What's the best rope?
 

For the 2017 game, if you are going to use your own rope, what is the best kind to use and where would you get it?

Re: What's the best rope?
 

It depends on your individual robot design, and how you plan to try to climb it.

Re: What's the best rope?
 

Keep in mind that whatever rope you use, you can put knots in it to make it easier for your robot to scale.

Re: What's the best rope?
 

But if you choose a specifically different type of rope, you will be limited to that specific position.

Re: What's the best rope?
 

Unless you're the only climber on the alliance or you cheesecake your partners. Then you could give your alliance partners your rope.

Re: What's the best rope?
 

You would probably want a static rope. I was also potentially thinking of slackline.

Re: What's the best rope?
 

I am going to push to use the default rope. The knots are nice, but if something happens to your own rope(s), you risk losing out on climbing points if you're forced to use the field rope.

Re: What's the best rope?
 

Does this mean it can be looped also?:confused:

Re: What's the best rope?
 

So according to the rules, velcro may be considered a rope as it's flexible and non metallic. Is this correct?

Re: What's the best rope?
 

It seems to my team that you can do any number of things to your rope, so long as it follows the few guidelines. This means you could climb very reliably. I personally think that you should supply your own rope, and have one or two backup ropes, in case one gets damaged. Using the supplied rope creates inconsistency and is overall not reliable, and you can't get the benefits of knots or special material.

My team has strongly considered using a certain climbing rope that has retroreflective fabrics weaved into it, to help with positioning, similar to the one shown here: http://searchgear.com/pmiretroreflectiverope.aspx

However, to answer your question, there is not a definite "best kind" of rope, as it depends on your team.

Re: What's the best rope?
 

As an inspector, that rope would not pass my inspection and would be brought to the LRI as it contains glass beads (which are not fibers or flexible, per I04).

Re: What's the best rope?
 

I agree that using a dynamic rope would be a bad idea. But I don't think a slackline would work because I have never seen a slackline that is 1 inch strap, most slacklines I have used are typically 2-3 inches. You could definitely use nylon (or other material) strap, but it probably would not be designed as a slackline.

Re: What's the best rope?
 

And you would be wrong. Please read the whole rule. Assuming the linked rope would not extend up more than 12 inches from the point it is held is should be deemed legal. Glass is certainly non-metallic, and "fiber" can really mean anything.


IO4
D. consist entirely of flexible, non-metallic fibers twisted, tied, woven, or braided together except for the last 4 in. (~10 cm) of each end which may be whipped, fused, covered in heat shrink or tape, or dipped in a coating material to prevent fraying.

Blue note "Flexible means that if the ROPE is held at any point, it should not extend more than 12” above the point where it is held. ROPES are meant to be pulled, not pushed."

Re: What's the best rope?
 

you'd be hard pressed to argue that glass beads are "flexible, non-metallic fibers". entirely means entirely. Sure, the linked rope likely meets the definition given for flexible, but the rule describes more properties of the rope than that. It would be legal IMO to have a rope made of glass fibers, as long as it also meets every other rule, such as safety rules.

also, it is never wrong for an inspector to bring a questionable item to the LRI for a ruling.

Lastly, I assure you that i have indeed read the rule multiple times. I have a few years of experience inspecting bots, and over a dozen years reading FRC rulebooks.

Re: What's the best rope?
 

The blue note explicitly tells you what flexible means in this context. You can be that guy if you need to be.