Tanner Chassis - Stuff To Do

[Tanner]

Here's what I know we need to do for my chassis:

• Figure out roller
• Encoders for drivetrain
  
  • So we can have a controlled speed for going over the bump
• Variable Kicker
  
  • Need encoder on kicker motor - shifter has one.
  • Need to figure out how we plan to control this. Pots on XBOX controller? Something else?
• Rewire electronics
  
  • Need analog breakout to get battery voltage
• Find new home for battery
• Bumper mounts
• Polycarbonate for protection of kicker and electronics
• Figure out if we can use Spike relays for the pneumatics
• Camera?
• Autonomous

Some of this is general stuff, but I don't want to make two posts.

-Tanner

[Sunny]

The thing with variable kicker, is that I think we only need 3 preset "values".

A powerful kick, a semi-powerful kick, and a close zone kick. I'm not sure how the encoder will do the count in a fast moving shaft(Maybe we ought to test this), but I think that if we zero the encoder each time we cock the kicker all the way back, then it'll get a bit too complicated to create the variable kicker.

As to what we're actually gonna variable with, then I think the pot that we used last year would be the best.

I'm not sure if we really need to *use* the camera, but I feel like we at least need a camera feed to the drivers station. Driving mirror is really bad, and I think if we can show the camera feed on the drive dash, then it'll make things much easier for the drivers, especially while lining up the kicker.

[Tanner]

The thing with variable kicker, is that I think we only need 3 preset "values".

A powerful kick, a semi-powerful kick, and a close zone kick. I'm not sure how the encoder will do the count in a fast moving shaft(Maybe we ought to test this), but I think that if we zero the encoder each time we cock the kicker all the way back, then it'll get a bit too complicated to create the variable kicker.

We could do three kick presets. Well, the idea is that I now of is that we could either go up to full power and then go down to the mode we want. Or we could have a switch somewhere when we kick the ball so we know where it is and then bring it to where we want. The latter is faster.

As to what we're actually gonna variable with, then I think the pot that we used last year would be the best.

Well, if you're only going to have three modes, then why not use a three position toggle switch? Bit simpler, but harder to tune quickly if driver wants a little bit more power.

I'm not sure if we really need to *use* the camera, but I feel like we at least need a camera feed to the drivers station. Driving mirror is really bad, and I think if we can show the camera feed on the drive dash, then it'll make things much easier for the drivers, especially while lining up the kicker.

That'll be easy, but I don't know what kind of frame rates it will return. FIRST really limits how fast we can send data over the wireless, so it may or may not be usable images although some teams are reporting 30 fps which is pretty good.

-Tanner

[Sunny]

Yeah...Maybe it'll just be easier on your kicker that after the kicker has kicked, and before it begins to arm, the encoder is set to zero. Due to the bands, post fired and pre-cocked is just one possible position, and that be constantly zero. For Logan's, I don't think it's that hard. It's just the encoder on the robot. It should count the clicks just fine.

3 toggle switches sound good. Just gonna need to make sure we have them down pat.

[Tanner]

For Logan's, I don't think it's that hard. It's just the encoder on the robot. It should count the clicks just fine.

Might have some trouble with a encoder on Logan's. Not sure. Depends how much time I get to play with it. No time to play = no worky.

3 toggle switches sound good. Just gonna need to make sure we have them down pat.

Yeah. Could always have a pot with a override switch.

-Tanner

[Sunny]

For Logan's, I don't think it's that hard. It's just the encoder on the robot. It should count the clicks just fine.

Might have some trouble with a encoder on Logan's. Not sure. Depends how much time I get to play with it. No time to play = no worky.

3 toggle switches sound good. Just gonna need to make sure we have them down pat.

Yeah. Could always have a pot with a override switch.

-Tanner

Play with it all you want...after it's shipped. . Nah. You should get a handsome amount of time this week considering it shouldn't take more than a couple of meetings to mount the roller and get it ready to run.

Speaking of which, since we obviously didn't pick a robot yesterday, do we have the capability to run both robots at scrimmage at the same time?

Oh, Oh. We could have four switches, the three are predetermined, but if the fourth switch is engaged, then it takes its power readings from the pot.

[Michael Kapp]

As far as I can tell, we have a long list of things to do, and many team members doing nothing. This is crunchtime, and we should put people to work on all these things that we haven't gotten around to yet:

Make/mount bumpers
Mount/wire camera
create plexiglass dome for electronics
create a lifter
organize wiring, pneumatics

[Tanner]

As far as I can tell, we have a long list of things to do, and many team members doing nothing. This is crunchtime, and we should put people to work on all these things that we haven't gotten around to yet:

Make/mount bumpers
Mount/wire camera
create plexiglass dome for electronics
create a lifter
organize wiring, pneumatics

Definitely need some people working on that stuff.

Heck, we REALLY need some people working on the control system. If we want a three way switch and a pot we'll need someone to wire that. Yeah, I could do it, but I'm worried about getting programming up to speed. Plus we'll want drivers to drive like they would be at Scrimmage.

A kind of cheap way out, is use our second XBox 360 controller and have the kicker driver use the pots on the back (like where you index/middle finger goes). Could make it so if you're not touching it, it's full power. If you are, it goes to the proportional position to where you're holding it. Once I get the variable kicking stuff working, we can try this, but I'm not sure if it'd be easy for a driver to think about during a match.

-Tanner

[Tanner]

Thinking of that, what do we want to do tomorrow?

Another not on the control system, if we want a attache case for a case - someone needs to measure what would go in there and see if we can find one that will fit. I don't really feel like doing all the research among the other things I'm doing for the club.

-Tanner

[Sunny]

Ok, here's what I think on the topic.

I think that we can most likely build a good "match similar" operator panel tomorrow. What do we need?

We need an xbox controller. (DONE)
We need a potentiometer that's mounted onto something. (We have the one from last year, and I like it)
We need roughly 3-4 switches. (I'm not sure how extreme the wiring for the switches are, but I'm sure on the building aspect, they're really not complex)

As far as the attache is concerned, If we look at what all is required, area is once again not an issue. There should be a statically mounted control board for the second driver, the first driver can simply pick up the XBOX controller, we need the laptop, the little USB hub, and I guess the little circuit thingy. All in all, they can fit very comfortably in an attache. IMO, the hard part is wiring the stuff, and making sure the wiring is neat.

If we do go with an attache, first thing first, we'd probably want to get an attache to look at the space that will be available.