View Single Post
  #43   Spotlight this post!  
Unread 04-03-2012, 19:38
Kevin Selavko's Avatar
Kevin Selavko Kevin Selavko is offline
Registered User
AKA: Voltonless
FRC #3260 (SHARP)
Team Role: Electrical
 
Join Date: Jan 2012
Rookie Year: 2008
Location: Beaver PA USA
Posts: 155
Kevin Selavko is on a distinguished road
Re: Ball deflectors.....don't

Quote:
Originally Posted by Nuttyman54 View Post
**With the exception of 118's hanger mechanism, pending legality rulings. It's worth noting that 179 can hang from the bridge without climbing on it, but someone needs to get on it first for them to be able to balance by hanging, thus they would require the assistance of another robot (and another robot requires theirs).[/size]
Quote:
Originally Posted by Justin Ridley View Post
As we posted yesterday in the Alamo thread, the GDC made a decision regarding our bridge balancing mechanism. We wanted to provide a little more of the details that were provided to us. A picture of us using this mechanism to balance the co-op bridge with 488 was posted in the Alamo thread. This was a very exciting moment and the Robonauts are proud of achieving this on Thursday of our first regional.

The head ref at Alamo approached our team prior to opening ceremonies on Friday. He told us that a telecon was held last night amongst the GDC and they determined our robot’s mechanism fell under their definition of the word “grapple” when interacting with the bridge. It would therefore be a violation of [G10] when used, and be penalized accordingly. We were told it was not the GDC’s intention that teams utilize the features at the edge of the bridge to hang or lift off of during a balance.

During a break in matches at the beginning of the day, the head ref explained this ruling to the crowd. During this he read the following definition for Grapple: “The use of a tool to catch, hold, or rake to gain a physical/mechanical advantage”.

In our conversations with the head ref he expanded on this definition, talking about devices which react against multiple surfaces to create a moment or torque.

We understand that we took a risk in this design. Nonetheless, we are disappointed in the ruling the GDC has made. Even more, we are disappointed that the risk we took was created only because FIRST refused to answer direct Q&A questions related to it. Answering the following question could have clarified this situation very simply and early in the build season. At the time, it was our honest belief that if FIRST intended for this to be illegal, they would have stated so here.
located here.
__________________
Team SHARP
Pittsburgh Regional Champions 2014
Vex Pittsburgh Excellence Award 2014
Vex Pittsburgh Champions 2014
Vex Maryland Champions 2014
Pittsburgh Regional Finalists 2013
Buckeye Regional Finalists 2013
Reply With Quote