Team Titanium's Twin Tucking Tabs
 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ef3Ie2Qft8I

A little demo of our latest gizmo. The tabs allow a secure overhang 14" off/20" on, as the first or last robot on. 57" overall height is legal on the opponent's side. In conjunction with our teeter-totter talons, we're doing our part to advance the quest for the "sure thing" triple balance.

Re: Team Titanium's Twin Tucking Tabs
 

This is why 1986 robots are almost always my favorites.

Re: Team Titanium's Twin Tucking Tabs
 

1986 was already wide, already had the ability to push up the bridge, and now have a way to hang (almost) half of your robot off there? Are you trying to get a 5 robot balance?

Team Titanium's trying Teeter Totter Talons tying the terrain traversal tandoming Twin Tucking Tabs to try triples.

(Translation: Team Titanium is trying Teeter Totter Talons that balance the bridge with Twin Tucking Tabs to attempt a triple balance. To tie is synonymous with to balance).


Great job 1986! I look forward to seeing this at the championships!

Re: Team Titanium's Twin Tucking Tabs
 

I'm a little concerned about problems with this rule
[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.
Otherwise fantastic idea to make your robot able to hang off even more, I think you guys could probably triple with 2 long robots with these features which could be quite the tool when alliance selections roll around on curie. Can't wait to play with you guys in a week, you have an awesome machine.

Re: Team Titanium's Twin Tucking Tabs
 

That crossed my mind too, however it seems like since they're able to drive perfectly fine while they're deployed, it should be legal.

Re: Team Titanium's Twin Tucking Tabs
 

The tabs are smooth and rounded and slide easliy by design. Other robots have employed metal guides and contact features on the bridge without trouble. We don't believe they will be seen as violating the intent of this rule, but if needed plastic glides can be easily added to the bottom edge.

Re: Team Titanium's Twin Tucking Tabs
 

That's an excellent point, if I was the inspector and you said that I would definitely pass you.

Re: Team Titanium's Twin Tucking Tabs
 

Very nice! Wish you guys good luck next week in St. Louis. Look forward in catching some of your matches between ours in Galileo.

Re: Team Titanium's Twin Tucking Tabs
 

Put plastic tape on the bottom of them. Problem solved. These are a really cool idea, and negates one of the major downside of those huge wheels. This is why it is nice to have weight to play around with when you're going to Championships.

Re: Team Titanium's Twin Tucking Tabs
 

Of course, once you think Titanium is at the top of their game, they go and add not one, but now two separate additions to their robot to put them way over the top. As we do before matches, my hat's off to you 1986. I'll be back over to inquire about your robot, just as I did at KC.

I'd root for you at Champs, but I don't want to tick off the Curie Curse :rolleyes: Good luck, and as Mr. Bailey quoted, "It's your year."

Re: Team Titanium's Twin Tucking Tabs
 

Jeff

Very impressive. 1986 is a first class team and wish you all the best on Curie. I can't make the trip to St. Louis this time :( but 624 looks forward to seeing your team in action.

Re: Team Titanium's Twin Tucking Tabs
 

You are right about that. We love our big wheels as we glide over the bump and tractor up the bridge, so we are happy to resolve this issue.

HA! Don't we wish! We had to scrape to the bone to come up with the weight for these gadgets. If we have any more ideas we'll have to remove the shooter!

Re: Team Titanium's Twin Tucking Tabs
 

If only it could play guitar hero at the same time. sigh.

Re: Team Titanium's Twin Tucking Tabs
 

Very nice design. :) 706 has the same thing except ours is not retractable :(

We hope to triple or at least co-op with you guys on Curie!

Re: Team Titanium's Twin Tucking Tabs
 

Really intelligent design from you folks this year, I'm excited to be able to check it out in person soon.

Best of luck!

Re: Team Titanium's Twin Tucking Tabs
 

Hmmmm......could we get more points for that?

Re: Team Titanium's Twin Tucking Tabs
 

Holy cow man! You guys just keep adding these awesome little gadgets that will help out a lot! Very well done! We hope to balance with you guys too. See you all at world!

Your friends from UP NEXT! :D

Re: Team Titanium's Twin Tucking Tabs
 

Hey, thanks Mike. We were so pleased to watch our green friends:D win another event this year. Almost two! You have an amazing robot, such a great shooter. If our paths cross on Curie, we sincerely hope we are with you and not against you. Good luck to CRyptonite.

Re: Team Titanium's Twin Tucking Tabs
 

As a biased source, what I say should be taken with several grains of salt, and I've not seen these in person. However, as an inspector going to Worlds I would say that if I saw a robot with these, I'd pay very close attention to both the edges & the corners that contact the bridge. Since it looks like the bottom is actually bent in an arc instead of being a flat piece of metal that would help me feel more comfortable letting this pass inspection. As long as the corners are also well-rounded.

The operative word, to me, in R06 is "attachments." All of the items in the sentence are related to that, and I believe the intent of the rule is how the wheels are constructed. No ice studs or tire chains. ;) I would ask my LRI about that interpretation before I passed judgement on the hypothetical robot I'd be inspecting. R09 is relevant as well, and is where I'd be looking for rounding.

I'm sure Titanium will make sure everything's well-rounded before presenting these to inspection, and it might behoove them to take the plates to the inspection station & ask about them before attaching these to the robot. I will make sure to take 5 steps back if I'm there.... :)

Re: Team Titanium's Twin Tucking Tabs
 

Well, well. If the pickiest inspector in FRC thinks we might be OK, then we should be good to go. :D

Re: Team Titanium's Twin Tucking Tabs
 

Does the "court" include the touching of the top surface of the bridge?

Re: Team Titanium's Twin Tucking Tabs
 

Arena 2.2.1 defines "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."

Other paragraphs go on to define "The Bridges", "The Hoops", "Alliance Walls", etc.

I read this as The Court being the carpeted floor. The tabs do not touch the carpet. I believe the rule was intended to prevent sharp cleats and studs on wheels from damaging the carpet.

This is all a moot point, as the bottom portion of the tabs will be covered such that no metal contacts the bridge.

Re: Team Titanium's Twin Tucking Tabs
 

As a biased -- and apparently picky :eek: -- inspector I can gladly say that this is the referee's problem, not mine. As a part of Titanium I would offer my opinion, which contradicts Jeff's & says that the bridges are part of the court, since they're within the boundaries of the court. I agree about the rule's purpose is protecting the carpet (see my earlier post in this thread). I also think whatever touches the bridge would have to be really sharp (and should be rejected by the inspector as a safety hazard for humans), since the bridge's surface covering is pretty thick. And, if you've seen it after a full tournament, is pretty beat up.

I'm glad the point is moot for Titanium. It may not be for some other team, so if you're in that position I recommend that you get the LRI's ruling; make sure that the head ref is consulted if there's any question in the LRI's mind about what is "the court".

Re: Team Titanium's Twin Tucking Tabs
 

I can't wait to see this robot in person and in action. Nice addition.