Stackable robots
 

No matter how little you can do, you can always be of value to your alliance if another robot can drive atop you...

You'd make it much easier for everyone to fit behind the line in the end, and you could give your alliance partners the extra reach they need...

Or maybe I'm a crackpot...

Re: Stackable robots
 

Has anybody calculated whether or not 3 robots can fit in the endzone without "stacking"? Sorry if this seems like an obvious question, I just haven't seen it answered anywhere.

Re: Stackable robots
 

Although the area behind the line seems small, it is actually quite large - 2 robots could easily fit between 2 of the goals and the third would go into the other opening. For measuring the actual size to confirm it, remember that the big tetras have 6-foot sides and the entire base is 24 feet. Therefore right next to the player station there is 3 feet of space, and at the tape marking the end zone there is about 9 feet of space. The bots have a max of 28x38, so (after some calculations) 2 bots can fit in one area however they cannot be side by side and square to the field unless they go up on the tetras a little. If they are angles, then they fit easily.

Re: Stackable robots
 

Yeah, it really is a lot of room. If my memory and calculations are right, i believe the line is 5-1/2' from the wall and the space between each goal is about 4 feet. I hope that seems right.

Re: Stackable robots
 

Don't be afraid to drive inside the goals, There's plenty of roon in them :D

Re: Stackable robots
 

Is there a rule that says the robots cant be under one of the goals behind the line?

Re: Stackable robots
 

there hasn't been a rule saying that but there are rules to robots touching the tetras under the goals so if you were to try to go under a goal that has tetras under it then your gonna have to be careful not to touch them or they can all be not counted. As long as the entire robot is behind the line and not out of bounds then it is inside the base area.

Re: Stackable robots
 

not if you have a few tetras all cozy inside

Re: Stackable robots
 

The End Zone is defined as anywhere behind the line, including the tape. The rule for scoring <C03> states that:

All three ROBOTS of the same alliance in their designated END ZONE at the conclusion of a match is worth 10 points to the alliance. A ROBOT is not considered in the END ZONE if it is touching the field outside the defined END ZONE border. The tape line designating the END ZONE border is considered “in” the END ZONE.

So, no - they can be anywhere back there.

Re: Stackable robots
 

You can't enter the goals period.

Re: Stackable robots
 

You can enter a goal to decontain the opposing team's tetras

Re: Stackable robots
 

Really? I could have sworn no part of the robot could enter the goal...

Re: Stackable robots
 

Part of <G20>: ROBOTS may not grab, grasp, grapple or attach to the GOALS or any other field structure. Robots may not extend under, lift up or tip over a GOAL.

So you can't stick a hook under it but I'm 99% sure you can go inside of it.

Re: Stackable robots
 

Besides <G20> that Steve referred to, there is also <G18>.

Re: Stackable robots
 

i believe you are not able to remove tetras from atop of the goal unless you mean from underneath the goal.?

Re: Stackable robots
 

You can never uncap a tetra you can take out a tetra that is contained IN a goal and the rule that says no extending in to the goal that is about lifting the goal, going under the bar that is attached to the floor.

Re: Stackable robots
 

UNLESS it is not completely oriented atop the goal. If it is off-center and sort of hanging carelessly then you CAN decore them.

Re: Stackable robots
 

<G02> specifies that no part of the robot can extend inside a goal at the beginning of the match. But there is no restriction once the match starts.

<G20> specifies that a robot cannot go underneath a goal (i.e. under the horizontal bars at the base of the goal), but does not prohibit going inside the goal.

Remember that during the "human-bot" demonstrations during the kick-off, you actually saw a Blue Team robot driving through one of the goals during the autonomous period.

So, we must surmise that driving inside the volume of a goal after the start of a match is OK.

Re: Stackable robots
 

Containing a goal means underneath the goal.

Re: Stackable robots
 

Thank you Dave, now I wish some of the people who are posting on the Q/A on First website would read some of these threads first. And i am sorry for not putting in my previous post that you can uncap a non seated tetra.

Re: Stackable robots
 

Is there a rule against stacking robots? I probably missed it somewhere but I just want to male sure.

Re: Stackable robots
 

no there is no rule about stacking robots, so far, but there are rules about running over a team, intentional destruction and such so as long as the team that your bot is driving up is letting you do it there is no rule to stop that, that could be a great helper bot design for teams to build is to have a small ramp on one side so at the end of the match partners can drive up you to be behind the line.

Re: Stackable robots
 

But we have to be careful to successfully get over the 1.25" pipe without moving it a millimeter, otherwise we're decued. :cool:

and would "after the start of a match" mean after autonomous, or after we place the robots and the vision tetras are placed?

~Stephanie :p

Re: Stackable robots
 

No, as long as no part of your robot goes underneath the pipe, you can displace it to your heart's content

Re: Stackable robots
 

The only thing that could inhibit that is the laws of physics, so if you can climb up onto the other robot, go ahead. As for driving into the goals, its perfectly fine if you do so.

Re: Stackable robots
 

The match starts when Woodie says "1, 2, 3, GO!!!" In other words, when the autonomous period starts (I almost said "when the robots begin to move during the autonomous period, but then I remembered last year.... :rolleyes: )

-dave

Re: Stackable robots
 

Well, as the FIRST Q&A has assessed, all the goals are secured with velcro on the bottom. THis makes it more difficult to move the game pieces but it would be damaging the field to move goals that are velcroed to the ground, violating the rules. (don't recall the specific penalty for that)

Re: Stackable robots
 

You mean like THIS ? Check out this all rookie alliance in the 2003 game - Now that's how you make some room for your partner!!

But you might want to turn your volume down ... sounds a bit like "Girls Gone Wild" ...

Re: Stackable robots
 

Oh Stu, there ya go spreading that video around again. I guess the designs you get mostly right you need to share!

Re: Stackable robots
 

C'mon Ben ... you've GOT to show off your successes ... there are so few ... :(

Re: Stackable robots
 

I'll give you a hint of one thing we are considering:


Only think moreso.

--Petey