View Single Post
  #19   Spotlight this post!  
Unread 14-08-2013, 21:21
Team3266Spencer's Avatar
Team3266Spencer Team3266Spencer is offline
Team Captain and Lead Programmer
AKA: Spencer Lanman
FRC #3266 (Robots-R-US)
Team Role: Programmer
 
Join Date: Oct 2011
Rookie Year: 2012
Location: Richmond, Indiana
Posts: 280
Team3266Spencer is an unknown quantity at this point
Re: Defensive wedge done differently

Quote:
Originally Posted by Lil' Lavery View Post
A sensible and common goal. But I'd suggest watching some more match footage from as many different games as you can, as this goal doesn't really align with reality all that often.

While a mechanical brake will help you maintain position, in most cases there's enough room for a skilled offensive robot to avoid a fixed obstacle (like a team braked in position). Occassionally there are chokepoints (like next to the pyramids this year or the tunnel in 2010), but there are usually other options (under the pyramid this year or over the bumps in 2010) and most of the best offensive robots are capable of using those. If anyting, a braking device will be most helpful for maintaining offensive positioning during a lengthy scoring process in an unprotected area (such as most teams scoring tetras in 2005, tubes in 2007, or a bunch of balls in a single load in 2006).

Similarly, the concept a omni-directional offensive robot seems like it would more difficult to defend, but reality tends to disagree. Unless you have the option of goals in multiple directions (2005), the general path the offensive robot is going to take is predictable, regardless of how many different directions the robot can travel. A smart defender is usually able to position themselves between the offensive robot and their destination and force the offensive machine into at least some contact (a scenario that does not benefit mecanum or omni wheels). If you want to avoid this contact, the solution is typically having a higher acceleration and better drivers than the defender.
Well in that case it will be a great offensive benefit. Nevertheless I think the idea has potential and I'd like to prototype some variations before next season and maybe one will be a viable option when we know what the game is. Thank you for the advice.
__________________
2012: Buckeye Regional, Queen City Regional, Human Player
2013: Queen City Regional, Buckeye Regional, Crossroads Regional
Shooter Operator
2014: Crossroads Regional, Queen City Regional
Catapult Operator
2015: Georgia Southern Classic Regional (Winner), Queen City Regional
Chainsaw Operator
Want to talk? TeamSpeak: team3266.noip.me