On the Ramp

[Rusted_Grail]

What is considered penatrating the wire mesh? I heard something about seeing it through the bottom at kick off. Does that mean you can go into it as deep as but no deeper than the bottom level of wires?

[carlye]

it can penetrate no more than 1/8 or 1/16 inch or something like that.

[Al Skierkiewicz]

Rules state that there can be no projection beyond the bottom layer of the mesh.

[Gadget470]

The diameter of the mesh is 1/8" so you have technically can have 1/4" protrusuions but be careful as materials can give a little under the weight of your bot and then get past the bottom of the mesh. If noticed, DQ, if not, an honest mistake that can be construed as 'cheating' the rules.

[JTH]

I believe the wire is .118" diameter and is made of 2 crossed wires, so I assume that the tread cannot be able to penetrate further than .236" while the robot's weight is on top of the wire grid .

However, I don't see anything on the inspection sheet to check this, and on the field it would be virutally impossible to tell the difference if it extended further a little bit, so unless it is immediately obvious that a robot could violate it, it would be up to gracious professionalism of teams to check their robot for themselves.

[Melancholy]

I think this was really only made so teams dont give their robots spikes for traction, or any devise to actually hook onto the mesh for brakes. As long as you don't have something that is purposely using the mesh in that way, then I think it's safe to say there won't be a problem.

[UCGL_Guy]

2 things
1 the mesh is spot welded so if a bot had claws or hooks the mesh welds could be broken in heavy interaction. also do not count on it being exactly the dimensions described and the weld actually decreases the diameter of each wire, get a set of calipers and measure. I expect tech inspections to be stricter on the rules after last years fiasco. FIRST listened about us wanting rules with little leeway.
2 Kimberly you are welcome to join our team as an honorary ADIDARON - ADIRAR has been our team name/robot for the last three years now. We will build Addy 4 this year.

KY Mentor team 476 Adidarons

[JTH]

Another thing to note about the ramp: The mesh is supported with 2x6(?) supports about 12" apart, arranged with the planks going up the ramp.

Under a load of about 200 pounds with a contact area of about one size 9 shoe (in other words, under my weight, while standing on one leg), the mesh sank in about 1/2"-3/4". Bouncing on the mesh, I probably moved as much as 2" up and down without my foot leaving the mesh.

I doubt that will be really significant, but something to keep in mind, in case anyone had features that extend low to the ground.