sandwich also took home the Finger Lakes Regional Website
Design Award for
the first time ever. Great job Phil and Andrew.
A special thanks goes out to 1507 and
229 for allowing us to be
in the 4th seed
alliance it was a great honor. Next Club Sandwich looks to head
to the
Waterloo Regional. Will you be ready for The Sad Walrus? The Sad
Walrus will
be looking to make its presence known once again come Easter
weekend.
-Christopher Kelly
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Week of February 14th-18th
To all members of the robotics team,
The final week is here...so we don't have any time to
waste.
Here are the final goals:
- get the plywood for the crate
- build the crate
- build the operator's interface
- place the sponsor's logos on the robot
- figure out a way to program the camera
- Inspect all of the mechanical parts
- Inspect all of the electrical parts
- Create a 'cost list' for the robot
- File any sharp edges
- Check the robot to ensure that it will pass the 'robot
inspection' at the competition
- Check the final weight of the robot
- Choose drivers for the robot
- Record dimensions of the robot parts (if not done already)
so that spare parts can be made
- Run a 'stress test' on the robot
Also, I will be taking a FINAL team picture later this week.
It will occur
at 4pm, but the day will be decided during Monday's meeting (so
that we can choose
a day when everyone is available).
The finish line is getting closer,
PS: If anyone has 80A (blue) camera filter that I can borrow
for the team picture (preferably 58mm or larger) please let me
know.
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Week of February 7th - February 11th
To all members of the Robotics Team,
Here are the goals for this week:
- Choose the drivers (Graeme will be building an obstacle
course and testing everyone's speed and accuracy using last year's
robot)
- Get plywood to build the shipping crate (we will be trying
to get it donated)
- Mount optical encoders
- Mount camera
- Build/repair robot's operator's interface
- Finish building the robot's cart
- Wire 'quick disconnect' cables to the winch
- Plan for the placement of the 'team lights' (to be mounted
at the first competition)
- Find a way to speed up the lift
All of these things should be finished on Friday in order to
allow the programming section to write the autonomous code.
Please note that the LaSalle post will be coming in on Monday
to interview a few people.
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Week of January 31st - February 4th
To all members of the Robotics Team,
We just passed the half way point of the 6 weeks. As a
result, we now have to work a lot quicker.
Here are the goals for this week:
- mount the pneumatics (solenoids, gauges, etc)
- complete the electrical wiring
- mount the camera
- make & mount winch for "arm"
- get supplies to create the 'shipping crate'
- choose 2 drivers for the robot (for the competitions)
Because the exams are done on Tuesday, and there are no
classes on Wednesday, we will be working late on those dates.
As well, we may be coming on Saturday (please check your
e-mail late this week for the decision).
Here is the schedule for this week
Monday: After Exams (~9:30a) to 2:25p
Tuesday [last day of exams]: After Exams (~9:30a) to
(Late....8:00p ???)
Wednesday [no classes]: 10:00a to (Late...8:00p ???)
Thursday: 2:30p to (Late...8:00p ???)
Friday: 2:30p to (Late 10:00p ???)
Saturday: {To Be Determined}
Good Luck on your final exams.
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Week of January 24th-28th
To the members of the robotics team,
Here are the goals for week 3,
- Install the new drive system
- Investigate the use of Accelerometers and Gyros
- Begin electrical work
However, because of the upcoming exams, we do NOT expect
everyone to come. Your
education is more important. However, if you do have time, this
is the schedule for
working this week (estimate):
Monday - Tuesday: 2:30p to 6:00p
Wednesday: Nothing (STUDY FOR EXAMS)
Thursday: After Exams (~9:30a) to 2:25p
Friday: After Exams (~9:30a) to ??? (to be determined)
Good Luck on exams.
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Week of January 17th-21st
To the members of the robotics team,
Here are the goals for Week 2:
- The drive system should be setup and ready to go.
- The electrical area of the robot should be designated (so
that the electrical components can be mounted)
- The e-mail list should be finalized.
- A list of additional parts should be made and ordered
(Electrical: PWMs, cables, Relays, Radios...etc. Programming: Optical
encoders...etc)
Please note that Graeme and myself will be taking a team
picture (1 of 2 during the 6 weeks period) on Monday at around 4pm. This is
for all students, teachers and mentors.
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Week of January 10th-14th
- Monday January 10th, mandatory meeting for all members of
the team.
- A video of the dynamics of the competition will be
shown.
- The PDF manual of the competition will be downloaded and
handouts made for Leaders.
- Handouts of various aspects of the competition will be
handed out to Leaders and timelines will be determined.
- Tuesday, January 11th,
- Brainstorming begins. All students of the team must
participate. You will be required to sketch your ideas of a
robot that can complete all the requirements of the game.
Check the parts list and look at the number of motors we are
given and take into consideration the motors that must be used
on the drive train. Give me your sketches on Tuesday
morning to make overheads for your presentations.
