Re: FTC 2015 Challenge "Cascade Effect"
 

We pulled a full 90cm goal up the ramp without it tipping, but know that the 90cm ones when they roll down the ramp (even empty) will usually topple over when they hit the matt. Sometimes the 60 cm one will tip as well.

Re: FTC 2015 Challenge "Cascade Effect"
 

It also says in the scoring table listed on Page 7 of game Manual 2 "Balls Scored In (from floor) Center Goal".

Therefore the first ball would count for 120cm (top of center goal) - ~27.5cm height of center goal + height of ball (~7 cm big) = 100cm x 6 = 600pts.

I agree that this seems like a game breaking amount of points but I think the challenge of getting a ball scored at 120CM will be difficult. I am wondering why it is referenced both in the video and where I quoted above if counting from the floor is not the intention.

Someone please correct me if I have misinterpreted something.

Re: FTC 2015 Challenge "Cascade Effect"
 

The (from floor) reference is to remind teams that balls must first contact the floor before they are legal scoring elements for the rolling goals or the center goal. It has nothing to do with where the measuring begins.

See page 9, section 1.4.3 Driver-Controlled Period "Balls are legally able to be Scored once they have made contact with the Playing Field Floor." The end game is part of the driver controlled period so this rule still applies.

Several places within the rules, it quite clearly states, "points for each cm of Ball Height" or "Points per cm of Ball Height". This clearly indicates that measurements should be from the bottom of the lowest ball to the top of the highest ball. Limits are shown in the table for the rolling goals. Since the 30cm goal uses the same 27.5cm tape as the center goal, that would indicate a 27cm limit for the center goal. Expect clarification from the GDC on September 15th.

Re: FTC 2015 Challenge "Cascade Effect"
 

There is no way the GDC will allow for one ball to be 600 points. The GDC has learned over the years to expect the un-expected... (i.e. Bowled Over, when robots were lifting 18 ft in the air, when they thought a 5 ft stick would be enough)....meaning teams will find easy ways to score in the center goal...

Re: FTC 2015 Challenge "Cascade Effect"
 

The center goal, like the other rolling goals, have measuring gauges on them that start at 1 and go up from there. The measurement for height (and therefore scoring) is not done from the floor, but rather according to those gauges.

Re: FTC 2015 Challenge "Cascade Effect"
 

This was one of the first ideas the team had. It's going to be the first design we prototype! I'll let everyone know how it goes.

Re: FTC 2015 Challenge "Cascade Effect"
 

what if you were farther from the goal? wouldn't the mechanism simply gather balls with nowhere to spit them out of?

Re: FTC 2015 Challenge "Cascade Effect"
 

If you had this vertical conveyor system, I would think you could start/stop it at will. If you didn't have a goal in your possession, you could simply hold onto the ball, like any other mechanism. Again, this was all theoretical. It is up to you to make it work.