Quote:
Originally Posted by Jared W
Game pieces:
Even though i liked working with the softballs this year..
they tended to get stuck in odd places inside the robot because of their protruding laces. they would fit in some places but not others because the laces caused their diameter to enlarge.
For example, our robot had a channel down the middle for the softballs, most of the time they went down no problem, but if the softball went down just right, it would get stuck because of the laces.
I would recommend a uniform ball such as a raquetball. But then again the softballs might have been easier to pick up because of their laces..
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From reading all of the clarifications on the FIRST forum and just reading the rules I got the distinct impression the choice of a non-uniform ball was a well thought out intended part of the challenge. I think, as you noted, that it definetly could complicate parts of robot design - but it is in my opinion a good move on FIRST's part. The amount of complication was not severe and enough planning and testing on a team's part can eliminate any of the potential difficulties that may arise from the laces.
I believe last year they used raquetballs...but I'm not sure, our team wasn't around last year.