Ball Condition

[donnie99]

We have already started to find that when we are testing our balls, they are in different conditions than each other, and have found that they are changing how our prototyped shooters are working. Is there anyone else who is having this problem or has found a successful way to work with this?

We have had two different types of shooters, and both have had different problems, one launching newer balls farther and one launching used balls farther. Is there any way to tell how ball condition will affect the shooter?

[DonRotolo]

In any case, a wise team would design a shooter that was relatively insensitive to ball condition.

[mikemascot]

we were thinking of using a whell shooter but we decided to use a catapualt wich depending on the angle we shot high low and far (we also hit a mentor in the head:D)

[donnie99]

We know we have to design it to use any balls, but we also thought we might be able to adjust how it is during the competition to adjust to the balls.

We also tried a catapult design and found it was more consistent, but we are still deciding what we will use. (We hit three students.)

[DonRotolo]

I heartily applaud your abilities to hit mentors and students (three!). Having fun like that is an important part of the FRC season. Seriously. :D

[Mongai]

We also tried a catapult design and found it was more consistent, but we are still deciding what we will use. (We hit three students.)

The math with catapults is a bit more involved, but worth it. Catapults are much more accurate than ball shooters, as shown here. (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DO0XzkthMUs&feature=player_embedded)

[DonRotolo]

Catapults are much more accurate than ball shooters
I don't see how that video supports your statement. Can you explain, or provide something more than your word?

[donnie99]

We have found that the catapult was more accurate, and can you show how that wasn't accurate, from the video, it looked as though it went pretty straight.

[EricH]

We have found that the catapult was more accurate, and can you show how that wasn't accurate, from the video, it looked as though it went pretty straight.
That wasn't a catapult in the video. That was a shooter. See the Triplets in 2006. If you're calling that a catapult, then you may want to look at 191's loading mechanism in 2006--that was a short-range catapult, feeding a shooter.

[Bill Tompkins]

The balls, like anything else on the Robot and playfield, are subject to wear. Design your Robot accordingly.

[nitneylion452]

We have already started to find that when we are testing our balls, they are in different conditions than each other, and have found that they are changing how our prototyped shooters are working. Is there anyone else who is having this problem or has found a successful way to work with this?

We have had two different types of shooters, and both have had different problems, one launching newer balls farther and one launching used balls farther. Is there any way to tell how ball condition will affect the shooter?

Based on your team number, I assume you have a lot of experience on your team. But a low team number is not always a guarantee of that, so:

If you can't develop a system that adjusts to the ball condition or shows no difference with a new or worn ball, develop a strategy and go with the shooter that fits it. Are you going to be in the far zone shooting balls, or do you plan on sitting in the key?

I say this because at a typical competition, the balls are going to be worn out for longer than they will be new. I estimate the lifespan of a "new" ball will only be about 2 or 3 matches depending on the style of shooter that is the most prevalent. Assuming that the balls will be torn up and you want to be in the key, use the shooter that shoots the torn up balls shorter and vice versa. Hopefully that makes sense.

[donnie99]

Based on your team number, I assume you have a lot of experience on your team. But a low team number is not always a guarantee of that, so:

If you can't develop a system that adjusts to the ball condition or shows no difference with a new or worn ball, develop a strategy and go with the shooter that fits it. Are you going to be in the far zone shooting balls, or do you plan on sitting in the key?

I say this because at a typical competition, the balls are going to be worn out for longer than they will be new. I estimate the lifespan of a "new" ball will only be about 2 or 3 matches depending on the style of shooter that is the most prevalent. Assuming that the balls will be torn up and you want to be in the key, use the shooter that shoots the torn up balls shorter and vice versa. Hopefully that makes sense.

We do have experience with mentors, but we are a young team overall, and we have been trying different ways to shoot, and seeing which ones are least affected by ball condition. We have decided that we want to be in the key to shoot, but still want to be able to adjust where we can shoot from and not only one spot. We are deciding on our final shooter design by Wednesday depending on how Tuesday's meeting goes.