Re: Teams going after the ramp?
 

How about an out-of-the box idea? Cover the front rail of your robot with something soft and highly sticky -- like a layer of natural rubber. Drive up to the ramp and stop when your rubber bumper hits. A ram (which can be nearly 60 inches long under the rules) then extends out from the bottom near the other end, levering the robot up onto its face until the CG passes over the rubber pad and the robot tips up on the ramp. The soft rubber bumper keeps it from sliding back down.

OK, it's weird, but you could use it with a holonomic drive or with the Skyway 8-inch wheels. Somewhere, someone is building just this system into their robot.

Rick's first FIRST rule: If you've thought of and rejected an engineering approach, someone else will successfully implement it. Every conceivable approach will be tried.

Re: Teams going after the ramp?
 

Yes are Team is going after the ramp.. its gona be sick...

Re: Teams going after the ramp?
 

We actually are building an assist into our robot, just not the one you described. Time will tell which system is better... :D

Re: Teams going after the ramp?
 

we're going, hopefully, I think. we just need to make dure our wheels are good. so yeah we're going to try. those bonus point sure sound nice. :)

Re: Teams going after the ramp?
 

Yes! You guys are on the right track, I think this is the minimum a rookie team should aim for.

Re: Teams going after the ramp?
 

Another thing to keep in mind. The rules specify off the carpet, not necessarily on the flat part of the platform.

Re: Teams going after the ramp?
 

I personally can't understand how some teams could not think that the ramp is important. It's 25 points if everyone can do it, that's a lot! I'd hate to be on the only team in an alliance that could not make it up, that'd be quite a letdown. So yes, we are indeed going for the ramp.

I am liking the out of the box ideas though. Heres one: latch onto the side wall of the ramp (the ones that are supposed to keep you from falling off) and just clamp on so your robot is just barely lifted off the carpet. That would be cool.

Re: Teams going after the ramp?
 

We can get up the ramp, we need quite a bit of a running start though. The wheels kept on slipping, I hope that diamond plating has a higher coefficient of friction then smooth plywood.

Re: Teams going after the ramp?
 

Of course, we are trying and wea re trying to work out our clearance issues.

Re: Teams going after the ramp?
 

The problem with this school of thought is that in practice it doesn't work. When you are running at the ramp at a great velocity, you will hit the steep ramp and essentially bounce back. If what you meant to say was that "If you are going fast enough when on the ramp" then that's funny (seriously).

[QUOTE = antthecyberguy]Our original thought was that of "the ramp is not worth it" but our robot design allows to go up it if necessary. We would hate to be the only one in the alliance that could not make it.[/quote]

I'm absolutely in agreement. You don't want to be the "downer" on your team that can't get up the ramp at the end, especially if your teammates are counting on you. Nicely said.


Paul Dennis

Re: Teams going after the ramp?
 

Help other alliance. We plan on pushing the other teams robots our ramp just to make sure we get 25 points and they don't, that is a big swing of points.

and if they are stuck on your ramp they can't score :) and there are no pinning on the ramp.

Question is how many robots can you push up the ramp in 40 seconds :ahh:

power, speed nice

Re: Teams going after the ramp?
 

My guess is one. Unless you can co-ordinate with your alliance partner to hold the first on in place while you go get the second. And after the first one the other guys might decide to stay away from you.

:)

Re: Teams going after the ramp?
 

We're going for the ramp this year, with our design we have a couple of millimeters of clearence. We might move the front wheels back a little... what if their ramp is a mm off of what ours is, then we're in ruin ;-;

I think getting up the ramp will be important, to the point that if you cant do it, you will disappoint other teams. Really all there is to it is having the ground clearence.

Re: Teams going after the ramp?
 

And a low enough CG ;)

Re: Teams going after the ramp?
 

Well atleast someone saw my humor behind this. And what might sound stupid might be a good idea if you cant get up there by yourselfs. Have someone on your alliance push you up if they have th power or you can withsatnd being pushed.