Team Update 15 (2016)

[Bob Steele]

There are really only two solutions to this issue and unfortunately the decision has been made to do something that is not one of them

1st solution... use a different fabric in the same configuration
We all designed for fabric... with a pipe at the bottom.

2nd solution (which has already been implemented) is to remove the fabric and pipe altogether.

I am not really sure what the purpose of now coming up with something completely different is. It will end up with different issues... I find it hard to believe that zip ties will not break in this iteration.

I understand that we all need to adapt and be able to react etc etc.... blah blah blah real life... blah blah
but FIRST needs to do that also... come up with a change which is neutral for teams....

I honestly don't think our design will be compromised but I saw several robots last weekend that this design could be trouble for.

[dradel]

Has any one thought of the possibility of static charge/discharge ?

[GeeTwo]

Originally Posted by dradel

Has any one thought of the possibility of static charge/discharge ?

Not until now, but that's an awesome idea! We'll mount a Van de Graff generator, charge the chassis up to about 40kV, and the vinyl flaps will never touch the robot!

Rules Check: Oh well, even if we didn't have a circuit to run the generator, there's another idea that's run afoul of R9.

[Mike Schreiber]

Originally Posted by Lil' Lavery

Based on what has been happening at work for me today, I don't think I can agree with you.

I will agree, I am usually the one who is changing requirements on suppliers - they usually charge me a lot for it. The difference is I can't bill FIRST for any redesign required.

Originally Posted by Jessica Boucher

I guess this stuff doesn't phase me anymore. The only constant is that FIRST changes their mind. If I can recommend anything, the best use of your limited resources is to adapt and move on.

In FIRST changing software is essentially free. Mechanical redesign is not. Also code doesn't weigh anything (At least I think - I'm not much of a code guy)

Originally Posted by IKE

We did go back an work with teams to make their leading edges more friendly, and this helped greatly, but did not fully resolve the curtain issues.

As a team that destroyed a piece of low bar fabric at Waterford (and paid for it by being disabled the entire match because our arm was stuck in it) I can safely say that I was surprised at how easily this fabric ripped. Unfortunately this may be disastrous for teams that planned on spinning up their shooter before they entered the low bar.

So who is going to suck a low bar flap into their shooter this weekend so we can get another rule change?

[Kevin Sevcik]

Can I just go on the record as wishing FRC wasn't as annoying and frustrating as my day job can be?

[dradel]

Originally Posted by GeeTwo

Not until now, but that's an awesome idea! We'll mount a Van de Graff generator, charge the chassis up to about 40kV, and the vinyl flaps will never touch the robot!



Rules Check: Oh well, even if we didn't have a circuit to run the generator, there's another idea that's run afoul of R9.

That one made me smile from ear to ear Gee!!!

[jee7s]

I know its probably too late, but, crazy thought...

Kevlar is a fabric. Kevlar doesn't rip. I mean, you even need special scissors to cut the stuff. Why not kevlar? Expense and time, I suppose.

Why not Zoidberg for that matter? (Its a lame meme reference, I know, but this thread felt like it needed it.)

[Trying to Help]

As far as fabric goes, they should have used fabric with Twaron. We received some years ago from a sponsor and we did use it for bumpers. Mind you, it dulled our tin snips cutting it but it's really puncture proof. More here: http://www.warwickmills.com/Twaron.aspx

And for all of you who have a whole day at your next regional for the unbagging and flap mitigation time, you're ahead of us. We're going to our second district event which starts on Friday evening. And because we've been on top of things, not really expecting FIRST to give us a new design challenge, we have only two hours left of our unbagging time. We will have the practice and set-up time on Friday evening (5-10 pm), but we'd been really intent on using it for practice matches.

Life is never dull!

[GaryVoshol]

Originally Posted by dradel

Has any one thought of the possibility of static charge/discharge ?

No, that's the Week 3 update when they change to Regolith.

[Trying to Help]

Anyone see a drawing for change yet?

[bobl]

Originally Posted by GaryVoshol

No, that's the Week 3 update when they change to Regolith.

Cool! We'll get to see Dean walking around the field between matches with a bottle of anti-static spray again. Those of us who were at the '09 Granite State Regional will remember this well.

[CalTran]

Originally Posted by bobl

Cool! We'll get to see Dean walking around the field between matches with a bottle of anti-static spray again. Those of us who were at the '09 Granite State Regional will remember this well.

There's a story here...

[Trying to Help]

Originally Posted by bobl

Cool! We'll get to see Dean walking around the field between matches with a bottle of anti-static spray again. Those of us who were at the '09 Granite State Regional will remember this well.

I remember!

[Trying to Help]

As for the drawings question, I called FIRST about a half hour ago and the person who I spoke with did not know of any released drawings. She also did not know when the drawings would be released. Anyone have any more information?

[orangemoore]

Here is a picture of the new flaps.

http://www.chiefdelphi.com/forums/sh...d.php?t=145530