Quote:
Originally Posted by 45Auto
Why wouldn't the human player just push 4 frisbees through the slot while the robot is on it's way there, so they're sitting on the floor waiting for the robot to drive across them and pick them up when the robot gets there? Seemed to work pretty well for 2056 in Toronto.
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While this is a completely valid strategy that my team (and I'm sure many others) discussed, there are a few issues.
-- When you're dropping them onto the ground, it's quite doubtful they will fall in a nice line for pickup. They might flip upside down, be stacked on top of each other, etc. This could be a problem.
-- Since you're dropping them from the edge of the field, they'll be right next to a wall. Some teams have trouble picking up right next to a wall, but this might work fine for others.
-- Say the robot that's going to receive the four discs is just finishing their current shots (let's call this Robot A), and about to head back for more. The Human Player begins dropping them on the ground, so that all four will be there and ready when the robot returns. The Human Player finishes, and the robot is nearly to the feeder station, but suddenly an opponent robot appears from under the pyramid (let's call this Robot B), and pins Robot A to the wall. Robot B can only hold the pin for a few seconds before a penalty, but in that short time frame, another robot with ground pickup on Robot B's alliance (Let's call this Robot C) drives over, and grabs the Frisbees. Robot B releases the pin, Robot C scores 12 easy points, and Robot A is now forced to wait for four more Frisbees.
-- On a similar note from the previous point, you really don't even need Robot B in the equation. Assuming the Human Player starts dropping discs before Robot A arrives, Robot C could just run over and grab a disc or two before Robot A gets to the feeder station. Robot C gets easy points, and slows down the other alliance, killing two birds with one stone.
If your pickup is really really fast, defense is sparse, and your human player is competent, it would probably work. Otherwise, it's a safe and easy bet to just design a ramp to intake discs directly.