Is there a Need for Speed???
 

How many people are going for speed this year or is this year going to be a pushing match for the small balls and goals??

Re: Is there a Need for Speed???
 

i am surprised at how many teams are choosing a fast robot (11 ft/sec is reletively fast). first allow me to say that i am assuming for the sake of this argument that teams who are choosing fast robots are therefore sacrificing torqe. although my team doesn't agree with me, i think that a slow, powerful, and controllable robot would be advantagous for the specialized tasks this year.

being able to position your robot to either knock down the bonus ball, cap a goal with the 2x ball, or grab onto the bar would require very carefull driving, which is harder for a fast robot (though it can be slowed through programming or using a tranny).

i also dont forsee many robots having to sprint across the field and back. most of the tasks of the competition are located on your side of the field, save for the bar and moving goals that are in the middle. a robot could score highly without ever crossing the field or traveling long distances.

any robot that can climb up the six inch step will need sufficient power to do it. even if you are both fast and powerfull, running full speed into the step isnt the best thing for the robot. once on top of the platform a fast robot would have trouble maneuvering on the HDPE (fast robots consequently have less traction).

lastly, i think being able to push other robots around would be usefull in a defensive strategy. it would be easy to block another robot from crossing the field just by positioning you robot in the same alley.

i know my argument seems very strong for a slow bot, but this is just once side of the debate. i look foward too seeing what other people think of the game.

Re: Is there a Need for Speed???
 

Thinking about last year, it seemed like the game would've required a lot of stacking by teams on their own side and then a final surge of power in the battle for the ramp... and then it seemed to turn out into a stack-destroying and descoring competition. I don't think that's about to change. People want to win during these matches regardless of the low points they may incur in the process. I don't think any alliance will ever not cross into their opponent's side at least once during a match.

Re: Is there a Need for Speed???
 

Yes, speed will be a huge factor in this game. Once you have conrol of the balls and they're in the player station, the opponent cant do anything about it. Collecting the small balls is all about speed. The goals on the other hand is more power. But with my teams uber gearbox, we get both. :D :D

Re: Is there a Need for Speed???
 

that is the truth...and the reasoning behind most teams thinking

Re: Is there a Need for Speed???
 

Speed will come into play big time during autonomous mode, in my opinion. It doesn't matter how powerful you are if your opponent can get to the 10 point balls faster than you can, and autonomous modes can be upset very easily anyways.

But really, I guess only time will tell which one will be better in this year's game - speed or power.

Then again, why not have both? :D

Re: Is there a Need for Speed???
 

I think in a way speed is crucial all throughout the game. It always is, as I see it. Yes, it will be huge in autonomous, but when they're actually being controlled by the drivers, the robots will have more contact and actually go after each others' balls and such. So it'll definitely come into play when it comes to actual controlling mode.
:-D
~Dori

Re: Is there a Need for Speed???
 

a fast robot is not necessarily difficult to control. the problem is achieving just the right amount of traction so that the robot can turn easily yet slowly enough so that it doesn't spin out of control.

Re: Is there a Need for Speed???
 

[quote=Then again, why not have both? :D[/QUOTE]

Well from our team's point of view before the season started we were pretty certain we were goin with a 2 speed dual motor type transimission, but when the game came out, well there is alot of emphasis that is put on the manipulation of objects. That means we have to take weight out somewhere to have these manipulators.

So the why not is weight.

Re: Is there a Need for Speed???
 

Very true, weight is a reason for a lot of things, like people going insane 3/4 through build :]

Re: Is there a Need for Speed???
 

Haha!
We went nuts after just..er..1/4 last year. But this year we're way on track. :-D We're almost done design.
But that's not the point.
Yeah weight IS a big factor, last year we kept having to take stuff out 'cause we were too heavy...then we finally were, like, 129.8 lbs. hehe.

Re: Is there a Need for Speed???
 

speed holes.

speed holes are your best friend.

Re: Is there a Need for Speed???
 

speed holes..?

Re: Is there a Need for Speed???
 

yes, speed holes. lets the air go through, cuts down on wind resistance, the like.
And they're so stylish to boot.

Re: Is there a Need for Speed???
 

ooh I see.
I'm not too familiar with terms..
Lol I'm new to technical works.
~Dori