pic: Size of tthe 2009 Goal
 

Re: pic: Size of tthe 2009 Goal
 

Most teams in our area found these for 10 bucks a pop, does anyone know if FIRST is getting some huge discount?

Also, it may just be me who didn't find it, but what is the height of the goal from the ground to the lowest beam and from the ground to the tallest beam? This would be really helpful.

Re: pic: Size of tthe 2009 Goal
 

I don't have a quote at the moment, but from my memory the lowest is 34 inches and highest is 42, there are drawings and diagrams under the arena section of the manual

Re: pic: Size of tthe 2009 Goal
 

Do the balls actually wedge in between the central post and the pipes, or do they drop/fall right in?

Re: pic: Size of tthe 2009 Goal
 

Thanks to our local NASA contact and kickoff coordinator, we had one of these goals already built at our kickoff yesterday.
My impressions from watching the teams play around with it - it is challenging to get the balls to fall/drop right in (and the goal was not moving at the time.) More of the balls were ending up hooking the pipes or bouncing out.

Re: pic: Size of tthe 2009 Goal
 

Well even if they ball gets caught around the pipes it still counts as in. But my question is with the beam in the middle how hard is it to bank it of off that and keep it in or do the balls just bounce off?

Re: pic: Size of tthe 2009 Goal
 

i was wondering that to, does the orbit ball need to be i the hoop or can it be hooked on a hoop?

Re: pic: Size of tthe 2009 Goal
 

The manual makes the answer clear. ;)

Re: pic: Size of tthe 2009 Goal
 

There is adequate space for a ball to drop right in fed only by gravity, (aka: not pushed in) provided there are no other balls in the way or the goal is broken.

The fit of the ball between the center pole & the outer pvc poles obviously depends on the size of a squished ball, but in a normal (non-broken ball) shape, it won't be a problem to drop in from above.

HOWEVER, as Jenny mentioned, throwing the ball into the goal will be interesting with the poles being different sizes around the edge if you decide to bank it off the center pole. It's not difficult, you just need to find that sweet spot in relation to the arc you throw it, & where it will bounce against the outer poles to sink in the goal.

It reminds me of the carnival game where you have to arc a softball against an angled wall & drop it in a metal bin at the bottom if you know what I'm talking about.

In 2002, a ball on the outer lip of the goal counted as scored. (Aka: A ball wedged in between the outer pvc & the bumper material - relating it to this year -
(It was EXTREMELY rare, but it did happen to us one single time that year & was actually a deciding point in the game in our favor)

I want to know if a ball sitting on the outside of the ring of pvc will count again this year since it is still supported by the trailer.
Sounds like a question for the Q&A just for clarification purposes.

Re: pic: Size of tthe 2009 Goal
 

Well, with a nine inch diameter for the ball, and 10.5 inches between the inside diameter of the pvc poles and the center post, that leaves little room for error.

And for the prices, take those moderately bruised balls, haggle with the manager to get a discount, and glue the plastic together. Then you just have to ducktape the fabric and BAM! you get a semi-decent ball that you will likely have to deal with in the competition since I highly doubt that FIRST can afford brand new balls for every match.

P.S. Run-on sentences for the win! Pay attention in english class kiddies.

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The heights of the pipes vary linearly, from 34 inches off the floor in the back, to 42 inches off the floor in the front of the TRAILER. This arrangement allows the pipes to act as a flexible “backstop” for GAME PIECES that are thrown into the TRAILER.

This can be found under The Arena part of the manual.
GOOD LUCK!

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We too have gotten one from a kick off. We're just holding it fo the time being. Me along with some others have been messing around with it. I have found it to be very easy to bounce it off of the middle pole. That might just be an easy way for the way I throw, but I make it almost everytime I throw it. So using it is a great way to get the balls in.

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Did you throw over a six and a half foot wall though or try and simulate that?

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We too have a whole corner of the feild, so yes. We also messed around with attaching the trailer to our prototype bot, drving that around while some body throws. It'll be interesting for sure.