Re: Aerial Assist Discussion Thread
 

60pts
Max cycle: 3 assist, truss-catch, high goal (60 points).
Different strategies: 2 assist, truss-catch, low (51 points);
2 assist, high (40 points);
2 assist, low (31 points)

Re: Aerial Assist Discussion Thread
 

It seems to me that "assisting" is the act of another robot possessing the ball in another zone; assistance is not defined by passing. That would mean one alliance robot could get the ball from outside (+10 pts.), pass it to a human player, and then the human passes the ball to another robot in another zone (+10 pts.). This means that robots with poor passing ability can use the human players. Human players can pass much quicker than robots (unless you have really good drivers and programs) so this might be a more efficient method of passing.

Re: Aerial Assist Discussion Thread
 

I have a question about getting 30 assist points AND the over the truss + catching bonus:

After watching some of the field tour videos about assists, I learned that, in order to get all the assist points, you have to pass between color zones, and to the opposite sides of those color zones (different row and column if you will). And for the Over the truss + catch maneuver my first thought was to have a robot with an arm/elevator that lifts the ball over, and only a few feet away is a catching robot with a large bucket.

So, in order to get 30 assist points AND the over the truss with a catch, do you have to make some huge 20 foot pass across the field from one zone to the next in order to get all the points? or can you do a short pass like I said, then have the other robot drive into the different zone to get the same number of points?

That's a you & your team's problem not a FIRST problem. Find a way to combat this. Be innovative.

Re: Aerial Assist Discussion Thread
 

Do the supershifter gearboxes work with the new 2014 frame?

Re: Aerial Assist Discussion Thread
 

I believe doing so would only net you 2 assists. Assists are defined as "when a unique ALLIANCE ROBOT POSSESSES the ALLIANCE’S BALL in a unique ZONE (i.e. red, white, or blue ZONE) during a CYCLE." So passing the ball across the field from one robot to the other and then scoring would only count as 2 unique alliance robots possessing the ball in 2 unique zones, and therefore 2 assists. The "correct" way to get 3 assists with an over the truss catch would be for the furthest back robot (opposite alliance zone) to launch the ball over the truss, the second robot (white zone) catches it and passes it over to the third robot (alliance zone) who then scores it.

Re: Aerial Assist Discussion Thread
 

By removing the end game they've reduced the number of different things a robot can do and given us more opportunity to increase the complexity of a single mechanism.

Re: Aerial Assist Discussion Thread
 

Anybody know how much the balls weigh?

Re: Aerial Assist Discussion Thread
 

Someone mentioned earlier that the balls were 5 lbs exactly without air.

Re: Aerial Assist Discussion Thread
 

I can't seem to find where to buy just the bladder, but that may not be the best idea because rubber and cloth will act differently when you try to pick them up. For example, a suction method may work for just the inflated rubber bladder, but it will not work if the cloth cover is on.

Re: Aerial Assist Discussion Thread
 

ok thanks. Any guess as to how much with air?

Re: Aerial Assist Discussion Thread
 

AndyMark says 2.75 pounds.

http://www.andymark.com/FRC-2014-p/am-2720.htm

Re: Aerial Assist Discussion Thread
 

Ah. I just saw someone said 5 lbs earlier, I should have done some research.

Air shouldn't add much.

The volume of the ball is about 4.19 ft^3
According to Wolfram Alpha, 4.19 ft^3 of air weighs .334 lbs.
2.75+.334 = 3.084

The ball with air will weigh approximately 3.084 lbs

Re: Aerial Assist Discussion Thread
 

Oh wow! Any verification on this?

Re: Aerial Assist Discussion Thread
 

Couple questions. Do assists other than the truss pass/catch count if the goal is not scored? Also if you missed and made a couple more assists and managed to score this time, could you get over 3 assists for a cycle?