Avon ÜberBots

Programming • UML Diagramming

2015-12-16T20:14:17+00:00

I urge anyone interested in programming to take a look at UML. There's a very nice tutorial on UML 2 here:
http://www.sparxsystems.com/resources/u ... index.html

UML (Unified Modeling Language) is a popular collection diagramming techniques to model various aspects of structure and behavior of a program or system of programs. You can pick and choose which diagrams make the most sense based on what you're working on.

For instance, you might want to use a class diagram to show the classes and their relationships representing a complex mechanism like a claw, plus an interaction diagram representing a command group like PickUpPieceWithClaw. Each diagramming technique highlights a certain kind of detail about your code (ex:, the flow of information, the timing of actions, the sequence of events, etc).

Diagraming your program before you begin coding helps you think through problems you might not be thinking about when you first start designing. It's also an excellent and often necessary tool for keeping a team of programmers working together on the same codebase.

Statistics: Posted by jweston — Wed Dec 16, 2015 8:14 pm

Robotics and Technology News and Discussion • Re: Helpful Video Resources

2015-12-08T21:06:57+00:00

I found Stephen's post to be particularly helpful, especially the link to the playlist from 3476 on the old electronics system (associated with the cRIO).

I found a generic guide on WPILib to the new system if anyone is interested: http://wpilib.screenstepslive.com/s/448 ... e-overview

The 2015 Control System Layout:
http://frc.memphisfirstteams.org/files/ ... Layout.jpg

Aaaand some images of really nice wiring :
http://i.imgur.com/j5LdMfN.jpg
http://www.chiefdelphi.com/media/img/c0 ... faf0_l.jpg
https://frcdesigns.files.wordpress.com/ ... .jpg?w=512

Statistics: Posted by icecube — Tue Dec 08, 2015 9:06 pm

Other discussion • General Discussion

2015-12-05T06:03:00+00:00

If any cares about yourself safety or comfortable life, then you need to come to have a look at this gps jammers , it will help a lot.

Statistics: Posted by Elayne.B — Sat Dec 05, 2015 6:03 am

Robotics and Technology News and Discussion • Re: Helpful Video Resources

2015-12-03T20:11:25+00:00

I'm not really actively involved in robotics at the moment but over the summer I've accumulated a bunch of resources (a lot are actually not videos but still helpful) from team websites and CD:

A good overview compilation of resources is on 3847's recommended reading page: http://www.spectrum3847.org/recommendedreading
It covers a vast assortment of topics (some of the other links might be repeats of what are listed in there).

http://www.chiefdelphi.com/forums/showt ... torial+610
Covers 610's design process; it includes a part library for CAD as well.

https://www.youtube.com/user/973RAMP/videos
CAD design tutorials by 973 for Solidworks. It provides some insights in design and manufacture of different subsystems of the robot.

https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=P ... C_xUILWCam
General overview of the FRC control system (from the cRIO era) by 3476.

http://www.chiefdelphi.com/media/papers/3153; http://www.chiefdelphi.com/media/papers/3037
Scouting by 1678.

https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=P ... _w9rgPYOqs
Incomplete series by 987 on Fundraising, Chairman's and Programming.

http://www.chiefdelphi.com/forums/showt ... p?t=137095
1678's Cangrabber Design Process. Not necessarily a tutorial, but a great example of design and constant iteration throughout both build and competition season. Their can grabbers were the most efficient and consistent of the ones present at Worlds.

Simbot Seminars and BTL are both really good resources that have already been mentioned, BTL especially. This week's episode on Mechanical Design (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NPPWBnALAXs) was one of the best I've seen yet.

In general, the resources section of high level teams tend to have some helpful tutorials and presentations.
As usual, the FIRST website has a variety of resources to help novice teams, but its also helpful to those new to FRC.
Also, you can also find helpful presentations by browsing the white papers in CD-Media http://www.chiefdelphi.com/media/papers/.
There's a lot to sift through but it's a good resource, depending on what you're looking for.

I hope this helps!

Statistics: Posted by Gaxis — Thu Dec 03, 2015 8:11 pm

Robotics and Technology News and Discussion • Helpful Video Resources

2015-12-02T22:00:46+00:00

Lately I've been watching a lot of videos covering a variety of FRC topics, both technical and non-technical. So far, the most helpful I've found are the Simbot Seminar Series, GameWatch Behind the Lines, and while, not FRC, the Actobotics videos on Sparkfun give a nice basic overview of some common mechanical aspects.

Here are the ones I found most compelling broken down by topic:

Mechanical Design:
Actobotics: https://www.sparkfun.com/actobotics
Behind the Lines, Effective Prototyping: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ToZ819hR2mQ
Simbot Seminar, Strategic Design: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4ysSvxR-tAs

Team Structure (good discussion about selecting a drive team)
Simbot Seminar, Running an FRC Team: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ALASWt2uDqw

Awards:
Simbot Seminar, Chairman's Award: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G_aixQwlNcw
Behind the Lines, Applying & Presenting for Awards: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pGTJH5h0KVI

Scouting and Strategy:
Simbot Seminar, Scouting and Match Strategy: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l8syuYnXfJg

There are more out there I haven't a chance to see. Please post if you find other helpful and current resources that helps new or intermediate team members develop their skills.

Statistics: Posted by jweston — Wed Dec 02, 2015 10:00 pm

Other discussion • Re: Falconeers

2015-10-12T19:42:57+00:00

It's been a while. I have the vector graphic somewhere on a hard drive at home if we need it.

Statistics: Posted by foozie — Mon Oct 12, 2015 7:42 pm

Other discussion • Re: Falconeers

2015-10-12T15:55:18+00:00

Statistics: Posted by Phil — Mon Oct 12, 2015 3:55 pm

Other discussion • Re: Falconeers

2015-10-08T03:47:29+00:00

To my knowledge, the Falconeers never had their own logo. They were really only active for one season.

Statistics: Posted by smurfgirl — Thu Oct 08, 2015 3:47 am

Other discussion • Falconeers

2015-10-07T15:35:59+00:00

Does anyone know (any alumni out there?) if the Falconeers had a team logo?? Thanks in advance-Mrs. Fischler.

Statistics: Posted by BarbF — Wed Oct 07, 2015 3:35 pm

Team Suggestions • Re: New Freshmen

2015-09-10T22:58:02+00:00

Sounds like a great idea! I was thinking of tying this sort of thing into off season workshops on strategy because scouting would be very boring for new students if they didn't understand the game or how FRC robots function, though we could give it a shot. Some of the more prominent sophomore scouters from last year (Alex, Kelly, etc.) can give new students pointers and notes on recognizing certain aspects of gameplay. It could also stand to be an introduction to the strategy team, which is also highly involved during competition. As an introduction to FRC competitions it'll be useful, since we can show students footage not just from 2015 (which is an extremely different games from the FRC standard) but 2014 and the years before to give students a rudimentary knowledge of defense, scoring cycles, and efficient design. Of course this all ties in our ability to make sure that it doesn't get boring for them, because scouting is a tedious and repetitive process. It all depends on implementation.

Statistics: Posted by Gaxis — Thu Sep 10, 2015 10:58 pm