Re: Wheelless Robot?
 

I don't get the idea of a stationary climber. The reason you would want to make your robot lighter than 120 this year is to climb faster - but obviously a stationary robot can take 90 seconds to climb and it will make absolutely no difference. I think it just makes sense to build a simple, reliable drive base and take the weight penalty.

Re: Wheelless Robot?
 

:confused:
how did they plan to load it?

Re: Wheelless Robot?
 

Aim High was a year where some robots had ridiculous storage capacity. I'd guess a funnel like net at the top that the human player threw into.

Re: Wheelless Robot?
 

If you are going to do this, I would suggest that you shoot three pointers, which are worth six in autonomous, with the discs alloted at the start of the match.

Re: Wheelless Robot?
 

Here are some of the things that a non driving robot can do:

1) Shoot three 3-pointers in autonomous

2) Receive colored disks at pyramid base from partners before climbing by catching the partner shots (or other disk hand off scheme) in a deployed "net-funnel", from which they slide into a dumper, and get dumped in 5-pt. goal

3) Climb to 30 point level and catch disks in a deployed net-funnel, into which both partners can shoot white disk "passes" from the safe feeder zones, and from which these white disks then slide into a shooter that is locked on target for undefendable 3-point goals -- saving on driving for their partners.

4) Lower hoist with hook to lift one or two partners near enough to pyramid rungs for them to get bumped in sequence on way up, or lower horizontal ber for partners to extend hooks up and onto, and then both retract after hook/bar engaged. hanging bots then must touch rungs 1-2-3 in order

Sure, this is a tough list, and deployed net catcher would have to "un-deploy" the net before lowering hook/bar for lifting partner(s), but even doing only some of these can make an effective scoring partner.

The main negative is having zero potential for defensice contribution. The main positive is that once any of these capabilities achieved, they are pretty much undefendable.

-Dick Ledford

Re: Wheelless Robot?
 

Not many teams have gotten ROBOT redefined... :D

1975 in 2007 built a non-mobile robot as well. (Unfolds just after teleop starts)

Re: Wheelless Robot?
 

While I dont recommend this, I would LOVE to see it in action. It'd definitely make my day!

Re: Wheelless Robot?
 

I take issue with some of your points:
Sure you might be able to shoot three 3 pointers in autonomous, maybe feed into an allied robot if you're designed for that. How much weight do you really save though for not moving? Maybe 10-15 lbs for no wheels, gearboxes nor motors.

Funneling shots are a good idea but you will be subservient to allied robots in qualification matches to get them to you. I'm not designing a 'colored disc handoff' device so you're going to have to catch them from me at the top of the tower which I may or may not be designed to do.

I will literally bake a batch of cookies if anyone can pull this off in conjunction with your first point. Remember that you have to actually climb the pyramid, arrive in the proper orientation, then transport discs from wherever your allies shoot them in your body, orient them properly and and shoot them back out -- with the same shooter that was angled at shooting from the ground. By its self it is a lofty objective and a very interesting one. But I think you'll have to choose this or the first one. Raising a net to catch allied colored discs is an absolute must if you choose not to move in the match but remember you are reducing your allied scoring potential if they have to spend time scoring colored for you instead of by themselves for eliminations.

Think about it: If you can drive across the field to pick up four colored discs you can score 20 additional points by yourself. If your ally spends its cycle time picking up those discs and scoring into you when it could be scoring white discs for 12 pts, the net value of that trip is only 8 pts. Sure it's worth it but it isn't the full face value of the discs. This will probably not be a concern in qualification matches where few robots will be able to reliably score colored discs but in eliminations, if I could score colored discs without your help, I wouldn't pick this robot. Interestingly enough, this could lead to a 4th or 5th alliance powering their way to the finals with a robot like this in the lead or first pick.

Remember suspending in 2010? And how it was so difficult because it's hard to predict how other robots will work? Unless you build me a system that can hook onto my belay points it won't work with my robot. Furthermore, I don't think I'd trust another robot to lift us up, especially if it was doing any bumping into anything. Also, unless you occupy a significant amount of space above Level 3 (ie you have to be above the PYRAMID GOAL) then you won't be able to lift a lot of robots into level 3.


That said, I think a robot that does this, if executed properly could win a regional as the second or third seed: You might get screwed over in quals if you have an alliance unable to score into you. Also, if you choose to go for this I'd prioritize the auto shooter over the 'score into me and we'll score in the top goal' shooter. Considering the top sort in seeding behind WLT is auto score, being able to score in auto is a top objective. Also the white disc pyramid scoring is incredibly hard to implement.

Re: Wheelless Robot?
 

This made me laugh. In 2007 I was one of the leaders of the programming team, and one of the members kept pestering us about the code after our first day at a regional. Finally we told him that programming our robot was just too difficult, so instead we made a ramp, and it was as simple as "ka-thunk" (we also mimicked it with a hand gesture).

Everyone on the bus back to the hotel picked up on it, and we all just kept teasing him by saying "ka-thunk". Oh to be immature. :D

Re: Wheelless Robot?
 

Take the weight penalty? As in not being able to play?

Re: Wheelless Robot?
 

As in being harder to climb because your robot is heavier.

Re: Wheelless Robot?
 

By "Weight penalty" I didn't mean "the penalty for being overweight", but rather the drawbacks of having a heavier robot while hanging. A hanging mechanism shouldn't weigh more than 100 pounds, ever.

Re: Wheelless Robot?
 

At the beginning of the match are you allowed to start with 2 or 3 of the colored alliance frisbees?
If so, then you should make a robot that climbs and dumps 2 or 3 of the disks into the 5-point goal at the top of the pyramid in autonomous. If you could do that, you could score 50 or 60 points consistently! I've never thought of that idea before, but that would be very impressive!

Re: Wheelless Robot?
 

The colored discs start behind the alliance station.

Re: Wheelless Robot?
 

Only White discs are allowed to be pre-loaded, so this is impossible.