- Software manipulation should begin with practice on last
year’s robot. Download the new C package.
- All sections continue to work on their own requirements
for the competition under the direction of their leader.
- Wednesday, January 12th
- Continue Brainstorming. Refine ideas.
- All sections continue to work on their own requirements
for the competition, under the direction of their leader.
- Thursday, January 13th
- Continue Brainstorming. Refine ideas.
- All sections continue to work on their own requirements
for the competition, under the direction of their leader.
- Friday, January 14th,
- Continue Brainstorming. Refine ideas.
- All sections continue to work on their own requirements
for the competition, under the direction of their leader.
Plan work to be done the next week.
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2005 FIRST Robotics Competition Kickoff: Robovation -
Ontario Science Centre
About
the 2005 Robovation Game
Congratulations Team 772 on a job well done on the EDU robot you
guys performed excellent in the ROBOVATION
CHALLENGE 2005. I must say I did once again lose my voice at the
competition. The team finished with a total of 4-0
in the qualifying matches and because of the scoring method Team
772 placed 3rd after the qualifying matches. The team
went on to the playoffs and lost its first match, tied in its
second match and then lost its third match and was
eliminated by governer simcoe (Simbotics, 6th seed). All teams
did very well I must say and had great robots. Once all
the information is gathered (stats, pictures, maybe video) look
forward to some documentation of the Team 772's
performance.
All and all the kickoff event was a great experience and the
team is off to a great start. By the next event
make sure EVERYONE KNOWS SANDWICH IS PRESENT. Would you like
fries with that... was a great way to make the
crowd pick us out... Lets supersize our Team energy this year, I
will, can you? Can you smell what the
Sabres are cookin?
-Christopher Kelly
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The 2005 Game - "Triple
Play"
Source: 2005 FIRST Robotics Competition Documentation:
Section 0 - Introduction
Triple Play Flash Simulator - Courtesy of Team
599
"Triple Play" will present the teams with several new
challenges:
- A 3 vs 3 competition
- A fresh, new shape for both the game object and the
[scoring] goals, namely the tetrahedron,
which is basically a 3-dimensional triangle.
- A vision system. (camera and associated electronics)
- A larger playing field (3' wider and 6' longer than the 24'
wide x 48' long 2004 field)
An aerial view of the 2005 playing field would show the
observer:
- Nine goals configured in a 3x3 matrix.
- 3 goals at each end of the field along the driver station
wall(in marked zones called the
end zones
- 3 goals at midfield
- Game tetrahedrons (aka, "tetras") hanging in the
four corner goals.
- Two "vision" tetras for each alliance randomly located in
the space between the end zone and
the midfield goals
- Alliance robots in front of their driver stations
- One tetra may be held by one robot on each alliance at the
start of the game
- 3 red human players and 3 blue human players
[each with extra tetras] standing on pads
arranged in diagonal lines off 2 corners of the field
- Four tetra loading platforms along one side of the
field
Robots will attempt to place red and blue game tetras (coloured
to match the two alliance colours) in
or on one or more of the nine goals to both score
points and claim "ownership" of goals with their coloured tetras.
Ownership is claimed:
- By the physically higher tetra colour on a goal
or, if no tetras are on top
- By the physically higher tetra colour in the base of the
goal or, if no stacks are in the base
- By the alliance with more tetras in the base
Tetras in goals score 1 point and tetras
on goals score 3 points. A row or diagonal
of the same colour scores 10 points. Getting all of an
alliance's robots back in their end zone at the conclusion
of the match scores 10 points.
Each 2-1/4 minute match will feature two (2) three-team
alliances playing from opposite ends of the field. The
robots from each alliance will be placed on starting positions
in front of the driver stations (one at the tip
of the center foal in an alliance's end zone and one to each
side of the center goal and touching the driver
station wall).
The robots will have a 15-second autonomous period (no driver
control) at the start of a match to knock down and
score hanging tetras and/or to use their starting tetras and/or
gather tetras from the loading platforms and/or
to locate "vision" tetras(specially marked for identification by
the vision system) to score points and claim goals.
Vision tetras scored on any of the 3-midfield goals will yield
1 or 2 bonus tetras added to the corner goals in
their end zone.
After the Autonomous Period, the robots will be under driver
control for the remaining 2 minutes of the match.
Drivers from each alliance will be able to acquire additional
tetra game pieces from four (4) locations, two (2)
of which are attended by their human player (tetras will be
placed on their robots) and two (2) of which are
unattended (robots pick up tetras from loading platforms), and
continue to score and claim goals. Before the
end of the match, alliance robots will speed back to their end
zones to top off their scores.
This year's game will certainly challenge teams with the vision
system, the "new" tetra shape, working as a
three-team alliance, and strategizing on claiming goals.
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AIM HIGH: 2005-2006
"This year we competed at the FIRST (For Inspiration and Recognition Of Science and Technology) Canadian Regional. It was held at the
Hershey Centre on March 27-29, 2003.
