Ball eject

[redneckrobot]

my team has come up with a pneumatic fail safe using a second cellanode

[PAR_WIG1350]

If you have a single solenoid connected to the ejector that ejects when not energized and a double solenoid that controls a locking mechanism, then you can lock the ejector before Autonomous and have it retract as soon as the ejector solenoid is energized. It is a fairly complex system, but it gets the job done.

[pntbll1313]

Originally Posted by PAR_WIG1350

If you have a single solenoid connected to the ejector that ejects when not energized and a double solenoid that controls a locking mechanism, then you can lock the ejector before Autonomous and have it retract as soon as the ejector solenoid is energized. It is a fairly complex system, but it gets the job done.

Does this help if the robot for some reason doesn't connect to during autonomous? Since the double solenoid never gets energized doesn't it stay locked?

[sdcantrell56]

Originally Posted by XaulZan11

Or, even worse, a team holds onto a ball an entire match, so their superior partner cannot seed first, effectively breaking up any super alliances.

Teams that employ that strategy will likely join my extremely exclusive 'do no pick list'.

Unfortunately, I see this happening more often than many would like to admit this year due to the way this rule seems to be worded. Hopefully a rule clarification will change this.

[Chris is me]

The "one ball per match" rule is extremely flawed. It isn't justifiable for scoring to be impossible if one robot can't eject a ball. It might be okay if we had a flawless control system, but this control system is notorious for mysterious robot deaths. It's been getting better but so many robots stop moving each regional and Championship (even on Einstein this year) that I fear the game at some points may become a "control system coin flip".

One simple rule change can fix it - E-stopping a robot allows another ball to enter the field. It's a huge penalty, no triple assist, so it's not likely to be abused, but it would let play continue.

[JohnSchneider]

Originally Posted by Chris is me

The "one ball per match" rule is extremely flawed. It isn't justifiable for scoring to be impossible if one robot can't eject a ball. It might be okay if we had a flawless control system, but this control system is notorious for mysterious robot deaths. It's been getting better but so many robots stop moving each regional and Championship (even on Einstein this year) that I fear the game at some points may become a "control system coin flip".

One simple rule change can fix it - E-stopping a robot allows another ball to enter the field. It's a huge penalty, no triple assist, so it's not likely to be abused, but it would let play continue.

Whole heatedly agree. I also would suggest a red card be issued for teams who intently try to prevent their own alliance from score.

[FrankJ]

On the other side of the coin. With the likely robust defense, robots without a firm grasp of ball will not be able to maintain control.

Robust electrical system will be important this year so you don't disconnect wires from all the impacts.

[Siri]

Originally Posted by tStano

Single action solenoids are great but if you don't have pneumatics on your robot (and many teams don't), it shouldn't be necessary to add an entire pneumatic system for that.

I have no background with them, but R29 also allows for some sorts of electrical solenoids. These can be spring return, so maybe a clever system could use the electrical rather than the pneumatic variety. Anyone have more experience with these?