Launching the ball with wheels???

[TheJoe]

More than just TechHOUNDS have a working prototype for a wheeled shooter.

Here is a video from 2383 the Ninjineers and their design:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0u_NDY-npwc

If you pause the video at about 18 seconds (close up of the ball), you can see some scuff marks but nothing more

Seems to me like a good way to approach the game

[SenorZ]

Originally Posted by TheJoe

you can see some scuff marks but nothing more

Scuffs from a high speed wheel shouldn't be taken lightly.
Scuff marks in Ultimate Ascent turned into gouges in discs.
Scuff marks in Rebound Rumble turned into chunks of foam missing from basketballs.

That said, it still works really well as a directed shooter. I'd like to see some different wheels tested.

[Ether]

Originally Posted by SenorZ

Scuffs from a high speed wheel shouldn't be taken lightly.

^^^ This

[AllenGregoryIV]

Originally Posted by Ether

^^^ This

Just out of curiosity how many teams got called for fouls last year for marking discs?

DISCS are expected to undergo a reasonable amount of wear and tear as they are
handled by ROBOTS, such as scratches and occasional marks. ROBOTS that gouge,
tear off pieces, or routinely mark DISCS will be considered in violation of G14.

All of our test discs have the rims marked up and a lot of them are blue. We were never talked to by the ref or field crew.

[geomapguy]

Originally Posted by AllenGregoryIV

Just out of curiosity how many teams got called for fouls last year for marking discs?

Our belts always left residue on the discs....not a single foul

[Jakester9999]

Originally Posted by geomapguy

Our belts always left residue on the discs....not a single foul

Yes, but there were 30-50 disks being launched if not more throughout the match and they could not really keep track of whereas in this game there is at most three balls in play at the beginning for each alliance, which later goes down to one. I fell that they can keep track of the ball damage easier this year.

[Ether]

Originally Posted by AllenGregoryIV

Just out of curiosity how many teams got called for fouls last year for marking discs?

It's a specious analogy.

The 2013 discs were cheap, durable, not at all likely to fail catastrophically, and not likely to affect the game outcome if one was damaged during a match

The 2014 balls are expensive, easily damaged, very likely to fail catastrophically if mistreated, and potentially could affect the game outcome if one is damaged during a match.

Apples and oranges.

[brrian27]

Originally Posted by TheJoe

More than just TechHOUNDS have a working prototype for a wheeled shooter.

Here is a video from 2383 the Ninjineers and their design:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0u_NDY-npwc

If you pause the video at about 18 seconds (close up of the ball), you can see some scuff marks but nothing more

Seems to me like a good way to approach the game

Yup, we are using a wheel shooter.

So far the ball hasn't popped haha. We're using plastic treaded wheels and have found that each tread kind of scuffs the ball. But I think this could be solved by a smooth wheel.

If the ball gets a lot more damage, we'll try smooth wheels.

But all in all, wheels are a viable option!!

[DonRotolo]

Be sure to read the blue box at the bottom of G10 regarding ball damage.