Ramps

[Sperkowsky]

Hello so we have all seen the various ramps teams have come up with to deal with the tote chute. I have been designing one for my team and Ive come up with a few designs.

1. Passive design made with wood and polycarbonate.

2.non passive design with a window motor that raises and lowers the angle of the ramp in order to compensate for more then one tote at a time.

The non passive one is obviously better but would require a tether. My question is would the passive one require a tether too or would it just have to fit in transport configuration. Also does the ramp count towards total weight of the robot.

IF it does count towards the weight I would probably make a fully bent poly design.

[rich2202]

Under what theory would the ramp not have to meet the robot rules?

[Andrew Schreiber]

Originally Posted by Sperkowsky

Hello so we have all seen the various ramps teams have come up with to deal with the tote chute. I have been designing one for my team and Ive come up with a few designs.

1. Passive design made with wood and polycarbonate.

2.non passive design with a window motor that raises and lowers the angle of the ramp in order to compensate for more then one tote at a time.

The non passive one is obviously better but would require a tether. My question is would the passive one require a tether too or would it just have to fit in transport configuration. Also does the ramp count towards total weight of the robot.

IF it does count towards the weight I would probably make a fully bent poly design.

Is it a robot part? Then it counts towards weight.

Is it a robot part? Then you can't intentionally detach it (it needs to be tethered)

[Sperkowsky]

Originally Posted by rich2202

Under what theory would the ramp not have to meet the robot rules?

well thats why I asked I wasnt sure.

[Sperkowsky]

Originally Posted by Andrew Schreiber

Is it a robot part? Then it counts towards weight.

Is it a robot part? Then you can't intentionally detach it (it needs to be tethered)

Ok so I would make a bent lexan ramp the real question is what counts as a tether. Can We just use really think fishing line or if it needs to be visible high gauge red or black wire

[Andrew Schreiber]

Originally Posted by Sperkowsky

Ok so I would make a bent lexan ramp the real question is what counts as a tether. Can We just use really think fishing line or if it needs to be visible high gauge red or black wire

Are there rules in the rulebook governing what is a tether?

Do these rules specify that it need be visible? Or that it need be anything?

I'll save you some looking, there's no rules specifically governing tethers. But there are rules regarding robot construction. Follow those.

[Sperkowsky]

Originally Posted by Andrew Schreiber

Are there rules in the rulebook governing what is a tether?

Do these rules specify that it need be visible? Or that it need be anything?

I'll save you some looking, there's no rules specifically governing tethers. But there are rules regarding robot construction. Follow those.

alright.... The reason why I asked was because I know some teams robot(forget which team) was deemed illegal due to lack of visibility.

[Christopher149]

Originally Posted by Sperkowsky

alright.... The reason why I asked was because I know some teams robot(forget which team) was deemed illegal due to lack of visibility.

I think you're thinking of 148, and the visibility issue was (I believe) a thin black suspended cable between waist-high and head-high. A tether on the floor should be fine IMO if it isn't attached to the floor and isn't a trip hazard.

[IronicDeadBird]

Originally Posted by Christopher149

I think you're thinking of 148, and the visibility issue was (I believe) a thin black suspended cable between waist-high and head-high. A tether on the floor should be fine IMO if it isn't attached to the floor and isn't a trip hazard.

Be mindful of how your tether interacts with the field and other robots though

[Mr V]

To be on the safe side I'd recommend using Mason's line, a strong string that is usually available in high visibility pink or yellow at your local hardware store.

[AdamStockton]

Originally Posted by Sperkowsky

Ok so I would make a bent lexan ramp the real question is what counts as a tether. Can We just use really think fishing line or if it needs to be visible high gauge red or black wire

This is what the Q and A "defines" a tether as:

Originally Posted by Q and A

Question 425:

Q: What defines a "tether"? Must the tethered portion of the robot be powered or may it be a static component attached by a rope? G25 mentioned you may not intentionally detach - what if the tether were to snap/break off?

A: There's no FRC-specific definition of tether, but in robotics, it's generally used to refer to a leash which is also a carrier for power and/or signal. There are no rules that specifically dictate what can and can't be on the other side of a tether. Also, there is no requirement that two joined components of a ROBOT use a "tether" to connect them. G25 does not penalize accidental breakage, however if a ROBOT part were constructed in way that breakage is inevitable, the team will likely be asked to remove or revise that element.

[Kevin Sevcik]

Not that since the ramp must be tethered to the robot at all times, it's going to be important that the refs be able to visually determine that this is the case. If you're using thin monofilament or something similar, you're going to be doing a lot of arguing that the ramp was, in fact, tethered to the robot during the match.

[rich2202]

Originally Posted by Sperkowsky

well thats why I asked I wasnt sure.

Then the question you may want to ask is: Is there a way to make a ramp that is excluded from any or all of the robot rules?

[Sean Raia]

I don't believe so.
I'd love to see some sort of "anchor" used in addition to the ramp, tethered to the robot and the ramp, which allows the tether pivot to be centered in a more convenient location.

Don't know if that's truly beneficial, but it seems it would be. I'm pretty sure Alfred does this in addition to his main feature.

[BeardyMentor]

Originally Posted by IronicDeadBird

Be mindful of how your tether interacts with the field and other robots though

Yes, this. Just because a fishing line is legal, does not mean you should use it. I would suggest some thing stiff enough and thick enough that it can be driven over without getting caught in rollers on mecanum or omni wheels and is unlikely to be caught by belts or chains. Oh and clearly visible against the carpet. Nothing makes you unpopular like disabling alliance partners by getting your tether stuck in their drive train