[mathking]

The WCP design is good to look at because it is one of the designs that deals with the most difficult part of scaling this year: Staying within your frame perimeter. If your robot tips it has to tip tail up toward the tower (and not too much) or you will quickly be out of your frame perimeter.

We have had some very successful climbing bots (in particular in 2004 and 2010) in the past, but put scaling at the bottom of our priority list this year because of its relative difficulty and relatively low point value. That said, if you have achieved most of your other goals there is no reason not to try to build a scaling device. It does not have to interfere with practice and other development. In 2010 we got an inexpensive manual winch from Lowes and took off the ratchet and sprocket. We welded the sprocket onto our winch spool (but you could use the spool from a winch and bolt on a hub) and attached the ratchet with a spring. Simple and effective.