Space Jam
We are team Ice Cube.
For the 2018 ME218B project, we were tasked with building a robot that, in the spirit of the Olympics, plays 1-V-1 against an opponent in a game that combines hockey and basketball. The player can use any available sensing methods to locate itself and navigate the 8'x8' field, such as IR beacons located at both reload stations and goals, a red-blue 2D gradient, and distance with ultrasound, to name a few.
Each player begins in a corner opposite the reload station and, upon face-off, must be the first to reload to win the first possession, and get the first turn at shooting. When a team's possession is ascertained, a shot clock is set and if the time runs out before the team in possession has scored, the possession changes to the other team. If the team in possession scores, then possession also changes to the other team. During offense, the player aims and attempts to shoot a ball into the opponent's goal. During defense, the player can use any defensive tactic, including fans and nets, so long as the IR beacons are not blocked. If the game is tied at 2:18, then there will be an extra tie-break period. The first player to successfully reload wins.
Our sensing method is primarily using IR sensors to sense the reloading station and the goals. Our shooter consists of a servo that bends and flicks a ruler. During the game, we first travel to the reloading station for face-off, using two long-range IR sensors and a simple bang-bang navigation method. During offense, we stay at the reloading station and shoot the ball before reloading again. During defense, we move to the defense position, located in front of our goal. The robot first moves backwards until a single long-range IR sensor orthogonal to the first two sensors sees the goal beacon, rotates until the two parallel sensors see the goal beacon, and then rolls forward toward the goal. Our defensive tactic worked well against low-shooting robots, and our offensive "shoot from the reload station" tactic was time-efficient.
Watch Ice Cube compete for the Bronze in the video below!
For the 2018 ME218B project, we were tasked with building a robot that, in the spirit of the Olympics, plays 1-V-1 against an opponent in a game that combines hockey and basketball. The player can use any available sensing methods to locate itself and navigate the 8'x8' field, such as IR beacons located at both reload stations and goals, a red-blue 2D gradient, and distance with ultrasound, to name a few.
Each player begins in a corner opposite the reload station and, upon face-off, must be the first to reload to win the first possession, and get the first turn at shooting. When a team's possession is ascertained, a shot clock is set and if the time runs out before the team in possession has scored, the possession changes to the other team. If the team in possession scores, then possession also changes to the other team. During offense, the player aims and attempts to shoot a ball into the opponent's goal. During defense, the player can use any defensive tactic, including fans and nets, so long as the IR beacons are not blocked. If the game is tied at 2:18, then there will be an extra tie-break period. The first player to successfully reload wins.
Our sensing method is primarily using IR sensors to sense the reloading station and the goals. Our shooter consists of a servo that bends and flicks a ruler. During the game, we first travel to the reloading station for face-off, using two long-range IR sensors and a simple bang-bang navigation method. During offense, we stay at the reloading station and shoot the ball before reloading again. During defense, we move to the defense position, located in front of our goal. The robot first moves backwards until a single long-range IR sensor orthogonal to the first two sensors sees the goal beacon, rotates until the two parallel sensors see the goal beacon, and then rolls forward toward the goal. Our defensive tactic worked well against low-shooting robots, and our offensive "shoot from the reload station" tactic was time-efficient.
Watch Ice Cube compete for the Bronze in the video below!
The Team
Left to right: Amelia Bian, Chris Kimes, Wilson Ruotolo, and Camille Townshend are ME218B students and the creators of Ice Cube.