Re: Gears on the floor?
 

Many robots will only be capable of intaking from the floor. I don't see a drastic reason why not. I guess it's a little awkward near the retrieval zone, but I think it could do.

Re: Gears on the floor?
 

With floor pickup you save time...no need to line up at retrival station

Re: Gears on the floor?
 

Yes, provided your floor pickup is "touch it, own it".

There will be a number of floor pickups that will work slowly or require enough precision that it will essentially be no different than human loading, but determined teams who really work out the details of a good concept will have a much easier time.

Re: Gears on the floor?
 

You still have to line up with the gear. Once the gear falls out of the loading station it becomes an unknown entity. It could roll into the airship and get stuck in a corner or your alliance partner could drive over it while waiting for fuel. The loading station is consistent and easier to practice for. With the new rules minimizing frame extensions it's much easier to build for too. There are countless examples of loading station only robots that were Einstein competitive even when game pieces were far more abundant and distributed throughout the field.

Re: Gears on the floor?
 

You want to be able to pick up gears from the floor, because the gear will move side to side in the chute, and if you are near your airship and a defensive robot hits you and forces you to drop the gear you have to go all the way across the field again and back for 1 gear.

A good gear robot will only be scoring 4-6 gears a match, dropping just one gear a match is a huge deal ground intake or not. If your dropping so many gears that you need a ground intake just to pick them up again then maybe you should consider re-examining your priorities.

Re: Gears on the floor?
 

I'd say 7 a match is the target for "Top good gear" bot, pretty uncertain how many of these so-called good gear bots will exist. So many variables, sight and defense plus messy floor. Not like past games many other factors including Human ones.

Seems to me defense versus good gear bot would be pretty easy for many bots to do effectively, at either end as both require contact and certain precision not to mention travel time and knowing the scoring targets exactly a peg. Going to be interesting I think it'll be rare indeed to see 7 gears placed by any single bot more like 4 max per bot with average gear bots doing 2. At least in weeks 1-3.

I expect allinces early to try to limit other alliance scoring more than scoring themselves, try to win with "no defense safe times " using auto and climbing as the point earning mainly,later scoring will come into play as teams figure it out.

its an intersting game strategy wise with all the variables.

Re: Gears on the floor?
 

I think that a lone gear blocking access to a lift may prevent scoring on that lift. Robots with a gear loaded will not be allowed to move/bulldoze (G27) the blocking gear. If there are no active gear manipulators, that lift could be difficult to access. Especially if a non-gear-laden robot fails to clear the gear by bulldozing.

Would littering the opponent lifts with blocking gears be a potential defensive move?

Re: Gears on the floor?
 

G21. GAME PIECES: use as directed. ROBOTS may not deliberately use GAME PIECES, e.g. GEARS, in an attempt to ease or amplify the challenge associated with other FIELD elements, e.g. BOILERS, HOPPERS, or ROPES.

Re: Gears on the floor?
 

I believe as long as its not amplifying or easing a challenge to be ok.

G21. GAME PIECES: use as directed. ROBOTS may not deliberately use GAME PIECES, e.g.
GEARS, in an attempt to ease or amplify the challenge associated with other FIELD elements,
e.g. BOILERS, HOPPERS, or ROPES.
Violation: YELLOW CARD

Re: Gears on the floor?
 

Yeah... a single lift intentionally blocked by a gear or gears might be allowed.

I think it is more likely that gears will be accidentally dropped in front of lifts while attempting to place them. This may be enough of a reason to have a floor collector for gears.

Kudos to the GDC. It's difficult to predict how this game will actually play out.

Re: Gears on the floor?
 

We may be faced with bulldozing gears out of our way, if dropped right at the post ....or by the loaders and hoppers. Some analysis of the geometry and dimensions will help us better understand the hazards and how it relates to bot design and clearances. See pic of a gear on the carpet - under a gear on post: https://www.dropbox.com/s/elh7edsx0e...rence.JPG?dl=0

But be careful...G21. GAME PIECES: use as directed. ROBOTS may not deliberately use GAME PIECES, e.g. GEARS, in an attempt to ease or amplify the challenge associated with other FIELD elements, e.g. BOILERS, HOPPERS, or ROPES.

Re: Gears on the floor?
 

Lookin' like a fool with your gears on the floor!