Re: Top speed?
 

...and that is exactly why I am referring to each lap around the track as an "orbit"

-dave

Re: Top speed?
 

I thought the 2008 game theme (driving around the track) was to honor Indianapolis, home of the Indy 500, NASCAR 400 and the 2010 FIRST Championship.... ;)

Re: Top speed?
 

We all know the only way to achieve the fastest possible lap time is to wear an white racing suit, and keep your identity secret.

Re: Top speed?
 

Haha I remember that. :yikes: I think we were up next so was able to get a good view of it. And someone on our team brought up that incident on Saturday. Anyways...

with 6 robots on the field, If there are a few that are hurdlers and some who just try to race around the track, I expect to see a lot of congestion. Hopefully the hurdlers have a low enough center of gravity that if they are hit at high speed, they wont hit the overpass and tip over.

Re: Top speed?
 

Does that mean the Lane Divider has a hidden gravitational force pulling on us that we can use to our advantage as we try and slingshot around it?? ;)

Re: Top speed?
 

Think of the possibilities for raw speed (forgetting the track balls for a moment). Stagger! Differential tire pressures! Jacking! Suspension systems! For the first time, a team with a World of Outlaws car builder will have an advantage!

Do robots push, or do they get loose? Last year, I didn't miss FRC, but this year is going to be painful. What a cool game.

(Actually, since I might be a scorekeeper this year, I think the game really stinks. Video scoring anyone?)

Re: Top speed?
 

Drifting robots... NOW THAT WOULD BE EXCITING! :cool:

Re: Top speed?
 

i know this is pretty unrelated to this topic but, when coming up for new tshirt designs for this year, we decided to go with a rather known quote from a new comedy racing movie that has been out for a little while. We get to the kickoff, see the game, and WOOWWWWW!! haha.

Re: Top speed?
 

That would be awesome. But how are you gonna find a Stig for every team!

Re: Top speed?
 

I think i remember that.... i seem to remember a bot driving across the field, heading straight at one of our alliance members bots...hit one of the supports on the side and spun into the wall right before it got there i think so it didnt hit the bot luckily lol

On another note...

now im not so good at the whole weight distribution thing but if you hand your center of gravity more to the left side of the bot wouldnt that help the bot turn sharper or quicker? I guess if there was too much weight to one side your bot wouldnt go very straight... but i dunno so yea

Re: Top speed?
 

haha i think after this competition is all said and done with we shall bring our robots out into the giant parking lots of these stadiums and have some good ole robot drag racing anyone with me?:D

Re: Top speed?
 

Is anyone besides me seeing robodonuts?

Re: Top speed?
 

My comment with regards to top speed is that there is no standard for what people are reporting their speeds as.

Some people are reporting theoretical speeds calculated from gear ratios and motor speeds. Which motor speed? Free speed is certainly not correct, nor is calculating it at 40A

My team empirically measured our 2007 bots speed to be 6.6fps (by timing it over a distance), and we were among the faster (by no means fastest) robots at GTR, and the 2 offseason events we went to.

We've modified our gear ratios to be faster this year. But all these people claiming 16-20fps will either be EXTREMELY uncontrollable, or have some radical drive system that allows control at such speeds. I mean, 20fps will have you from one end of the field to the other in about 2s, and you dont have to go ALL the way to the end of the field. Turning would be extremely sensitive with the typical tank style drive at this speed.

Re: Top speed?
 

I dont belive there is a top speed but just to be safe i would advise not going over 40.

Re: Top speed?
 

Heaven :D


The rules say we can push against the cage structure, does that mean we can use it like a motocross berm and square off the corners or do we just have take our chances in the loose stuff on the outside :)