Re: Methods Of Transferring Robot Onto Field?
 

Yea we were talking about those meat hooks on Friday and how ingenious they were. I just made the PVC handlesvwith the ropes and clips today. I think those should work and if they don't ugh well. We have bumpers that have velcro in order to switch between blue and red and the Velcro falls off during matches. In order to prevent that we have staples at the bottom to hold the fabric in place. The staples sometimes cut my hands so hopefully these handles I made will prevent that.

Re: Methods Of Transferring Robot Onto Field?
 

As a lead team que I've seen many a teams take their robots onto the field. The proper way to do it is to have one person (not two and certainly not three) go and place the controls in the proper drivers station (if you're unsure where ask a team que member they have your assignment) Two team member lift the robot (gloves are recommended. The robot is heavy with hard sharp edges. It doesn't feel good) and the last member move the cart out of the way and puts it in the spot designated where carts wait to be retrieved after the match. One of my biggest pet peeves is teams carelessly leaving their cart at the side of the field in the way of teams and especially volunteers who could be injured by said cart. It is the team's responsibility to take care of your cart and not doing so is a one way ticket to get on my bad side in a hurry. The first time I'll remind you. The second tie I will firmly tell you. The third time I get mad and the fourth time...I get creative. So please take care of your cart.

Re: Methods Of Transferring Robot Onto Field?
 

I always cringe when I see teams pushing their powered-down robot across the field to get it to the edge before lifting, or to get it into position after lifting.

Speed controllers do not take to such abuse all that kindly, and while it's unavoidable to some degree (like in pushing matches on the field), where it is avoidable it should be avoided.

Re: Methods Of Transferring Robot Onto Field?
 

Alot of kids are so caught up with what has happened or what is about to happen they don't think clearly and do some goofy things like forget to turn on the robot or set the Autonomous mode properly or go out the wrong field access or do things to the robot that should not be done.

Re: Methods Of Transferring Robot Onto Field?
 

I try to get handles into the design of our robots....sometimes it happens, sometimes it doesn't. This year is not too bad, but the "handles" are 1/8" thick aluminum, so gloves are helpful. The past couple years we used "meat hooks", they work but they are inconvenient compared to having handles built into the robot.

Years ago I got a nasty bite on my finger from loading a handle-less robot into a truck for trip to a demonstration....never again.