Robotics Question of the Day!

[tsaksa]

Here are a few.

1. If FIRST changed the rules and allowed you the option of a second battery, would it be an advantage to use it, a disadvantage, or does it depend on the game, your strategy, etc. and how?

2. Each year there are robots with different drive mechanisms, but only a few types seem to be represented as a significant percentage in the finals. What is it that makes some of the different drive trains more or less competitive?

3. When building a robot you can choose different materials for the frame and other key parts such as aluminum or steel tubing, strut, sheet metal, wood, plastic, etc. How do the properties of these materials affect the choice and how many properties are there that are important in a decision on what to use?

4. Many teams are building T-shirt launchers to help promote their teams. If you wanted to build one, what design factors would you need to consider if you wanted to shoot T-shirts into high bleachers.

[sg999]

Here's one I used for discussion in an FLL team I mentor:

What would I have to do to a two wheeled vehicle to make it stable? (Make them think outside the box- I got some really interesting responses, some of which were practical and helpful)