i can be done...
 

Posted by Anton Abaya at 03/12/2001 11:16 PM EST


Coach on team #419, Rambots, from UMass Boston / BC High and If only we had free donuts....


In Reply to: Is Balancing 2 Goals That Difficult????
Posted by Thomas Grupp on 03/12/2001 3:51 PM EST:



but even the best out there with gyros and everything still wanted a wedge....

seek the rambot...your perfect wedge. (cough cough nick)

=anton=

Re: Is Balancing 2 Goals That Difficult????
 

Posted by Lewis Sussman at 03/13/2001 9:54 AM EST


Coach on team #95, Lebanon Robotics Team, from Lebanon NH HS, Hanover NH HS, Hartford VT HS and CRREL/CREARE.


In Reply to: Is Balancing 2 Goals That Difficult????
Posted by Thomas Grupp on 03/12/2001 3:51 PM EST:



We can balance two goals. All of the weight of the goals is transferred onto our drive wheels so traction and maneuvering is not a problem - imagine 300 lbs of weight on six wheel drive!! Since we lift the goals up the casters don't present a problem either.

Re: Is Balancing 2 Goals That Difficult????
 

Posted by Chris Hibner at 03/13/2001 1:43 PM EST


Coach on team #308, Walled Lake Monster, from Walled Lake Schools and TRW Automotive Electronics.


In Reply to: Is Balancing 2 Goals That Difficult????
Posted by Thomas Grupp on 03/12/2001 3:51 PM EST:



For our team, balancing the goals isn't really difficult. We've only dumped the goals once (in 20 attempts between practice and matches) and we do it very fast. However, we found it more difficult to get the OPPORTUNITY to balance.

Let me explain that a little. During the West Michigan Regional, we had 9 matches and we were the designated goal balancer in 8 of those 9 matches (we co-balanced with another team in the other match). Out of those 8 matches, we got only 3 opportunities to balance the goals. In the other 5 matches, a robot flipped over while crossing the bridge, either dislodging the bridge from the pivot or blocking the bridge altogether.

In the future, we'll probably be a little more proactive about being sure that a robot can successfully cross the bridge. I think we took it for granted that there would be very little issue doing this task.

Re: Is Balancing 2 Goals That Difficult????
 

Posted by Carolyn Duncan at 03/14/2001 3:48 PM EST


Student on team #495, The Pack, from Jamestown High School and VBEP/Raytheon/Saic.


In Reply to: Is Balancing 2 Goals That Difficult????
Posted by Thomas Grupp on 03/12/2001 3:51 PM EST:



Actually you could be in a dream. Our team, 495, can balance the bridge with a robot and 2 goals on it with out being on the bridge!!!!!!! All we need is for a team to move the 2 goals onto the bridge!!!!!!!!!

Re: Is Balancing 2 Goals That Difficult????
 

Posted by Jason Flanagan at 03/14/2001 5:50 PM EST


Student on team #250, Dynamos, from Shenendehowa HSE and General Electric, Verizon, .


In Reply to: Re: Is Balancing 2 Goals That Difficult????
Posted by Carolyn Duncan on 03/14/2001 3:48 PM EST:



how does your robot balance the bridge? are you just a shock absorber or what?

Re: Is Balancing 2 Goals That Difficult????
 

Posted by Carolyn Duncan at 03/14/2001 6:30 PM EST


Student on team #495, The Pack, from Jamestown High School and VBEP/Raytheon/Saic.


In Reply to: Re: Is Balancing 2 Goals That Difficult????
Posted by Jason Flanagan on 03/14/2001 5:50 PM EST:



Our robot has an arm which lifts and stops the bridge from comming up to far. The robot on the bridge needs to help a little by moving center. www.erols.com/devonr/regional has pix of us and robot at VCU regionals.

Re: Is Balancing 2 Goals That Difficult????
 

Posted by Jason Flanagan at 03/14/2001 5:50 PM EST


Student on team #250, Dynamos, from Shenendehowa HSE and General Electric, Verizon, .


In Reply to: Re: Is Balancing 2 Goals That Difficult????
Posted by Carolyn Duncan on 03/14/2001 3:48 PM EST:



how does your robot balance the bridge? are you just a shock absorber or what?