Add an Asus Xtion Pro Live sensor. These things have been amazing in KIPR Open, and they're not hard to program.
-Jeremy Rand
Senior Programmer, Team SNARC (2012-2013), Norman Advanced (2010-2011), Norman HS (2008-2009), Norman North (2005-2007), Whittier MS (2003-2004)
2012-2013 VP of Tech, 2011 President, Botball YAC (2009-2013)
Mentor, Alcott and Whittier MS
Adjust the metal pieces in the kit so the holes mesh with Create and the chassis much better. This has been a major gripe from our builders these last few years and we would appreciate it if this issue was resolved.
Programmer, Strategist, What ever the Team needs me to be.
Nease Robotics (2009-2013)
@courtlynog: springs are definitely useful. In KIPR Open 2012 and 2013, we used springs to make winches able to withstand heavier loads. They're cheap too, we just bought them from Home Depot and Lowe's for about $1-2/spring. There's a chance that KIPR might consider them *too* useful though.
-Jeremy Rand
Senior Programmer, Team SNARC (2012-2013), Norman Advanced (2010-2011), Norman HS (2008-2009), Norman North (2005-2007), Whittier MS (2003-2004)
2012-2013 VP of Tech, 2011 President, Botball YAC (2009-2013)
Mentor, Alcott and Whittier MS
Add a larger variety of LEGO parts because there are many unique and interesting pieces in LEGO that you can use very creatively in Botball. This would majorly help in compacting many designs and creating more advanced mechanisms to accomplish the tasks that we face on the Botball competition board.
I know this might(most likely) allow cheating, but, I feel like Botball needs sound sensors. And, Jeremy, I remember from one of your talks last year that you said that the Asus Xtion Pro Live sensor comes from the Kinect 1.0. Now, with the 2.0, shouldn't that be integrated into the botball kit? I mean, $60 wouldn't be that much. Thing about the 2.0, I don't know how endless the possibilities for cheating can become. Anyway, my real suggestion for the kit is to add more racks to the kit. Last year, we were only allowed 4 racks so it doesn't allow for a high amount of gear climbing. If racks would be added, that would be great. Also, ultra-low friction wheels should be added to improve the smoothness of the robot's arm movement.
To enhance the applied physical science part of robotics, perhaps, magnets and mirrors can be added to the kit. Everytime when I try to build a robot, my mind just strangely wanders to electromagnetism and especially to the usefulness of magnets. With magnets, the game might be more fun. With the magnets, we might be able to incorporate a teslameter into the programming and that will enhance the detection of sabotage robots. Also, my mind just can't stop wandering to the power of hydraulics and steam engines. How fun would Botball be if we added more physical science. The possibilities would be endless. Although, I know some of these sound quite impractical, but, hey, I mean, I'm just dreaming about impossible things... but who's to say anything is impossible...
@YuSheng.Chen: I would have to agree with you. Adding more components into Botball would not only make it more interesting and fun, but also it would help students understand/prepare for physical science & engineering classes/careers. Hydraulics I would think would be the most interesting. Maybe Botball you can add the LEGO hydraulics kit into Botball, they do have them and they are really fun to use.
Add an Asus Xtion Pro Live sensor. These things have been amazing in KIPR Open, and they're not hard to program.
-Jeremy Rand
Senior Programmer, Team SNARC (2012-2013), Norman Advanced (2010-2011), Norman HS (2008-2009), Norman North (2005-2007), Whittier MS (2003-2004)
2012-2013 VP of Tech, 2011 President, Botball YAC (2009-2013)
Mentor, Alcott and Whittier MS
Add better sonar sensors if you don't add the xtion pro since the ones we have are nearly unusable for anything moving quickly
Adjust the metal pieces in the kit so the holes mesh with Create and the chassis much better. This has been a major gripe from our builders these last few years and we would appreciate it if this issue was resolved.
Programmer, Strategist, What ever the Team needs me to be.
Nease Robotics (2009-2013)
http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-4aghCgS673I/UY6ofXxRInI/AAAAAAAACLM/ig-d18euRW...
It would be nice to have a little spring to advance the pulley system. The spring will allow less tension on the motor.
Programmer from LQHS Girls Robotics (2009-Present)
@courtlynog: springs are definitely useful. In KIPR Open 2012 and 2013, we used springs to make winches able to withstand heavier loads. They're cheap too, we just bought them from Home Depot and Lowe's for about $1-2/spring. There's a chance that KIPR might consider them *too* useful though.
-Jeremy Rand
Senior Programmer, Team SNARC (2012-2013), Norman Advanced (2010-2011), Norman HS (2008-2009), Norman North (2005-2007), Whittier MS (2003-2004)
2012-2013 VP of Tech, 2011 President, Botball YAC (2009-2013)
Mentor, Alcott and Whittier MS
Add a larger variety of LEGO parts because there are many unique and interesting pieces in LEGO that you can use very creatively in Botball. This would majorly help in compacting many designs and creating more advanced mechanisms to accomplish the tasks that we face on the Botball competition board.
Thanks!
Where do you get that?
Reggie Clark
I know this might(most likely) allow cheating, but, I feel like Botball needs sound sensors. And, Jeremy, I remember from one of your talks last year that you said that the Asus Xtion Pro Live sensor comes from the Kinect 1.0. Now, with the 2.0, shouldn't that be integrated into the botball kit? I mean, $60 wouldn't be that much. Thing about the 2.0, I don't know how endless the possibilities for cheating can become. Anyway, my real suggestion for the kit is to add more racks to the kit. Last year, we were only allowed 4 racks so it doesn't allow for a high amount of gear climbing. If racks would be added, that would be great. Also, ultra-low friction wheels should be added to improve the smoothness of the robot's arm movement.
To enhance the applied physical science part of robotics, perhaps, magnets and mirrors can be added to the kit. Everytime when I try to build a robot, my mind just strangely wanders to electromagnetism and especially to the usefulness of magnets. With magnets, the game might be more fun. With the magnets, we might be able to incorporate a teslameter into the programming and that will enhance the detection of sabotage robots. Also, my mind just can't stop wandering to the power of hydraulics and steam engines. How fun would Botball be if we added more physical science. The possibilities would be endless. Although, I know some of these sound quite impractical, but, hey, I mean, I'm just dreaming about impossible things... but who's to say anything is impossible...
@YuSheng.Chen: I would have to agree with you. Adding more components into Botball would not only make it more interesting and fun, but also it would help students understand/prepare for physical science & engineering classes/careers. Hydraulics I would think would be the most interesting. Maybe Botball you can add the LEGO hydraulics kit into Botball, they do have them and they are really fun to use.