The holes in the bridge are for?

[SteveJanesch]

The holes are 1-1/8" diameter, and will wind up being 1/8" deep. At that depth, it's probably just to steady the balls at the beginning of the match.

- Steve

[Elgin Clock]

I didn't even think it would be for steadying the balls at the beginning of the match. The manual *I believe* is very vague as to the position of the placement of the balls, but this COULD be a possibility. Random placements at the beginning of the match (ala 2005 tetra placements at the start of a match) maybe?

Aside from that discussion, my first thought for the purpose behind the holes (which I'm surprised no one brought up yet) would be a deterrent to add a vacuum suction cup to the bottom of your robot to hold yourself in place.

This was assumed by myself & some of my other veteran team members from experiencing first hand teams doing this in the past for games (2006 actually comes to mind - or any other year with a surface similar to the plastic(ish) top of this year's ramps.

Do the "holes" actually go all the way go through the top most ramp material to let air/other things fall through, or are they just countersinks?

[Aren Siekmeier]

The field drawings show them as thru holes in the top layer of polycarbonate.

[Elgin Clock]

Originally Posted by compwiztobe

The field drawings show them as thru holes in the top layer of polycarbonate.

Well then... My first impression is the one I'm sticking with. A deterrent for attaching yourself to the ramp permanently at any time during the match with a suction cup of any kind.

[Aren Siekmeier]

Originally Posted by Elgin Clock

Well then... My first impression is the one I'm sticking with. A deterrent for attaching yourself to the ramp permanently at any time during the match with a suction cup of any kind.

There is already <G10> making attaching to field structures illegal, so this might already be covered. Besides, what advantage would anchoring yourself with a sunction cup present? You are now unable to adjust your wait to facilitate balancing, and you got up there in the first place so tipping is hopefully not a concern.

It seems very likely to me that the holes are for the balls.

[WizenedEE]

Originally Posted by compwiztobe

There is already <G10> making attaching to field structures illegal, so this might already be covered. Besides, what advantage would anchoring yourself with a sunction cup present? You are now unable to adjust your wait to facilitate balancing, and you got up there in the first place so tipping is hopefully not a concern.

It seems very likely to me that the holes are for the balls.

I think it would help because presumably the best strategy to balance 2 robots is to get one in about the right position and move the other one around. The suction cup would mean the one staying still wouldn't slide. It would also be helpful if you had a movable mass on your robot.

[Gary Bonner]

The holes are for ball placement.

Q. Re: [G05] Where specifically are the Basketballs placed on each bridge? Is each alliance allowed to select the position of the 2 balls on their own alliance bridge? Where are unused Basketballs allotted to Robots placed on the Coopertition Bridge? Where are the 2 “regular” Coopertition Bridge
A. Balls will be placed in any of the 15 holes in the surface of the Bridge. Exact locations are not specifically defined and will be determined by the field reset crew at the event.

Suction cups are not legal.

Q. If a robot attaches suction cups to the bridge, is that considered grappling a field element?
A. This would be a violation of Rule [G10].

[JesseK]

Originally Posted by compwiztobe

There is already <G10> making attaching to field structures illegal, so this might already be covered. Besides, what advantage would anchoring yourself with a sunction cup present? You are now unable to adjust your wait to facilitate balancing, and you got up there in the first place so tipping is hopefully not a concern.

It seems very likely to me that the holes are for the balls.

Oh ye of little imagination...

With 3 robots on the bridge, no robot can move in order to balance. Thus the only way to account for differences in weight & c.g. would be to have an arm or slide that can transfer a little bit of weight from one side to the other. It's also much more precise than driving.

Don't think robots will have arms this year? I suspect many teams will have bridge lowering mechanisms powered by motors.

"Quick! Everyone lean left!"

[Aren Siekmeier]

Originally Posted by JesseK

Oh ye of little imagination...

With 3 robots on the bridge, no robot can move in order to balance. Thus the only way to account for differences in weight & c.g. would be to have an arm or slide that can transfer a little bit of weight from one side to the other. It's also much more precise than driving.

Don't think robots will have arms this year? I suspect many teams will have bridge lowering mechanisms powered by motors.

"Quick! Everyone lean left!"

I have been aware since Kickoff of the possibility of a weight shifting device, I simply don't see much merit to it. Even if one were to implement one, the drivetrain would likely be able to hold the robot steady while using it (which, still, why are you doing that instead of driving?) and if you can't move because of other robots, there is no need for an anchor to keep you from moving...

[Siri]

Originally Posted by Elgin Clock

Well then... My first impression is the one I'm sticking with. A deterrent for attaching yourself to the ramp permanently at any time during the match with a suction cup of any kind.

This question has been answered on the Q&A:

Originally Posted by Q&A

Q. Re: [G05] Where specifically are the Basketballs placed on each bridge? Is each alliance allowed to select the position of the 2 balls on their own alliance bridge? Where are unused Basketballs allotted to Robots placed on the Coopertition Bridge? Where are the 2 “regular” Coopertition Bridge
A. Balls will be placed in any of the 15 holes in the surface of the Bridge. Exact locations are not specifically defined and will be determined by the field reset crew at the event.