Quote:
Originally Posted by totesmagotes
Just wondering if there were any strategies bouncing around out there already about how to get the recycling containers that are in the middle of the playing field surrounded by totes. Getting these quickly could help just to stop the other alliance from scoring with them even if your alliance cannot. Some ideas our team has had was using a (safe) grappling hook that the robot would launch into the container, but that would require high accuracy and a way to detach the hook easily? So, any ideas??
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A grappling hook is an extremely risky design. If you accidentally: hit anything on the other side of the Step, hit the top surface of the Step, hook onto a tote, lodge into another robot, out of the field, etc you are in big trouble.
It's also a lot of precision required for low reward. Even if you managed to get a hook that got one RC every time - how often will that equate into points? It gives 0 direct points (though I guess it could contribute to a Container Set), and only adds points if your alliance is able to use it during the course of a match. An RC that has been dragged across the field is probably on its side and many teams won't be able to score it, anyway.
I think that the best design will be one that has a long sweeper arm on the side at a forward-facing angle so that the RCs are knocked towards your side as the robot drives by. 1 additional mechanism; all the bins possessed; doesn't get much better. I haven't tested this approach, but it would be something that could be designed (or at least dismissed) through trial and error.
There will probably be a team or 2 that can effectively snag all 4 RCs simultaneously, but I think that a majority of teams should avoid any enormous contraptions on the KISS principle alone.