Quote:
Originally Posted by ebarker
a prediction: true or false.
"the use of a fan to increase the downward force the robot exerts on the floor will not be allowed if it exceeds 120 lb force."
you could weight or blow yourself downward up to 120 lb force. weight don't use batteries.
But the idea of using fans for horizontal propulsion even though that sounds cool would be noisy beyond description. It would bring the discussion on OSHA noise levels to a whole new level. It would create havoc on the noise front.
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I have to say...as cool as the idea may seem, I do agree with ebarker in his post. Yes, I do agree that the horizontal propulsion concept is worth a shot in the Q & A, but realistically, the concept would either prove useless, or illegal.
<R11> states that, At the start of, and during, the MATCH the ROBOT shall fit within the dimensions listed below:
Maximum Width- 28 inches (71.12 cm)
Maximum Depth- 38 inches (96.52 cm)
Maximum Height- 60 inches (152.40 cm)
Maximum Weight- 120 pounds (54.43 Kg)
<R16> backs this by stating that, Once the MATCH has started, the ROBOT may assume a PLAYING CONFIGURATION that is different from the STARTING CONFIGURATION.
The ROBOT must be designed such that the PLAYING CONFIGURATION of the ROBOT shall not exceed the dimensions specified in Rule <R11>. Weight is one of these stated dimensions, right??
I believe that if the same rule pertaining to this was still in effect from last year, then it would DEFINITELY be worth the shot...and if you will recall, last year's <R11> is the exact same, but <R16> varies by stating that once the MATCH has started, the ROBOT may assume a PLAYING CONFIGURATION that exceeds the size dimensions specified in Rule <R11>. While in the PLAYING CONFIGURATION, the ROBOT may expand up to a maximum horizontal dimension of 80 inches (e.g. all parts of the ROBOT must fit within an imaginary 80-inch-diameter upright cylinder). There are no height limits for a ROBOT in its PLAYING CONFIGURATION at any time after the start of the MATCH.
With this being said, I would think that this wonderful concept has deemed itself invalid due to one simple fact- if at ANY MOMENT IN TIME you place scales under your machine and they read more than 120 lbs (excluding battery and bumpers of course), IT'S ILLEGAL! And if this concept were put into play and this isn't true? It's completely useless...Just bolt a piece of steel to it...it's much more energy efficient!
I hope that this is beneficial to all, and I'm wishing all of US some luck this season!