Re: The REAL chokehold of 2016
 

The intent isn't to draw penalties, but to keep the opponent in your courtyard so they cannot get back on their batter for the capture in time. I'd be surprised if G11 was called in that situation unless it was overly obvious that you went out of your way to contact them.

Re: The REAL chokehold of 2016
 

IMHO, given the 20 second rule, that is a nuance that will be lost on most refs.

Re: The REAL chokehold of 2016
 

I'll accept Zebracorn Cheesecake without further comment but don't be hatin' on Chicago Style Pizza or I'm come after you.

Chicago Style Pizza is not just a thing, it is a thing near and dear to my heart.

Dr. Joe J.

Re: The REAL chokehold of 2016
 

Chicago style pizza is so deep and rich, you could sink a harpoon in it!

Re: The REAL chokehold of 2016
 

Would the attached robot be legal?

The frame parimeter is <120" and every external corner of the frame perimeter has at least 8" of bumper protecting it. Seems like it would be legal to me.

I can see adding 4 omniwheels, a battery and the rest of the electronics and doing tolerably well in St. Louis with such a robot. You could make this from completely COTS material (some plywood, some 2 by 4s, and some deck screws and that's about it) in the pits in St. Louis in about 2 hours tops, including the bumper but you could actually make the bumper before you arrive because bumpers don't have to go into the bag...

I am not saying this would be a world beater but I am saying that 20-30% of teams might do better on average with this robot than the one they currently are planning on using in St. Louis.

An interesting thought experiment on a sort of Zebracorn Self Cheesecaking concept.

Dr. Joe J.

Re: The REAL chokehold of 2016
 

Fair warning to anyone attempting this, don't be caught with more than one object that resembles a robot built to play stronghold to a reasonably astute observer. A team is permitted to access but one such object at an event.

Re: The REAL chokehold of 2016
 

I'd like to see someone drive that either over a defense or over the secret passage way.

Re: The REAL chokehold of 2016
 

I see no reason why that configuration would be illegal. Of course how you use it involves a different set of rules.

Re: The REAL chokehold of 2016
 

they might do better...but still be useless on an eliminations alliance.

Re: The REAL chokehold of 2016
 

This is an interesting idea. But let's say I'm right, and that some 20% would do better with this robot. Who's to say that some of that 20% might not get a break here and a favorable ally there and BOOM DONE! all of a sudden they're a drafting team.

For that team, they probably wouldn't have been drafted at all and now they are not only playing after lunch, their an alliance captain. That seems like an upgrade to my kids' St. Louis Experience. I don't know how I'd tell my kids no if they wanted to give it a shot.

Dr. Joe J.

Re: The REAL chokehold of 2016
 

The low bar and berms wouldn't be too big a problem; there's no need for the chassis to be that low to the floor. It would be best if the robot had a holonomic (or swerve) drive system so that it can drive along its short axis onto/off of its own batter and along its long axis to cross under the low bar and over the berms. I'd probably go (non equilateral) kiwi.

Re: The REAL chokehold of 2016
 

Oh man if only they had thought about that. Oh wait...

Re: The REAL chokehold of 2016
 

I thought bumpers had to go into a separate bag?

Re: The REAL chokehold of 2016
 

Bumpers are exempt from the witholding allowance. They may be put in the robot bag, or brought separately. There is no requirement that they be bagged, just properly constructed, cover 8" from every corner, and weigh no more than 20 pounds. Many teams (including 3946) bag or box the withholding allowance to simplify check-in, but that is not an actual requirement, either.