Talon VII Ships!
Written by AJ Keegan on February 21, 2006This year Team 230 was given the task that it?s been hoping to have for many years: to build a robot that uses projectile launching. Talon VII embraces this task as well, using a dual wheel shooting mechanism mounted on the top of the robot. It can launch approximately 5 balls every 10 seconds at maximum range and even more at a shorter range. The launcher is fed by a belt-driven gatherer and feeding mechanism, with a wheel-like metering system keeping the balls from becoming stuck in the robot and giving the launcher time to get back up to speed. Possibly the most interesting part of the system is the CMU Cam2 camera and its automation of the turret. The camera, which locks on to the green light above the 10? high 3-point goal, works with the code to move the turret so that the shooter is always aimed at goal, making it that much easier to score three point balls and eliminating yet another difficult task that could pose a large problem for driver and operator. The turret has a rotation of 45� to either side so that at no time does the turret extend far enough from the robot for it to be a risk. Also, the turret rotates on a ring-drive run by a van door motor. While the robot at first glance may seem more like the dump truck of the robot world than a sleek scoring machine, it handles beautifully, using castors in front to make turning a breeze. Coding eliminates sudden turnarounds, maximizing the efficiency of the castor wheels on the robot. The rear wheels, however, are the usual Omni wheels found on Talon robots. The main chassis and transmission remain the same reliable design that we have used for the past several years. This year brings Team 230 even closer to achieving the dream of a fully automated robot, but the autonomous period of the game is only 10 seconds long. For the other 2 minutes of each match, seasoned driver and programmer Brian Rak and operator Bryan Stuart are in charge and entirely capable of making this season a winning one. Using Rak?s knowledge of the inner workings of the robot and Stuart?s excellent operating abilities and strategies, an automated robot could scarcely do better. Human player Tom Victor, nicknamed Crash at last year?s UTC New England Regional, rounds out the drive team as the ball-throwing master of the field. Talon VII was shipped on February 21st, and the Gaelhawks will not see the robot until the first competition in Hartford, Connecticut: the UTC New England Regional. Team 230 is also participating in the Las Vegas Regional for its first year ever. Come to one of these exciting events to see Talon VII and other FIRST teams in action!
