Would gecko feet work?
 

I wonder if you can grab a ball (using only the permitted amount of ball surface), and keep it in contact with the floor, and satisfy all other ball-related rules, and then later release it elegantly, using gecko-foot-style sticky pads.

Does anyone out there have a large/robust gecko that can be strapped onto the front of a prototype bot in order to find out? :ahh: Just kidding.

I wonder where would you buy fake gecko feet to do an experiment?

I wonder (really, I do) if an experiment would be a colossal waste of time or the key to a winning season. Hmmm.

Blake
PS: I would bet that any team able to use gecko pads for this would have a good shot at getting sponsored by GIECO.

Re: Would gecko feet work?
 

We're gonna try the roller instead.

Re: Would gecko feet work?
 

The FLL team that I coached this year did a research project on artificial gecko feet, as a method of climbing walls. While the technology is out there, I'm unsure of the commercially availability. You might look into multiple suction cups with a pneumatic vacuum system, I know FIRST included them in the KOP a couple of years ago. Remember that whatever you do cannot mark the soccer balls in any way.

Good Luck!

Re: Would gecko feet work?
 

my team did some discussion about trying to heard the balls with a "box" or something to surround the ball, but 3" of ball is not nearly enough room for this

Re: Would gecko feet work?
 

That sucks. (Hint hint.)

Jason

Re: Would gecko feet work?
 

I'm not sure about the experimental gecko-feet material, but what using some sort of non-marking tape like painter's/gaffer's tape. It would probably stay sticky enough for the duration one match, and could be replaced very cheaply after each match. If it was stretched tight over a hard backing material, it might have the desired effect.

Another idea would be something like soccer goalie gloves, or some kinds of gardening gloves even, with a high-friction rubber on them.

--Ryan

Re: Would gecko feet work?
 

There's been a lot of research on gecko feet - industry and government are very interested in finding a new, strong, reusable adhesive method. Gecko feet are "sticky" because of millions of microscopic hairs that use Van der Waal forces to adhere to a surface.

Here is a video to a robot developed at Stanford University to climb using gecko-type feet:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ECpY2N5rgcM