Re: Our answer to the long range shooter
 

It was especially hilarious when their bot left to climb, we bashed into their drivers station at full speed with the face looking directly at them

Re: Our answer to the long range shooter
 

Not true. They said we could take ours on and off whenever we please. Official descision was made by head refs at first.

Re: Our answer to the long range shooter
 

I have seen many ways to block full court shooters.
This by far looks like the most effective method. It
doesn't look too difficult to implement. Just about
any team could modify their bots to mount it.

Re: Our answer to the long range shooter
 

Yeah, this is likely true for your position per rule T08
It sounds and looks as if your blocker is one that you've at some point presented to an inspector, and are just discussing adding and removing it as is necessary.

In order to be able to add and remove it at will, you must have at some point presented it to an inspector. Many improvised blockers being seen are created during elim matches as a response to a full court shooter and as such were not presented at a previous inspection. If doing this, teams need to make sure to get it inspected to be legal. I believe this is what Eric was referring to (though feel free to correct me if I'm wrong.)

Re: Our answer to the long range shooter
 

I missed the webstream. That's awesome!

Re: Our answer to the long range shooter
 

Were you substituting another mechanism when you weren't using the blocker? If so, did the combined weight of the blocker, the other mechanism and the rest of the robot exceed 120 lb? Also, did the blocker receive inspection at least once in its final configuration?

Re: Our answer to the long range shooter
 

this was what we argued after our quarter-final matches at the Central Washington regional when we were trying to defend against 1425. in the first quarter final match we only left the auto zone at the end of the match to try to prevent 1425 from hanging and our drivers forgot to pull down our blocker all the way. we argued this should only be the 3 point foul because it was only this one instance, not repeated violations.
In the second quarter-final match we did cross the auto line extended again at the end of the match but we quickly retracted our blocker, but in this match we were still called for multiple 20 point fouls.

video of these matches:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WaGdlRGwDXM
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=61KL9eYCsPk

I am curious, how have other regionals have been calling these fouls?

Re: Our answer to the long range shooter
 

http://www.justin.tv/roll24productions/b/384327507

Skip to 6:19:00 ... It's our second semi-final match...it's one of the best barn burners I've seen out of any regional this year.

...of course if you want to see our blocker flop around, you can check out our first semi-final match...we lost that one making the second semi-final match a must-win. I think the problem could have been fixed if we had put more gaffer's tape on the spring. Contrary to popular belief, duct tape doesn't fix every problem, gaffer's tape does. :)

Re: Our answer to the long range shooter
 

Everything plus blocker was underweight. The blocker was inspected once when it was being made, they basically just told us to make it stronger etc... After that we were allowed to take it on/off. We never needed too because we were on the long range shooter's alliance

Re: Our answer to the long range shooter
 

Yep, exactly. Inspected mechanisms can be removed/added at will. New bits need to be inspected.

Re: Our answer to the long range shooter
 

I've seen what I think are two different "blocker" philosophies: walls that stop discs dead, and flexible deflectors that just changes flight paths. High weight and CG for the wall, more potential to break. Deflection might not work well enough, and still feeds a floor loader if there is one. (Not the rigid-flexible distinction I'm making refers to the mounting of the wall/sheet rather than the material forming it.)

My question (other than'is this about right') is how some of these flexible deflectors are mounted. What are people making their frames out if? 1811 has one that looks like it could go under they pyramid passively! (Just looks like it; never saw but still cool.) Granted that might cause a 54" problem drowning on how it collapses. 714 seems to use similar thugs as 'pyramid touchers'. Tres neat.

Re: Our answer to the long range shooter
 

I want to see a team that has an adjustable one (up or down) so that you can go across the field if needed.

Re: Our answer to the long range shooter
 

Check out the third guy on the SVR winning alliance - 1967. PVC, and it went up and down! Pretty important to the 254/118 win! :)

Re: Our answer to the long range shooter
 

We have one that goes up to 74 inches via our climber, and can be retracted to 60. We have only used it once because our robot is primarily offensive, but at each regional we went to we got clearance from the inspectors to take it on or off depending on who we were up against.

We faced 4030 at Seattle and Spokane and their blocker was very effective. It had the widest blocking area I've seen and could be raised up (I don't know what the max height was). The best part about 4030's blocker was that it had the "You shall not pass" meme on it.

Re: Our answer to the long range shooter
 

I think seeing this on a blocker would make my day:

http://youtube.googleapis.com/v/C_0fyUYB3cA