[EricH]

Originally Posted by Al Skierkiewicz

You can use a servo attached to a wire locking mechanism to hold up the ramp or simply use the servo arms as a latch. Servos have a variety of attachements that you might be able to use and it weighs less than an pnumatic actuator.

We did that for our rear wedge in 2005. Cut a slot in lexan, put a servo in the back panel of the robot's tower, and put a double-ended arm type of attachment on the servo. Never had a problem with the release, but pulling the thing back up was another matter. (Also just used the servo as the latch--won't work as well here.)

The thing is that whatever you use needs to be strong enough to hold the ramp up throughout the match, when you are taking hits, making hard turns, and generally applying a lot of force to the attachment. Plan for that. If you can do it with a servo, great. If not, a small cylinder with just a tank and regulator and such is just fine.