4 inches vs. 1 foot
 

Re: 4 inches vs. 1 foot
 

that depends. What else can your robot do? Will it have a good game piece manipulator? Will it play defence? There are other factors to consider for alliance partners.

Re: 4 inches vs. 1 foot
 

Re: 4 inches vs. 1 foot
 

15 points is better than zero points....if it looks like you might not be successful designing and building a 12" system, but you can easily do a 4" system, then do what you can. 15 points is better than zero points (yes, I'm repeating myself)

Re: 4 inches vs. 1 foot
 

Re: 4 inches vs. 1 foot
 

You have to remember also that a lot of teams will be able to climb on a four inch ramp but not a twelve. We also looking at a four inch platform but with adjustments based on our alliance partners that will slide up to 12. This is if we have the height to store it before unfolding. We have not attached it yet. ALso, our arm works very good with the extension for the top row easy. And we can climb a 12 inch ram if needed.

Re: 4 inches vs. 1 foot
 

I think the real question is why you are building a robot...

If the students want to build a 12 ramp then build it. "The robot is a vehicle to build better people not the other way around." Sometimes taking the risk and failing is more productive then not trying to at all.

And one more thing, mentors are here to guide and explain not to decide and do.

Re: 4 inches vs. 1 foot
 

Our team struggled with the decision about ramp size as well. We "fondly" remember flipping backward off last years ramps. We remember so many others doing the same. A 12" ramp, unless mated with a sufficiently long ramp so that a robot 1) does not have the tendency to flip backward 2) does not become high-centered on the transition from ramp up to flat top.

In the end, we settled on a 4" high platform with an extendable ramp that has about a 20 degree slope. Most 'bots, except for those with really low clearance, should be able to climb us. We will be extending twin side-by-side ramps so we can provide a platform for two partners.

There are other additions to our design, but they're not important to this thread. Good luck with your design.

Re: 4 inches vs. 1 foot
 

Our team is possibly going for the 12 in but yes I agree that the 12 in ramps will be harder for some robots to climb and a four inch would be much easier for a bot to move up without tipping.

Re: 4 inches vs. 1 foot
 

I don't want to get into an argument about it in this thread, but depending on their team's structure, that may or may not be the truth. If you want to further discuss it, please go ahead and PM or IM me.

Re: 4 inches vs. 1 foot
 

we are a rookie team but we are going to win the rookie all star award simply because we are wayzata. any ways we are going to go for 12 inches and we also have an ingenious plan that will let even weak robots climb onto us.:cool:

Re: 4 inches vs. 1 foot
 

[I'm ignoring the semi-side topic in this thread, as it's been discussed to death elsewhere.]

Here's my philosophy on this subject. Three (and occasionally four) teams win a regional. That alliance needs to be able to work well together. If one of those partners can't climb a 12" ramp, that's a disadvantage to the alliance. But if they can climb a 4" ramp, then perhaps drafting a 4" ramp robot is the best thing.

That said, a 4" ramp robot may be well-served to have some other functionality, either in defense, offense, or some other nifty trick we haven't thought of yet.

Re: 4 inches vs. 1 foot
 

Alright here is my honest opinion...

A good robot in this game will be the robot that is consistant just like every other year. If you can score constantly or if you can promise your alliance partners those ramp scores after the end of each match, your team wil go a long way. Also, strategy is very important in each match. Teams will scout all day long and evaluate you comparing to what they are looking for as an alliance partner.

... As a team, you guys should decide what you would like to do and make sure your drivers are trained enough to be consistant at it every single time you guys go out to the field.

Good luck this season.

Re: 4 inches vs. 1 foot
 

In the past, we have found that "Jack-of-all trades" robots are never as good as consistent robots with fewer features. If you can reliably provide an extra 15pts to every match, then you would be an attractive alliance partner for that reason alone. Consistency is key.
EDIT: I see Arefin beat me to the same message, he knows just as well as I do. Consistency is Key. We were ranked 79th or so on Curie in 05 and got picked and won the division because we were ranked 6th in scoring consistency. (That was according to team 66 i believe who scouted and provided that info)

Re: 4 inches vs. 1 foot
 

From a strategy standpoint if one of your teammates can make it up the 12 ramp for 30 points and the other teammate can continue capping, that will be more advantageous than having 2 teammates back at 12 inches for 30 points.

I do not know your situation with your mentors but sometimes they will underestimate what students can do so thats something you have to work around/with. What you go for should really be democratically decided as a team with everyone(mentors students parents etc.) getting a vote for what they want to do.