Quote:
Originally Posted by ks_mumupsi
From everything I have seen here there are really on 4 robots to be built this year.
1 - 148/1902 style 4 bar linkage
2 - 233 style extending arm
3 - a single jointed arm
4 - 25/118 style multi stage elevator
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I somewhat agree with you in that there was a lot of very easy to come by inspiration for this game but I think that is becoming the norm for every game. Last year many teams were inspired by Robocup teams that have been figuring out how to kick soccer balls for years. We have to pick up and score balls or move a large ball in a huge number of games. FIRST recycles game elements and that is a good thing because teams get to improve on designs every year.
My team was very much inspired by 25's lift from 2007 but in no way would I say that trying to design and build ours was as easy as just building their design. Our team captain put in many hours CADing a lift that though inspired by 25's was designed for our game strategy and our construction techniques and abilities.
I see many teams doing similar designs but the differences are very noticeable, if you are looking for them.
This game is very different from 2007. It may use a similar game piece but the dynamics will be very different. Defense and power is much less important, where speed will be critical. Having a free shot during the hanging process and having much smaller end caps on the pegs, means it will be much easier to get a tube on a peg than it was in 07. I think a lot of teams figured that out and designed for it. I will say that there is no way that I would want to play Rack and Roll with our 2011 robot. It might be able to pick up the tubes but it was not designed for how Rack and Roll was played. I don't think that the best robots from 2007 will be the best robots in 2011, teams that designed for this year's game dynamics will have the most successful seasons.