701's current plan is to scale to the top and clip there with a gate latch-style spring loaded mechanism. This was an idea because we have gotten to the point of foregoing gas spring lifting and have opted for a motorized lift. As our current plan is to keep our robot low for the bar defense, a pneumatically engaged ratchet system is nearly out of the question due to complexity and space concerns.
So basically we need to reach the top in order to passively clip and stay after robot power is off. The second reason now is to ensure that we can scale with at least one more alliance member. The final reason is because reaching the top is a crowd-pleaser. Sure we could opt to go for the minimum height for points, but why not go the extra distance and do something more entertaining? I feel obligated to make up for Recycle Rush. FIRST isn't just for inspiring students on FIRST teams. It's also for inspiring those who attend a competition, and when we have a spectacle, rather than the bare minimum, we can inspire and entertain those who would otherwise not have the same level of interest as ourselves. It's easier to convince attendees of the effectiveness of FIRST in our communities and their people when they've got the WOW factor in the back of their minds.
Of course we say that it's not all about the robot, but for the audience members who are at a competition for the first time and/or are not that familiar with the FIRST model and vision, from their perspective, the robot is indeed everything. After all, they see a sign in the front of the venue that says FIRST Robotics Competition. They're gonna expect robots, and they're gonna expect competition with entertainment value. If we wanted to make it clear for the common attendee, the sign might instead say FIRST Not All About Robotics Competition (FNAARC).
