Collegiate Robotics: VEXU
Game Overview:
Over Under is a VEX Robotics Competition game where teams build and program robots to navigate a dynamic field, in a 2 v 2 setting, manipulating and scoring triballs by moving them over or under obstacles to achieve the highest points.
VEXU Version 1
This idea exemplifies a design that works well on paper but fails in practice. We had all the necessary calculations for how many triballs could be launched per second and the time required to autonomously score them. The plan was to place the triballs beneath the robot, which would then grab and score them seamlessly. However, there was one major flaw: we are not robots ourselves and couldn't place the triballs quickly enough to sustain the launching process. This realization was devastating, especially after countless all-nighters and many months of perfecting the design.
IMG_9222.MOVVEXU Version 2
In the second iteration of our robot, we implemented a strategy where the robot could simply "kick" the triballs out from the corner into a consistent pattern, allowing us to push them effectively during the teleoperated (teleop) mode. This approach proved successful, and our skills ranking improved enough to qualify for the World Championships as a first-year team with only four members!