Originally Posted by philso (Post 1572868)

Did you analyze their design before making this statement?

You do know that no mechanism is used on their robots without first having passed a rigorous and thorough engineering analysis with a comparison with other design strategies (including testing of many prototypes)?

To quote JVN, "This is an engineering competition." 118 wins consistently because they do some of the best engineering.

Originally Posted by philso (Post 1572868)

Did you analyze their design before making this statement?

You do know that no mechanism is used on their robots without first having passed a rigorous and thorough engineering analysis with a comparison with other design strategies (including testing of many prototypes)?

To quote JVN, "This is an engineering competition." 118 wins consistently because they do some of the best engineering.

Originally Posted by philso (Post 1572868)

Did you analyze their design before making this statement?

You do know that no mechanism is used on their robots without first having passed a rigorous and thorough engineering analysis with a comparison with other design strategies (including testing of many prototypes)?

To quote JVN, "This is an engineering competition." 118 wins consistently because they do some of the best engineering.

Originally Posted by joeking (Post 1572903)

Mentors like yourself are a shame to the FIRST community. #thinkbeforeyoupost

Originally Posted by pilleya (Post 1572904)

Umm no sorry, we don't say things like that on here. Maybe you should #thinkbeforeyoupost

Originally Posted by Sperkowsky (Post 1571573)

Do you regret the grappling hook?

Originally Posted by Sperkowsky (Post 1572873)

Well... it was a question not a statement one with a comedic edge at that. I had no doubt there was rational behind it. Although even 118 could do something they even slightly regret.

I also asked it because they have historically taken mechanisms off their robots as the season progresses. This year it was the sally port arm/draw bridge arm last year it was the can articulator ect.

Originally Posted by pilleya (Post 1572332)

The main reasons that the grappling hook method used by 118 is so effective, is that the whole system is light. But also that it is quick to activate. Being able to climb quickly is highly important as without a quick method of climbing, the robot may in fact be better off making more high-goals. But it’s not just the attachment method which is important; the thing which can make or break the effectiveness of a climbing mechanism is the speed at which the robot can be lifted off the ground to the desired height. The most effective method of doing this is by using a PTO (Power take-off) from one or both of the drive gearboxes, as it enables the use of the drive trains motor power to lift the robot, reducing motor count which reduces weight and making the climb extremely quick. With this in mind, and with the new off the shelf offerings from ANDYMARK and West Coast Products it is highly likely we will extensive use of PTO’s in future climbing/lifting challenges (Obviously a lot are being used already) Also consider that some recent climbing games such as 2010 and 2013, the utilisation of a grappling hook device would not have enabled the full climb to occur, or at least not without greater complexity.

I wouldn’t go so far as to say that 118’s grappling hook is the most inspirational feat of the 2016 season as there are plenty of other highly effective climbers some with arguably with higher reliability. Many new unique climbers will no doubt be seen at championship, but 118's will definitely go down in the history books as one of the greatest.

Originally Posted by philso (Post 1573071)

The way you phrased the question, it could easily be interpreted as "do you regret making the stupid decision to use a grappling hook?". I know some of our team members wanted to ask "with the experience 118 has accumulated using their grappling hook, what would they change?".

You have described your own personal growth in another thread. Keep growing and you will become one of the members that people will turn to for an authoritative opinion.

FYI, at Lone Star this last weekend, their sallyport/drawbridge arm was nowhere to be seen and the grappling hood performed flawlessly every time I saw it deployed.