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Originally Posted by Red Mage
I think that a ramp might be feasible, it's what we want anyway. But yes, the hook is a very good idea.
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Here's my reasoning behind ramps
-A 30-degree ramp was real hard to navigate last year for many teams, and those were teams that KNEW it was going to be there and planned drivetrains accordingly
-Even as steep as a 30-degree ramp would limit your robot to having a flat top at 1.5 feet unless the ramp expanded in length while it deployed.
-Look at some of the speed required to get up the ramp last year. Teams would take full-court runs just to make it up. Do you want your alliance partner having to do that to your precious robot?
-So let's suppose you tell them "NO FAST RAMP EMBARKING". That limits the number and types of drivetrains capable of climbing your ramp.
-Building a robot strong enough to support 120lbs on top of it will add weight and take space that does nothing but (possibly) scores 30 points at the end of a match.
-Tipping: If you knock the controls while a robot is on top or that robot goes too far or not far enough while embarking, you're in big trouble.
Quote:
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Would you pick an alliance partner that had lifting as its only non-defensive contribution?
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Not really. It is possible to score (edit: 596!) points on the rack, but it is only possible to score 60 points through lifting. And just a note on that idea, I don't think forks are optimal since an error in maneuvering (only on one fork when the drivers think it is on two) could easily result in robot to be lifted just getting flipped instead. Platforms or cranes would probably be easier.
Something I learned last year is although you can be a VERY good defensive robot while not contributing offensively, there will always be offensive robots that are almost as good as you defensively, and can also score. Adding game pieces often doesn't compromise defensiveness to the extent that you have a big advantage by sacrificing them.
Only if your game piece is completely useless should you sacrifice it to optimize your defensive capabilities.
Here is my compact rundown on lifting methods:
Ramps:
Pro: Compatible with ANYTHING, since everything can move
Pro: Simple to use
Pro: No centre-of-gravity issues
Con: Since the rest of the field is totally flat, drivetrains may be designed so that climbing angles isn't possible
Con: The idea of 120lbs of barely-controllable robot climbing on top of mine gives me nightmares
Con: Tipping risk of mounting robot makes a mistake while getting on
Con: requires robot to be built tough enough to support its own weight and stresses of potentially getting ram-mounted
Con: Mechanically complex to get up to 12 inches. You'd need an unfolding ramp or lifters in the robot body to do this.
Lifts
Pro: Can get the other robots real high
Pro: If well-designed, compatible with anything
Con: Mechanically complex
Con: Tipping risk if one-sided
Con: Tipping risk if not perfectly mounted
Cranes
Pro: Can conceivably get to 12 inches
Pro: Mechanically more simple than lifts (at least as far as I can think: winch->tower with pulley->other robot)
Pro: Can be built into manipulator that will be there anyway
Pro: Not really a tipping risk for liftee assuming their handle is centre-mounted
Con: Complicated and time-consuming to interface with lifted robot at game time
Con: Requires lifted robot to have a handle
Con: Tipping risk for lifter unless you lift two at once