2733 Bridge balance

[Garrett.d.w]

So today we lowered/balanced on the bridge for the first time. We found it a little too easy... so we pushed a kitbot up the ramp sideways to the center. Then we drove off and let the bridge balance.

Thing we learned: If an alliance member's robot is dead, push their robot on to the bridge anyway

(sorry no vid until the end of the season... don't want to spoil the surprise )

Question for all of you people: How have you lowered the bridge?

EDIT: This sounds much more impressive than it actually was (read my post below for the reasons). But it was still cool

[Duncan Macdonald]

Was the kitbot loaded up with 150 pounds?

Is it worth using your entire alliance (1 dead robot, 1 to tip the ramp to allow the dead robot on, 1 bulldozer) for <insert time> to score 10 points?

[Garrett.d.w]

Originally Posted by Duncan Macdonald

Was the kitbot loaded up with 150 pounds?

Is it worth using your entire alliance (1 dead robot, 1 to tip the ramp to allow the dead robot on, 1 bulldozer) for <insert time> to score 10 points?

The kitbot was not fully loaded, just a bare bones chassis with some 2*4s as a superstructure. There was 2 batteries as ballast. I'll also add that the bridge is not coated in lexan.

I wouldn't do this in competition, the risk of tipping more than one robot is a little high if you haven't practiced with your partner's bot. Traction on a lexan bridge is a very tricky thing, we would likely stall out if the robot was sideways.

As for value, if you could pull it off, two bots on the bridge are much more valuable than a few extra hoops and one bot on the bridge. The reason why we didn't put two bots on the bridge today is because the kitbot started to fall off. It would be easier if there was another bot in front to nudge the dead robot as it went up the ramp, keeping it straight.