Good strategy?
 

I came up with what I think is a very good option for strategy and game play, however the rest of my team decided it was not the best idea. It involves making a net or basket about 8 feet wide that you can unfold and position under the ball dump in the autonomous mode. If you had a reliable partner, they could knock off the 10 point ball, hopefully not too soon, and you would catch most of the balls if not all of the balls. You could then have a way for them to be put back out in the corner near your ball corral, so they would not all be spread across the field and you would be able to easily push them into the corral as fast as your team could remove them probably. If you could consistently do that you would most likely be chosen in the finals. You may not automatically go to finals, because you may have one or more partners who cannot make it to the 10 point ball. However, a team who could get to the ball easily and is in the position to pick alliance partners would love to be able to control the balls. During STUbots (students act out game) we found that to be one of the best moves. However, our team decided that we don't want to have to rely on the other robot to get to that ball.

Re: Good strategy?
 

I think it is a fine strategy. Many, if not all, of the 'bots SHOULD be able to knock off the ball. I would suggest that your 'bot also be able to knock the Bonus Ball off and not catch the falling balls. Just in case.

Re: Good strategy?
 

That seems like the best option. The strategy itself seems pretty good.

Re: Good strategy?
 

It involves making a net or basket about 8 feet wide that you can unfold and position under the ball dump in the autonomous mode.

Personally, I think this is a wonderful idea!! Interestingly, my team had a similar reaction to your team's when I suggested it. I can't feature wanting to chase balls all over the field when you can just catch them and then funnel them into the ball chute all at once. It might be interesting to consider a telescoping arm or tethered minibot to go out and trigger the ball dump while your robot waited patiently under the dumper. This would seem to overcome their primary objection. In the simple case, however, it makes autonomous almost fool proof -- move 3 feet, unfurl net. I'm still trying to convince my team of its merits. Good luck with yours.

Re: Good strategy?
 

Our team talked about something along those lines. Maybe not catching them and containing them all but having a way to direct them towards the chutes instead of them bouncing away. We decided against it, we thought other aspects of the game were more important....well, not more important, just other things would give us a larger advantage in the game.

Re: Good strategy?
 

actaully I think you have nailed the 'ideal' ball gathering concept - get them while they are most concentrated in time and location - that is, all at once

I noticed you mentioned a net - that is an implemtation detail - there are many ways to catch them as they fall.

as for the release ball - your side will have 6 starter balls behind the wall at the start of the game - even if the release ball is not moved, the 18 balls on your side will fall 30 seconds after auton ends

that gives your side 5 seconds / ball to shoot the starter balls, then the 18 drop and you have 75 seconds left - still 4 seconds per ball if you can deliver them quickly to the corral

so even in your worst case, you end up with control of 24 balls with a potential score of 120 points - just for your bot alone - not bad at all! in fact, that is the MOST points that one robot can 'score' if it can only do one thing!

PS: you spelled Strateejury wrong :c)

Re: Good strategy?
 

Our team also thought about the arm/tethered bot, however, the arm would be difficult over that distance, and the tethered bot would still have to be able to knock the ball off in 15 sec., so there were arguments that shot that down.

Re: Good strategy?
 

a funnel would give only one side of the alliance the balls, thus hurting the time it takes to get them into the goals. Also, what if your alliance has a bad autonomous?

Re: Good strategy?
 

If your alliance partner has a bad autonomous mode, you either wait till 45 seconds, as mentioned by KenWittlief or you go after other objectives. Whis will not kill you if you can still get under the drop consistently and efficiently. You may throw a few matches, but you will most likely be chosen by a team for finals if you can control the balls and they can get knock the 10 pointer.

Re: Good strategy?
 

Hey guys! I have just been reading this and I came up with an idea, which im not sure if its illegal. U know how u can cover your side with a net or pole? Well have u thought about doing the same exact thing on the other side of the field (with a telescopic pole). I mean the rules state that you cannot goal tend. Or block a ball on its fall. But wat about doing it to the ball slots on the other side. =P Its just a thought

Re: Good strategy?
 

think of it in other terms, and the beauty of it comes out.

say for example, I want to buy 5 pounds of M&Ms from the bulk section of the supermarket

would i dump them all over the floor (even if it was clean) then try to scoop them into the bag

or would I take the scoop and dump them directly into the bag?

Re: Good strategy?
 

That has been debated here:
http://www.chiefdelphi.com/forums/sh...threadid=23651

Re: Good strategy?
 

That last post of mine was referring to blocking the ball chutes.

Re: Good strategy?
 

ok well i read the post and understood it. My next question is it good to grab the 10 pt ball in the autonomous mode or hit it

Is it illegal to smack the pvc bars underneath the ball and try to get it inside the arena?

Also i noticed that the upper deck is a foot high. With torques involved, is there a good way to get up there?

Re: Good strategy?
 

Its a foot high off the ground, so if you are on the first platform(which is 6" off the floor) then you only have to go up another 6" to get to the top platform