If it is tethered, is it a projectile?
 

i know in the manual, 9.1 S10 says that the containers are the only projectiles that will be permitted, but if it is on a string or cable, would it be ok? i am thinking if u could rig an air powered cannon on top with a couple of servos to aim it, u could knock over another team's stack while still on the top platform. mabey a beanbag or something, with a spool to bring it back into the barrel. a laser pointer would be enough to get your aim right. what do u guys think? also, anybody who actually got to see the ramp upclose, which way is the mesh going to be placed? if the little rods were going side to side, then you could get allot more traction. thanks!

I think Nate Smith said the rods on top were going up the ramp, not across.

I don't know, ask first. But anyway, yes, the rods were going parallel to the top of the platform.

A projectile is anything that flies, unpowered, through the air, regardless of whether it is "tethered" or not. Besides, a tether like that would definately constitute and "obvious risk of entaglement".

As for the air cannon, I'm guessing that's illegal to, as it would be a custom pneumatics device. On the other hand, if you used a piston to hit the beanbag really hard, this rule wouldn't apply.

About launching things to knock over a stack, it would probably take much more than a well aimed bean-bag to knock over a stack. If you were allowed to launch something else, you could do the wheel launcher that was used last year with the soccer balls.

im pretty sure your answer is yes

yes
 

yeah, im sure that would be a "yes"

Re: If it is tethered, is it a projectile?
 

If this is legal, I'm going to start work on a Fly-by-wire missle:D .

well now
 

that would be awsome. haha, i guess if its teathered...

In section S10 of the rules it says "The storage containers are the ONLY projectile that may be used by a robot."

The defintion of a projectile is "1. A fired, thrown, or otherwise propelled object, such as a bullet, having no capacity for self-propulsion. 2. A self-propelled missile, such as a rocket."

I had the same exact idea planned and sketched out.

i am getting allot of things saying one way or another. i know u could have an arm or something to reach over and knock it, or a mousebot, but the cannon would be tight for sure. if u had a cable with a wheel to pull the thing back into the barrel, and refire, it would be an attachment. we will have to see how the techs at first decide to go with this one.

From dictionary.com:

Even tethered, a flying object is a projectile. FIRST has always said "no" to ideas like this and for good reason--I'd rather not be hit in the face with a flying robot.

This is not specified in this year's rules, which means that someone should ask for an official clarification on FIRST's forums. However, the official ruling from last year is still archived in the yahoo groups. http://groups.yahoo.com/group/FRCtech2002/message/92

I don't think FIRST will allow tethered projectiles to be fired due to both entangle and risk of injury (to both robots and referees) with a misaimed projectile made or metal.