Quote:
Originally Posted by tStano
Container bots can get points on their own, assuming they're decent at their job.
They can push a tote into a scoring zone without a "tote manipulator"(possibly a stack of 2 straight from the human player). They can also have a driving alliance partner do this. They can then get litter from a human player, which is possible, as shown here. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sH0Gv2w8l0E
Then they can stack that container on top of the crate(or stack of 2 crates). This 'stack' is worth 12 points, 18 points if its 2 totes high. You could conceivably do this 7 times in a qualification match(if you get all containers from middle(which I imagine you'd start doing in auto), which is an appreciable number of points, 84 or 126. Depending on the efficiency of a tote bot(and the efficiency of a container bot), this could be more points than a tote bot in a match. Their 'stack'(with 1 tote, container, and litter) is worth as much as a 6-high stack. With 2 totes, they're doing even better. |
With those kinds of numbers, I can see a very successful Alliance having 2 stacking robots and 1 Bin robot. The Bin machine will spend the match grabbing bins, placing Litter in them from the HP slot (directly or indirectly), placing the Bin either on a stack or out of the way (until a stack is ready), and repeating.
I think that this would fill out the match time for an average capability robot and add some decent points.
Operating on its own without the ability to lift totes at all, this machine could make 12 point stacks (pushing 1 tote up and placing a Littered Bin on top), which is (probably) easier than the equivalent 6-tall Tote stack.
Pro: A one trick pony is easier to optimize
Con: Dependent on other stackers for full potential; dependent on the # of Bins available
I think that a robot that can perform those tasks reliably will probably seed lower than the consistent Tote stackers, but would be valuable in Playoffs.