pic: Cow Town Throwdown Blocker

[jspatz1]

[cdm-description=photo]39187[/cdm-description]

[CalTran]

It was pretty clever. Surprisingly effective actually :) Blocked 1 or 2 frisbees from Titanium.

[Pretzel]

I remember seeing them working on that late Thursday evening. Our pit was directly across from theirs and we saw this giant blue thing pop up above the crowd of them huddled around it. I was just disappointed to not have seen it in action after watching them test it that night.

[Alpha Beta]

I laughed so hard when that thing popped out of the robot. :eek:

Hillarious and effective. Way to keep it as a suprise until the elimation rounds. Well played. Well played indeed.

[Akash Rastogi]

lol I'm expecting good things from this team in 2014. Ryan Dognaux joined this year as a mentor. He brings experience from 234, Purdue FIRST, and 357 with him. Now that is a solid FRC resume.

Here's a video of the 2013 bot - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UpLwfdNTSno&feature=youtu.be

[safiq10]

This is fabulous!!!!

[coalhot]

One of my fellow mentor's first questions "is it in the budget?"

[Calvin Hartley]

And now, next year (regardless of the game or if it would be effective) 90% of FRC robots will have one of these installed.

[Ryan Dognaux]

I'm glad someone grabbed a photo of this in action! I wasn't able to attend this off-season event, but from what I was told many of our newer students got some great first time competition experience and the team had a great time.

The wacky waving disc blocker was conceived after our state fair event after removing our less-than-functional ground pickup system. Some of the most entertaining ideas come up over a team dinner at Bandana's BBQ :)

The waver is powered by a 10" fan directly mounted to a CIM motor with a shroud to direct the air:

http://i.imgur.com/Ov1xeIal.jpg

We 3D printed the CIM mounting plate from the students' design, mainly because we just didn't have time to manufacture a metal plate. Unfortunately non-plastic 3D prints don't hold up too well when you run into the pyramid. Good thing we printed two of them! -

http://i.imgur.com/Y1lVMG4l.jpg

And here's a video of it in action inflating back at our shop: http://youtu.be/ob9HKrz7-p4

Our team has a lot of plans for the time between now and the start of build season. We can't wait to compete next year and are aiming high for next season.

p.s. Thanks Akash. If we are successful this year it's because of everyone who has helped myself & our team(s) over the years, and from our student's hard work. We have a great group and I'm lucky to be working with them.

[JohnFogarty]

Billfred. We didn't do it. We should have donee itttt.

[Blackphantom91]

When I saw this my soul was laughing so hard. Very clever and effective. I am very excited to learn more about this team in the coming years.

[z4t143]

Thanks for all the compliments. We had our team meeting tonight and the students were really pumped up by all the attention. See you at the STL Regional and hopefully the new Central Illinois Regional where we are currently wait listed.

Here's a video of our attempt to defend against the always formidable Titanium.

Enjoy!

http://youtu.be/S098xYQEXC0

[runneals]

I was watching the webcast, and thinking "What the Heck is that?!?!" VERY creative! You guys totally win the creativity award ;) Can't wait to see you guys at KC this next year :)

[orangemoore]

Isn't it possible that it would violate the 54" cylinder rule?

[jspatz1]

Isn't it possible that it would violate the 54" cylinder rule?

Notice the arm on the left side is trimmed or rolled up, and the other arm is over the robot. I think it was well within the cylinder, but to be honest it was so funny I don't think anyone thought about the cylinder rule.