Re: Will this year's game be a war of attrition?
 

I think the biggest factor in this year game is a good fast strong drive base that will be able to push and shove other robots all it want's to. If robots are going to be getting up to 16fps at mid-field, your robot needs to be able to sustain it self against these big hits, also remember that Woodie and Dave told us this was going to happen.

Re: Will this year's game be a war of attrition?
 

Disregard sleep, acquire many replacement components.

Re: Will this year's game be a war of attrition?
 

From zero to 20 feet in 1/2 second???

Re: Will this year's game be a war of attrition?
 

wow, my 55 chevy has a pretty powerful engine, and takes 1.7 seconds to go 60 feet from a standing start.

Re: Will this year's game be a war of attrition?
 

But it also weighs 3k pounds :rolleyes:

Re: Will this year's game be a war of attrition?
 

Honestly, I have no idea why the kitbot this year was designed the way it was. Smart people were behind it so I'm hesitant to criticize it but it seems like teams that build it will have a very hard time driving this year. Overall, that transmission with 8" wheels is asking for trouble.

I'm predicting many between-regional arm rebuilds to remove floor loaders, sadly.

Re: Will this year's game be a war of attrition?
 

I wish! it's almost 4k with me in it

Re: Will this year's game be a war of attrition?
 

I don't see it being much worse than 2007 really. That year, most teams had NO BUMPERS, and were actively fighting over tube placement midfield. There will always be "high speed impacts" and contact with manipulators, but I just don't see more damage than has been done in previous years.

EDIT: As a note, in 2007 we DID have a complete second arm for replacement, and had a couple extra claws for spares. We only had to use one at our regional. They WILL take a beating.

Re: Will this year's game be a war of attrition?
 

I agree with the concern but not the conclusion. There will be floor loaders. Some will raise them while traveling AND some teams (like ours) will train drivers to drive in reverse as fast as forward so the impact is not with the loader. You can always turn safely in your zone.

I hope everyone but us removes their floor loader, it'll make us that much more attractive for picking.

Re: Will this year's game be a war of attrition?
 

if everyone else did remove theirs, you'd probably be doing the picking

Re: Will this year's game be a war of attrition?
 

I must agree with Matt C. In 2007 teams that were successful at putting up tubes quickly became targets. There was a ton of full on collisions. As Matt C also points out this is the year before mandatory bumpers.

With this in mind teams must build objects i.e manipulators that will extend outside the bumper zone to "take/absorb/withstand/(insert adj.)" high speed collisions.

Hint: Hopefully our video from last night at 816's home field. THANKS AGAIN 816. Will be up shortly I hope. Shows two but equal effective ways to build manipulators to withstand collisions.

In our case 272 our manipulator can move "freely" along the horizontal so blows are disapated. 816 just built yet another engineering marvel and its built like a brick you know what and as some of our collisions last night proved. 816 and 272 can withstand a hit or two for sure

Re: Will this year's game be a war of attrition?
 

I think our drive team is getting sick of me telling them to pull the collector up. :)

We have a lift and collector that are designed so we only have to leave the bumper perimeter to get a tube. Everything else happens while are collector is nice and safe inside the confines of our bumper perimeter. We are working on building some defenses for our lift so that we can prevent other robots (with out such designs) from getting inside our bumper perimeter and messing anything up.

Re: Will this year's game be a war of attrition?
 

Smashed up robots??? I may be able to convince my finance's father to come watch...

Overall I do not believe this year will be a war of attrition. Some regionals may have characteristics of such a game, yet regionals where teams have had practice beforehand will probably see the game played as intended (less tears over broken manipulators). I think we'll see some warped frames or popped welds, yet the game is still playable depending on the severity of damage.

Re: Will this year's game be a war of attrition?
 

Due to poor machining, we have spares for most parts on our manipulator.

Re: Will this year's game be a war of attrition?
 

Excellent thread - too bad this subject wasn't highlighted 4 weeks ago.

Our gripper only extends outside the bumper perimeter momentarily and folds back for transport. We have shear pins, knockouts, and crumple zones to (hopefully) protect critical & hard-to-replace components. We will bring spares & raw materials as well.

Floor pickup offers such a tactical and strategic advantage that it is worth the risk. Most floor pickups will be within our protected lanes or scoring zones. Picking up dropped or thrown tubes on the open field is another story. If you can do it quickly and get away with it - and your opponents can't - you can own the rack.