Re: Grabbing 4 Bins from the step in Auto
 

Chris is right, this is pretty simple science. It's just a mechanism that has to cover a 20 foot span, pick up 4 heavy objects including two 10 feet away from the center of the robot, then somehow swinging them off the step without
a) clipping them on totes in the landfill
b) tipping over
c) getting ripped apart or dragged over the step by a friend on the other side of the step who wants them just a little more than you
d) keeping them in the field of play
e) keeping them upright

It's just that easy. Pretty sure even a team working in Indian Cave in Nebraska is gonna be rolling up with one of these :rolleyes:

Oh, you want to take them to the auto zone too for another 8 points? Ok. (You just secured an up to 120 point advantage for your team. I'd say don't get greedy, but I'm not a cop. I can't tell you what to do.)

Re: Grabbing 4 Bins from the step in Auto
 

interesting for lower resourced teams like ours! Got any pics or plans you'd share with us? Please drop me a PM if you could do so.
Thanks!
Steve Miller
Coach 3355
Purple Vipers

Re: Grabbing 4 Bins from the step in Auto
 

Can I ask where the requirement for 'upright' is coming from? Convenience?

also, f) not pulling at G18. Which, particularly once you're known for this move, seems very, very likely.

Re: Grabbing 4 Bins from the step in Auto
 

I assume they don't want to tip them over because most teams likely won't be able to manipulate a tipped over Recycling Container.

Re: Grabbing 4 Bins from the step in Auto
 

Actually manipulating a tipped over container is easier than an up rite container. Any Farmer can show you how to do it.

Re: Grabbing 4 Bins from the step in Auto
 

Not really a requirement (in my opinion), just things people think are simple/given tasks that make up this routine.

Re: Grabbing 4 Bins from the step in Auto
 

I hope no one has a device stronger and faster than yours that grabs any of the containers. A giant extended PVC arm sounds pretty brittle to me.

Re: Grabbing 4 Bins from the step in Auto
 

The RCs are too easy to knock over to not be able to handle them on their sides. And allowing yourself to knock them over makes a mechanism like this far easier to design.

Re: Grabbing 4 Bins from the step in Auto
 

The only matches where it would be legitimately beneficial to grab all four totes would be starving the opponents containers would actually cap their score, and where your alliance would be able to handle the 24 points lost from being unable to noodle the bins.

My (relatively bold) prediction is that it will probably play the same role as the goalie pole last year. A few teams will design for it from the beginning, and most of them will not be super effective. Then, probably during weeks 5-7 of the competition season, a simple, light, and fast solution will be popularized because a powerhouse team designed one that works like a dream (similar to minibot designs in 2011, or the introduction of Cheesy Vision in 2014). Come district and world championships, a number of strong teams will be using this solution. Alliances will be built solely off the ability to grab the bins, and some of these will find their way to the Einstein fields.

Re: Grabbing 4 Bins from the step in Auto
 

Its like 4.5 inches thick schedule 80 PVC. Our latch mechanism yanks the container back when it engages, and our plan is to get their fastest.

That said, I do share your concern and we will have spares.

Re: Grabbing 4 Bins from the step in Auto
 

It sounds pretty easy to fix to me. At any rate, once they de-limb you they have to content with your giant shattered pvc poles still clinging to the bins. Seems like an effective strategy to neutralize all of the cans.

Re: Grabbing 4 Bins from the step in Auto
 

And a great way to get penalised. I genuinely wish you good luck on the endeavor. Make it work. Prove me wrong.

Re: Grabbing 4 Bins from the step in Auto
 

I envision horrific carnage when a 4-RC robot grabs their RCs and a single-RC robot grabs onto one of those RCs, and torques the 4-RC robot into oblivion.

Grabbing multiple RC's does seem like a very attractive proposition, but I think that the right single-RC robot will be able to effectively counter this move either by discouragement or by disrupting the initial grab.

Re: Grabbing 4 Bins from the step in Auto
 

Only if they're faster. Dropping PVC arms down is pretty fast and could possibly be comparable to a tape measure setup.
If you have yo unfold, forget it. They'll be gone before you can grab one.
Once the can has moved, a tape measure will have a really hard time getting it.

Re: Grabbing 4 Bins from the step in Auto
 

Why are you making the assumption that the only viable counter-mechanism is a tape measure? Or a PVC arm?

Have you considered the possibility that a robust, strong, arm could grab a can? One that can deploy in <1s, even with the landfill totes.