Grappling Hook?

[rajkarthikkumar]

Is there anything in the rules that prevents a grappling hook from being used during the last 20 seconds?

[cait.schroeder]

As I have grasped, there is nothing in the rules preventing it, my team was actually joking about it as we have a "grappling hook gun". It just says the dimensions and how it is built to support scaling robots. My team has not talked about scaling yet but I am opposed to the idea because of the possibility of damaging the robot.

[nxtmonkeys]

No rule against it. any type of rope or cable might be considered a "entanglement hazard" though... so you'd have to be careful of that.

[Spen-curr]

A hook would be pretty cool, but I think that the options presented in the video are more reliable.

[EricH]

I would use caution, and pay attention to the safety rules. I don't think it would be illegal just because it's a grappling hook, but the exact methodology should be considered carefully.

[rich2202]

If the hook misses, and lands more than 15 inches from your robot, that would be a violation.

[Collin Stiers]

The problem with the use of a grappling hook, is that the goal opening is very near to the bar you use to climb, so if you miss your hook may be caught on the goal opening, and that could cause problems because a) you couldn't climb and B) at the end of the match you would have to figure how to get that hook down

[josh_marcy]

Originally Posted by Collin Stiers

The problem with the use of a grappling hook, is that the goal opening is very near to the bar you use to climb, so if you miss your hook may be caught on the goal opening, and that could cause problems because a) you couldn't climb and B) at the end of the match you would have to figure how to get that hook down

Also if you miss, you are in violation of G12. The manual also says that in that situation, you can be assigned an additional yellow card for egregious robot behaviour.

[Logan Byers]

The real question: 3 prongs or 4?

[bduddy]

Originally Posted by josh_marcy

Also if you miss, you are in violation of G12. The manual also says that in that situation, you can be assigned an additional yellow card for egregious robot behaviour.

I don't see how that would be the case unless your hook sticks in the floor. It should be entirely possible to design to prevent that.

[Dhill098]

G12 The following actions are prohibited with regards to interaction with ARENA elements (items A-E
exclude any DEFENSE, RUNGS, and BOULDERS)
A. Grabbing
B. Grasping
C. Attaching to (including the use of hook-and-loop tape against the FIELD carpet)
D. Grappling
E. Hanging
F. Becoming entangled
G. Damaging
Violation: FOUL. If the Head REFEREE determines that further damage is likely to occur, offending
ROBOT will be DISABLED. Corrective action (such as eliminating sharp edges, removing the
damaging MECHANISM, and/or re-Inspection) may be required before the ROBOT will be allowed
to compete in subsequent MATCHES.

According to this, I believe it's perfectly legal if it is a success.

[RoboChair]

15 inch maximum extension beyond your frame perimeter still applies. You can just extend to an infinite height.

[The Ginger]

according to G12 as long as said grapple is hooked/latched onto a defense, climbing rung or boulder your good, anything else is no good.

in other words be smart about it and you should be fine.

[Zeppelin2002]

That would be AWSOME! Our team actually just proposed this. You should consider that you really get only one shot at launching it. Overall I still think that this would be a practical design (less space taken up, lighter, easier to design, etc.)

[Ginger Power]

A grappling hook is a great idea, just not a grappling hook in the general sense... Maybe it could work, but I would hate to only have one try. Consider a spring/motorized arm with a detachable hook on the end of it. The hook would be attached to a winch that is mounted on the robot. Basically it's a grappling hook, but you're depositing the hook rather than treating it like a projectile. Something to think about...