Re: 2337 hung-2959 suspended
 

I have a question regarding 2337s redirection method. When they hang the balls that come off the return chute go under their hanging bar. I thought that that bar would determine the robots frame perimeter. If it does aren't the balls intruding into the robot more then 3"? I really want to be wrong, so can someone explain this to me? and just to clarify I don't have any problem with what you are doing, I'm just curious:o . 2337, I love your robot! Its probably my favorite after 469s. Did you ever strengthen up your vertical bars:p ?

Re: 2337 hung-2959 suspended
 

The PENALTY is defined in <G46> which references <R19>:
Part b applies. (Part a applies only below the BUMPER ZONE)

MECHANISM is defined:
The deflector is a MECHANISM. The hanger is another MECHANISM, one which is not designed to deflect balls.

Re: 2337 hung-2959 suspended
 

Oh, Ok thats a relief. After States I can't imagine 2337s robot any different. Sorry for even bringing it up, and thanks for the explanation.:)

Re: 2337 hung-2959 suspended
 

The hanger and the general part of the robot above are part of the supporting structure for the actual mechanism, the deflector. There is a 'director' on one side of the deflector, but it is about 2.25''

In a case of weight, we had to choose between that and the deflector:
Deflector: Potentially many points
Vertical bars: 1 more point per robot
If we can find the weight, it is something that everyone (including we) absolutely wants to see. I'm personally lobbying for it to get done. We'll see in Atlanta.

Re: 2337 hung-2959 suspended
 

I completly understand your reasons for making a deflector. Hopefully in Atlanta, that would be about the coolest thing to see two robots hanging from each vertical bar with you holding them up. Talk about Awesome!

Re: 2337 hung-2959 suspended
 

Is there a web page for the process we went though? Not that I know of. We had one of our mentors (who is a structural engineer) get out all of his old college books, and he did it on paper (which is hanging up in our pits, if you'd like to swing by sometime). He went though all the forces acting upon "our tower" if a robot were to hook at 120 lbs. with all the possible force of that robot in one direct point on the frame.

What is it that your trying to make plexiglass models of?

Re: 2337 hung-2959 suspended
 

Another point with adding vertical bars into our design, is if we were to have 2 vertical bars, we wouldn't be able to slide under the tower diagonally to block 469 in autonomous.

Re: 2337 hung-2959 suspended
 

Our biggest hope (or, at least, MY biggest hope) is to get put on an alliance with two robots that have the ability to lift off of the horizontal bars on the tower. A double suspension would be an incredible achievement, and I think that if it happens, it'll happen in Atlanta. Our biggest concern is the fact that simply lining up to perform the maneuver is a BIG time investment. For the most part, it shouldn't be too much of a problem, considering the fact that once our elevation mechanism is attached to the tower, other teams can almost instantaneously attach to it without affecting the process of our elevation (although the suspension with 2959 may be some indication of otherwise).

The greatest problem with fulfilling our hopes is that, unlike us, most teams foresaw the high-scoring matches, and designed robots that were geared towards purely scoring, and rather ignored the endgame, or, at least, set it low on their list of priorities. There are a small few that can elevate themselves consistently and successfully, and even fewer robots that can both execute endgame maneuvers successfully while still being a powerhouse during the match (I'm looking at you 33, 27, 2619, 67, etc.); moreover, teams who are strong scorers and have the ability to suspend other robots are nearly nonexistent.

Our robot is a good all-around robot, don't get me wrong, but as far as pure scoring goes, we would NEVER stand up against a team like HOT, Bees, or the Thunderchickens in a match. Our real strength is in the endgame play, as well as defending teams who play in the middle zone (if there is any doubt to this, just talk to practically any team who played a match against us at Kettering).

My point is that while our elevation/suspension system is one of the more consistent and strong systems out there, our main focus is scoring from the middle zone, and that is even subordinate to the strategy of simply controlling the game pieces and dumping them into the near zone. I see it as a distinct possibility that we may have a double suspension at Atlanta; however, I acknowledge that if we feel that it would not be worth the time spent setting up for the maneuver, such a thing will not happen. After all, our intention is not to shoot for the "WOW!" factor, and, while this certainly would be the case, as seen with the suspension at MSC and the prospect of a double suspension at FWC, we focus more heavily on scoring and winning matches, as that's the overall objective, no?

Re: 2337 hung-2959 suspended
 

I disagree, and I think that the BIGGEST problem with fulfilling this goal is that we weren't aligned with two hangers. I think we had a very high chance of it happening at the MSC, but at most we only had one other hanger on our alliance. Wether or not we'll see it at Atlanta, I can't be sure.

Re: 2337 hung-2959 suspended
 

That's what I mean. If more teams were geared towards the endgame, it would have happened much more often that we would have been allied with two other teams capable of hanging from the horizontal tower bars. Since most teams focus on scoring/moving balls in between the zones, a great number of them have chosen to focus on their ball-movement systems and have either added a lifter as an afterthought or have not added one at all. Like I said, this isn't the case 100% of the time, but from what we've seen, I'm going to use the generalized statement, even if I will concede that it is not even close to always the case.

This is the very reason we haven't seen more suspensions, and haven't seen a single double-suspension. Apart from the inherent difficulty involved with suspending in general, there are relatively few robots with the capability to do it.

Re: 2337 hung-2959 suspended
 

What is wrong with WOW factor? You should, you must,no, it is your duty to go for it if the chance arises. Even if you must start trying right after auto ends. It will be the greatest feeling your team will have and what other people will remember for along time. The year of rack and roll we kept trying for a double hang in auto. Finally got it in the last match that bot ever played. What a feeling of joy and accomplishment. Oh, we won something else that year but the double is what made the whole year. I know this will be alot to ask but could someone from 2337 post in this thread the match numbers that this might accur in for us poor slobs stuck watching the webcasts. GO FOR IT!!!!

Re: 2337 hung-2959 suspended
 

Once the match schedule is released in Atlanta for our field, I'm finished pit scouting (to know what robots hang, and how they hang), and I enter all the matches into our scouting program, I'll post in here what match we MIGHT see a possible double suspension (if any). I'm sure that if the possibility arises, many will want us to go for the double suspension, but several things could get in the way of that. Nerves, other robots, and playing the game. But I'm sure all teams, including ours, will want to see it happen.

Re: 2337 hung-2959 suspended
 

Nice string of pictures- http://www.flickr.com/photos/daniele...7623766907840/ Good luck guys.

Re: 2337 hung-2959 suspended
 

I know im late on this but good job to 2337 and 2959! It was cool that 2 of our elimanation round partners did this. 2959 took silver with us in Traverse City and 2337 took gold with us in Ann Arbor. Both drive teams, teams in general actually, were really cool. Good luck to you guys at nationals.