Chief Delphi

Chief Delphi (http://www.chiefdelphi.com/forums/index.php)
-   Technical Discussion (http://www.chiefdelphi.com/forums/forumdisplay.php?f=22)
-   -   Velcro tread (http://www.chiefdelphi.com/forums/showthread.php?t=130544)

EricH 20-09-2014 20:48

Re: Velcro tread
 
Quote:

Originally Posted by cfair (Post 1400824)
Since this thread has the ear of the inspectors, can I ask if there's any history of teams using low pressure (a vacuum cleaner) to increase the normal force of their wheels?

There was discussion of using fans aimed upwards in Lunacy (until Q&A ruled on the topic, at which point the discussion shifted to aiming the fans horizontally).

Quote:

I know in a very early game (2003?) some teams used suction devices to attach to a HDPE platform in the endgame.
Very early? Man, I feel old now. (My rookie year--only 11 games after the first one!)

Quote:

I'm kinda with Max Boord here in that the nature of the game is to attach to the carpet. Would a single 24" diameter "foot" coated with roughtop be considered illegal - it probably won't damage the carpet, but the other robots trying to push you around probably will.
It shouldn't be illegal unless there's something else illegal about it. Or you drag it around when you're driving around.

Allow me to suggest a test as to whether something is attaching to the carpet. Take a large chunk of wood and attach an eyebolt to the "top" (and, just for good measure, to one side--I'll explain that one in a moment). Set it on a section of playing field carpet, then pick it up with a fish scale or similar device. You will get a force needed to lift it. Now coat the bottom with your choice of traction material. Pick it up with the fish scale again. (Note: You may want to use the side eyebolt to get the new weight of the block first.) If you use more force to pick up the block with the material on it than you do the un-coated block, you're probably attaching to the carpet. There may be some cases where you're not--"other factors" come to mind including statistical variation--but I'd be willing to bet that you'll be ruled as attaching if spotted at competition.

Now here's the real reason for that side eyebolt. Put something heavy onto the block and drag it, again using the scale. Change the traction material and repeat. Which one takes more force to pull (and thus has a higher coefficient of friction, and thus more traction)? Maybe that's the one you ought to use...or not, if your strategy doesn't need more traction from that source.

Al Skierkiewicz 21-09-2014 11:30

Re: Velcro tread
 
Quote:

Originally Posted by cfair (Post 1400824)
Since this thread has the ear of the inspectors, can I ask if there's any history of teams using low pressure (a vacuum cleaner) to increase the normal force of their wheels?

Chris, The answer is yes but...
The vacuum device must use legal motors or pneumatic vacuum generators. Teams have used certain items to gain better friction with the carpet, but these do come at a cost.


All times are GMT -5. The time now is 17:33.

Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.6.4
Copyright ©2000 - 2017, Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd.
Copyright © Chief Delphi