Re: side shooter
 

That's brilliant! I was toying with the idea of a ballistic pendululum, but with all the rotational energy aproximations it wouldn't be accurate. Your idea is much more elegant. The only problem though, is you'd need a pretty nice camera for the shutter speed to be precise. Luckily we've got one. :-D

Re: side shooter
 

Another untested idea that we've thought of possibly using would be to hook up two light sensors or beam sensors a set distance apart and measure the time it takes from when the ball breaks the first beam to when it breaks the second. It would require somewhere to mount it for testing and would take a little programming, but with this shooter you could just mount the sensors in the sides of the upshaft facing inwards. Of course that's just an idea.

I look forward to seeing this thing working at Duel in the Desert.

Re: side shooter
 

We tried a snowblower idea once... that failed. We know why, but yours is better.

Re: side shooter
 

yes, an idea we briefly went over was disrupting shooters with a blower. but we threw that out for a lot of reasons

Re: side shooter
 

Is there a Duel in the Desert this year? We haven't heard anything about it.

Re: side shooter
 

no, i have heard it is not going to happen

Re: side shooter
 

There is no Duel in the Desert this year. Highland (now team 39, formerly part of 64 the Gila Monsters) does not have enough funding to make a field to practice with. I also don't know if they were able to get the gym for that Saturday.

Hopefully it will return next year. I know one team that would be willing to help make it happen.