[Rick TYler]

Originally Posted by MORT~11

The motor will slow down as soon as contact is made with the ball. We are all assuming that the ball contacting the wheels will have absolutely no effect on the motor, but it does.....actually it effects it ALOT

I know we are supposed to be, like, all sekrit and stuff about what we are doing, but this is the biggest reason I like a belt-driven launching system. Combined with an encoder and a high-torque motor system (big CIM, anyone?) I believe a long belt (something like 24") will give more consistent launches -- both in terms of orientation and in velocity. We are prototyping right now, and, if it won't violate the FIRST secrecy oath, I'll share our results when we are done.