Chief Delphi - 179 Swamp Teasers

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Re: 179 Swamp Teasers

Quote:

Originally Posted by Justin Montois (Post 1117585)

Ut oh...

Fixable with a small piece of rubber/tread.

Re: 179 Swamp Teasers

I'd like to say it's legal. Looks really cool, and if it is legal, opens the doors to many solutions for 3 robots on a ramp that many teams were too afraid to try.

But does a 'grappling hook' grapple?

Re: 179 Swamp Teasers

Quote:

Originally Posted by Justin Montois (Post 1117578)

Per FIRST Q & A, Emphasis mine...

Q. Per this rule, would a device that utilizes a passive "appendage" deployed over the center line barrier (bump) to prevent your machine from being moved or twisted when hit (by applying forces to opposing sides of the barrier be considered a violation of this rule? Please elaborate on rule intent.

A. The intent of Rule [G10] is stated in its opening sentence, "Robots may not grab, grasp, grapple, or attach to any Arena structure." While, we cannot comment on the legality of a specific design, holding on to a field element is considered grappling and a violation of Rule [G10].

Q. Is it permissable for a robot on the bridge to extend a device that can also react off the bottom surface of the bridge provided that device does not grasp the bridge firmly?

A. Rule [G10] does not put a qualifier on how a Robot may legally grasp the Bridge. It simply says it cannot do it.

I feel like they might be in trouble...

To me, the photo of their robot says a thousand words, and the third photo from the top shows me exactly why they are legal: the CG of their robot is entirely underneath the flat portion of their hanging mechanism. This means that when the robot is elevated off of the ground, 100% of their weight is supported on the flat portion on the top of the bridge (with no other horizontal or vertical forces exerted in a means that pinches the bridge). The rest of their robot is simply overhanging off the side of the bridge.

This condition is no different than if a traditional 6WD robot drive halfway off the bridge, with a sizable chuck of their robot hanging in free air. For the robot to not fall off, the CG must be over the portion supported by the bridge. And while there may be extra robot volume there hanging beyond (or below) the top plane of the bridge, the robot is still entirely supported only by reacting to the top surface of the bridge.

Re: 179 Swamp Teasers

how do bumpers fit onto this with the ramp down?

Re: 179 Swamp Teasers

Legal or not, I'm worried about the angle of that ramp. I'm hoping teams will be able to climb it without getting stuck.

Re: 179 Swamp Teasers

Looks absolutely awesome!

I can't wait to see this robot in a action and hopefully use the ramp :D

By the way, I was also wondering about the bumpers, how is that going to work?

As for the angle, my guess is that most (if not all) robots that can climb the bump can climb this ramp.

Re: 179 Swamp Teasers

Have you experimented with other robots. Obviously that robot is amazingly light, but I wonder if that amount of weight is enough to unbalance the bridge, because it is all on one side.

Re: 179 Swamp Teasers

Quote:

Originally Posted by R06

Traction devices may not have surface features such as metal, sandpaper, hard plastic studs, cleats, or other attachments. Traction devices include all parts of the Robot that are designed to transmit any propulsive and/or braking forces between the Robot and the Court.

Quote:

Originally Posted by 2.2.1 The Court

The Court for Rebound Rumble is a 27 by 54 ft carpeted area, bounded by two Alliance Walls and a guardrail system. The Court is covered with carpet (Shaw Floors, Philadelphia Commercial, Neyland II, 20, 30753, “park bench”). Hoops are located at the ends of the Court attached to the Alliance Walls. Three Bridges are located in the center of the Court. Areas of red and blue tape on the surface of the Court denote Alleys; solid red and blue semicircular areas are Keys.

Quote:

Originally Posted by 2.2.5 The Bridges

Robots traverse the center of the Court by crossing over either one of three Bridges or the 4 in. tall by 6 in. wide, smooth steel Barriers running between them. Each Alliance has one dedicated Bridge for their use at end of their Alley. An additional white Coopertition Bridge is located at the center of the Court. Each Bridge is 48 in. wide, 88 in. long (outside dimensions), and sits with the top platform 12 in. high off the ground when level. Each Bridge is mounted on a double-hinge that allows the Bridge to tip towards either end of Court. The top surface of each bridge includes an array of 15 small holes, details of which are included in the official field drawings.

A Bridge will count as Balanced if it is within 5° of horizontal and all Robots touching it are fully supported by it.

As I read the definition laid out by the FRC GDC, the Court is defined as an area of 27 feet by 54 feet bounded by the alliance walls and side guardrails, which is covered by carpet. Placed in the center of the Court are three Bridges, which are not defined as part of the court, but as objects placed on top of the Court. Thus I do not see [R06] being a problem with interaction between a robot and bridge, because it clearly states "... forces between the Robot and the Court".

YMMV.

Re: 179 Swamp Teasers

This is amazing! Kudos!
Judging by the design of this, the rules have been read and pondered over many times. I think it will be fine, though it will cause refs to take a close look.

Re: 179 Swamp Teasers

Quote:

Originally Posted by David Guzman (Post 1117599)

Thanks Dave, yah the bumpers fit in there. They're only on the ends 8" long on the rear, plus some other goodies in between. As I said, there are many unseen particulars. Like you said I figure if you can climb the bridge and the bump you should be able to get up this, it's 22 deg, but if one gets stuck we can give them a lift. This can be used after other bots are already balanced to come in as a 3rd bot or a 2nd on the coopertition bridge where they don't have to climb it.

As far as bridge weight distribution, there's a good indication system in the works as to where the weight is on the bridge everyone should be able to see.

Re: 179 Swamp Teasers

Robots like this are a big part of the reason I still love FRC. When a team takes one of the concepts we threw out for not being realistic and not only successfully completes it but does so in a beautifully executed fashion. Excellent design work from 179.

Re: 179 Swamp Teasers

Inspirational robot to get me motivated even more during the final three weeks of build season. I expect this robot will be able to come to championships in competition so I can be in awe of it in person.

Re: 179 Swamp Teasers

I find it a little sad to see such an established team go for something like this. This is obviously a superiorly designed, engineered and machined robot, just look at that sheet metal on the ramp.

That said, I just can't comprehend why a team with this much potential chose to just do the bridge. Being able to gain only 10 points in qualification and no more just doesn't make sense to me, even with playing defense.

I did expect more than a few rookie teams to just concentrate on balancing. But a team of this caliber? I really feel like their engineering expertise would have been better put to use designing even a dumper. A good dumper could virtually guarantee getting 6-12 points per match, plus ten for balancing. That's not including autonomous.

With this design, it is true that 10 points per match can be expected, and that the robot would a boon in eliminations. But why would a robot that can't even play feeder be selected for elims?

179, awesome robot, but I just don't understand why you decided to give up on every aspect of the game but balancing.

Re: 179 Swamp Teasers

Quote:

Originally Posted by DampRobot (Post 1117613)

179, awesome robot, but I just don't understand why you decided to give up on every aspect of the game but balancing.

They didn't...

Re: 179 Swamp Teasers

Quote:

Originally Posted by DampRobot (Post 1117613)

They can score as well.

What about 111 in 2001 (I think that was the year)? Top caliber team was a bridge ramp robot, and oh yeah, they won championships!