Different Types of robots

[Joseph Smith]

Originally Posted by Nemo

I partly agree with this sentiment. I would argue, though, that up front complexity isn't required in order to be creative, work hard, and be ambitious. A team can do plenty of good work on a roller collector to make it incrementally better. It's pretty challenging to make them collect a ball that comes in from the side, for example. Teams get to decide where they want to put their focus, and I think it is great if a team chooses to pick one mechanism (even a seemingly simple one) and then really drill into the details of it and refine it to the best degree they can.

I would agree with this. I just feel that there's more of a sense of excitement and pride when you can explain to someone the creative, unique mechanism that you developed. I guess it depends on the team, but from my experience I'm always pleased when my team's bot is different and/or innovative.

[MrForbes]

You can be quite innovative, and build a simple, effective robot.

In fact, it usually takes more work to make something that's simple and functional and elegant, than to just throw a bunch of technology at the problem.

[RandeJ]

Being a rookie team, a shooter proved difficult. So the students decided to pick a simple but effective design - success! They ended up with a net assembly for catching/inbounding, and a door that can lower to pick up the ball or stay up to enclose it. During the St. Louis Regional, we had several truss catches and robots started coming up for a "kiss" assist where we passed while touching and never exposing the ball.

For defense, we were tall and had a basic, but high friction/power drive train (essentially KOP AM-14U).

We had a blast and the design proved very successful - highest rookie seed!

http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=RubsNF4zUTU

[SIIENGINEER]

To 4931 ..I am happy that my almamater(class of "81") has joined the FIRST ROBOTICS fun. Congratulations on a very successful first regional event. Your robot is very impressive. I will be attending Worlds again this year as my son is the Captain and driver for FIRST team 1986. I am looking forward to seeing you guys up close. Who knows maybe the teams will be in the same division and get to play together. GOOD LUCK at Worlds!!!!!!!

[RandeJ]

Unfortunately, we went up against the big guns in the quarters and didn't advance. And since we're rookies, one regional is all we can afford (kinda really, really tired too...).

However, we do plan to catch some of the action at worlds. We're also trying to see if we can help any of the out of town teams with anything - have any ideas? Perhaps being guides for any after hours activities in town? Hotel arrival and unpacking?

We'll look you up when we get there!

[Tyler2517]

A lot of things also come down to how the drive team works you could have the best defensive drive train in the world, but with out the drivers knowing how to play some good defense it wont do any thing.