The Blair Robot Project : Team 449
Robot
Our 2008 robot will be able to drive quickly around the track and hurdle the trackballs. It is build to the specifications of the 2008 US FIRST Robotics Competition, FIRST Overdrive.
Drive
Once again, we are going with mecanum drive, giving us three axes of mobility (straight forward/backward, straight left/right, and turning clockwise/counterclockwise). With one motor per wheel, we have plenty of torque without having to gear down our motors too much, so we are both fast and maneuverable!
Manipulator and Lift
We are using a scissors lift, which is loaded using a forklift, and are proud to say that we were the only team at the New Jersey Regional to hurdle using a scissors lift! And with our ability to get 2-3 hurdles during a match, we're quite happy with the set-up. We do not plan to change too much with our current set-up, just replace/upgrade a couple of parts that are starting to show signs of wear.
Hybrid Mode
Our hybrid mode is currently almost entirely autonomous, navigating the robot around the track primarily through the use of four VEX ultrasonic sensors. By determining where we are in relation to the walls and lane divider, the sensors allow the robot to know when it is time to switch direction. To aid the robot when making the crucial decision on when to move backward (something frequently complicated by the presence of other robots on the field), we added an IR command to allow our robocoach to send the robot backward earlier than specified by the ultrasonic sensors.