For the programmers. Please note the following link on the camera mount. There do not appear to be step by step instructions. In the interest of all the other teams, it would be great if someone would step up and put the device together and write up step by step instructions for the other teams.

http://usfirst.org/uploadedFiles/Camera ... sembly.pdf

The other item, please see the blog post about Bill's Blog. There is a recent post indicating they will be providing sample code for two color tracking. It would be great to keep working it, but don't despair as a sample will be available if we can not get it to work.

Brainstormed ball getting and delivering mechanisams
Looked at styrofoam rubber matirial
Better Defined auger idea
Ball shooter with foam wheels shooting them out
large roller at front to gather balls
Squirrel cage idea

designed auger on inventor

we worked more on the camera and programming to tell color diffrence and to see patterns. we took several pictures and ran them through the program and had a little trouble getting it to work at first. and we are looking at shape recognitoin so we can target and follow other robots in the challenge. but for the most part we just worked on the camera and trying to get the program to work and process the photos. we set up a milestone sheet so we can keep up to schedule with the whole team.

A concept of a drive train has been created. It is a all wheel drive with all wheel steering. Finished Design should be done on Saturday. I have also started Project Milestone. Saturday is going to be a busy day!

Team 228 has a video and drictions on how to make Orbit balls. If we need more and can't find some to purchase this is a nice backup.http://www.team228.org/media/documents/view/29

Noted a subtle rule that we need to comply with: G36 states that we must be able to unload game pieces from our robot without powering it up. Consider this as we design our ball-handling mechanisms!

Second: I remember a guy named "Sherwood" talking about the speed in ball handling being pretty important in past years and something we hadn't done real well on. Speed takes power. Power takes...a big motor. Where will that big motor come from if we're putting 4 CIM motors on the 4 corners of our bot? We are allowed a maximum of 4 CIM motors.

'nuf for now!

Some really good information on Bill's blog today. Goal tending, trailer unloading and vacuum systems are OUT!

See it at: http://frcdirector.blogspot.com/

Here is the text of most importance:

I want to clarify the Game Design Committee’s intention on a few matters to save you time and resources:
1) De-scoring is not permitted (ie. You may not remove game pieces from a trailer)
2) Goal tending is not permitted (ie. You may not block access to a trailer)
3) Don’t spend time attempting to develop a vacuum car system like Jim Hall’s sucker Chaparral car. Even a slight suction over the base of the robot will damage the field surface and you don’t want to do that (See the 2009 FIRST Robotics Competition Manual section 7 rules G-29 & G-30)

I’ve had some requests for more information on the field surface. You can purchase 4’x8’ Fiber Reinforced Plastic Sheets, pebble texture on one side available from Home Depot SKU 121-586 or Lowes SKU 8566. If you’re on a tight budget, a clean waxed linoleum tile floor (found in many older school cafeterias) mimics the performance of the field closely enough for practice. What’s important is duplicating the coefficient of friction; 0.05 static and 0.04 dynamic.

Considered both a wedge ramp and conveyer concepts for ball collection off the field. As well as both Auger and belt driven systems for storing and lifting the balls to the shooter. Considered wheel driven and belt driven mechanisims for ball shooting. This would all be in one interconnected system.

-Used"ping" comman to assure on working system
-Used ip number for data retrieval
-"ipconfig/ all command shows the configuration of your interface
-changed ip addresses to match the other interfaces
-ip= internet protocol
-accessed these configurations through properties
-instructions included in the set worked
-needed to configure game adapter and router to have same ip address
-wired up the axis camera and wifi to receive power from the power distribution control
-ctrl c= reset to put in new command
-Got camera to work!
-Was able to make it detect colors and determine distance between colors

First, we began with creating an agenda for the day as follows:
1. Talk about creating the trailer
2. Research Ball Handling Robots
3. Find General designs to be used
4. Go through research books
5. Exel Spreadsheat
6. Project Milestone
-We put ourselves into five groups
*Electrical
*Programing
*Mechanical
Chassis Design
Ball Manipulation
Traction and Steering
Next, in the Milestone Project, the chassis design group and steering group shared their ideas on how to create a robot from both ideas.
Steering is thinking of using rack and pinion
Chassis is thinking of having to layers of C Channel Aluminium with eighth inch think square pieces of aluminium to hold the intestines of the robot.
Ball Manipulation possibly is going to try and use an auger as their manipulating machine.