Re: Airzooka
 

And lots. Very rapidly. For the whole 2:15. I mean, someone has to test the regional's response to an entire team fainting on the sidelines, right?

EDIT:My wife suggests paper bags are recommended. I think paper bags are a sign you're not truly committed to the cause.

Re: Airzooka
 

By using the digits of pi as a letter-skipping sequence I have been able to decode this year's rules and find some hidden messages. One of them clearly allows for the use of Airzookas, with the following restrictions:
* They must be powered by a legal robot battery
* They may only be used on disks inside the team's Auto Zone
* The air column it generates must be contained within a 54x84 meter cylinder
* The only team member who may use the device is a costumed mascot

Re: Airzooka
 

It's completely different than using fans in 2009, and I don't know of any teams using them this year. In 2009, fans were used to provide additional propulsion given the mandated wheels and "regolith" surface, not to deflect game pieces.

Re: Airzooka
 

I don't have a picture, but I'm almost 100% positive 869 has a giant fan on their robot.

Re: Airzooka
 

I don't know how everyone here skipped over this bit of gold.

Re: Airzooka
 

At Palmetto, 619 had a box fan on their's for their last couple of matches. It seemed really effective actually.

Re: Airzooka
 

1982 built one at GKC. They used a model airplane prop on a Banebot 770 inside a section of bucket. Nice, safe, mesh covering both ends. I know it was in use (you can see it on our POV video) but I don't think it was very effective. Certainly not against shots from the pyramid.

Re: Airzooka
 

Well to be fair you really drive your frisbees in there...they arent "lofted" shots.

But imagine it back at a full court shooter. an inch of lift down there could mean a mile when it reaches the goals.

Re: Airzooka
 

You can see a fan being used fairly effectively here.https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y4zz8Okgk2k
This was the only round I saw it for though, so I'm not sure how well it worked later on.

Re: Airzooka
 

I was excited when the student that built it brought it to Inspection on Friday. We'd talked about fans and it sure seems like an early deflection ought to do some good on a long, lofted, shot. But theory isn't reality.... I was hoping to see it in action during quals but if they did use it, I missed it.

Re: Airzooka
 

Team 1982 did not play against us until the Quarters at KC, so I'm going to go out on a limb here and say that the fan wasn't "in action" until then.

Re: Airzooka
 

We need at least six of these robots to come to MARC during the summer. What sweltering gym heat?

Re: Airzooka
 

Team 2342... the leaf blower bot... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nF_K0fwDng8

Re: Airzooka
 

The leaf blower defense is a viable strategy against full court shooters. Its all about watts, CFM, and velocity.

Re: Airzooka
 

I'm reminded of Lisa Simpson's tiger repellant rock. First you have to convince me that the robots in that match were actually capable of consistently hitting 3-pointers. Then I might be willing to believe that fan was capable of deflecting hard thrown pyramid shots.