Hanging vs. Manipulating 2x balls

[me9342]

Say you can pick one of the above - your robot will be able to either hang from the bar or be able to place the 2x multipliers on a container. (As much as I'd like both, I think that it would be both impracticle given the time limit, and impossible due to the weight constaints.) Which would you pick? I myself would go with a 2x ball manipulator, as it has the higher potentional for total points (if you have 11 balls or more in one container, you would get more points for having it capped than you would for leaving it uncapped and hanging). I realize that if you dont get many balls, or have a really bad human player, you won't get many points for capping, so I can see some reason in just taking a flat 50. I wanted the opinions of others, though.

[animater31405]

Nothing's impossible. If you have arm that has the ability grab ahold of the high bar using the SAME arm pieces to grab the 2x ball it is extremely possible to do both. That is the way we are talking about going.

[me9342]

ok, its not impossible, (we came up with the beginning of an idea that could do both), but for this purpose, assume you could only do one.

[animater31405]

I would probably go for hanging because there's a better chance that someone else will want to go for the ball and if they don't they can get your alliance to score 100 easy points.

[kevin.li.rit]

Originally Posted by animater31405

I would probably go for hanging because there's a better chance that someone else will want to go for the ball and if they don't they can get your alliance to score 100 easy points.

Wouldn't they only be able to score 50 points?

[andy]

Originally Posted by animater31405

Nothing's impossible. If you have arm that has the ability grab ahold of the high bar using the SAME arm pieces to grab the 2x ball it is extremely possible to do both. That is the way we are talking about going.

us too

[Mercutio]

The thing about the multiplier balls is that it seems pretty easy to push them off, while if you got a good grip on the bar you would be practically immovable. You'd get knocked around a lot, of course, but you'd stay on.

If you could make a multiplier manipulator that could grab the bar too, like animater31405 said, you might do *very* well. I think the key in this competition will be doing a lot of things with the same part. If you try to make a separate mechanism for everything, you'll end up hitting the size/weight limit about a third of the way in. If you try to specialize, you'll come up against an opponent who can defend against your particular strength.

~Aaron

P.S. I know someone will show up at regionals with a robot that whacks hanging bots with a baseball bat. LOL, piñata time! Send pictures!

[yangotang]

Don't forget that hanging is really two challenges at once:
1)being able to get up to the bar
2) latching onto the bar

While these two challenges may seem easy to you, i feel that creating a method to get up to the platform below the bar is tough; i'm convinced that a 2x ball remover is the easiest strategy.

[Mercutio]

Originally Posted by yangotang

i'm convinced that a 2x ball remover is the easiest strategy.

No argument there. But removing the things is a *lot* eaiser than putting them back on...

Originally Posted by yangotang

i feel that creating a method to get up to the platform below the bar is tough

If we actually get ours working, I'll show you how it's done.

~Aaron

[westfalia]

the problem with the 2x ball is that it can't be your only objective. I agree that you've got to use one thing on the robot for many functions. but it is hard enough deciding upon a good idea to get to the top of the bar!

[Aignam]

By far not impossible. A slightly modified version of Team 25's 2000 robot, Cradle Robber, could more than likely do that.

[KenWittlief]

Double your pleasure

Double your fun!

[Greg Powers]

Originally Posted by Aignam

By far not impossible. A slightly modified version of Team 25's 2000 robot, Cradle Robber, could more than likely do that.

As a member previously on Team 232 I actually still have the video footage of that bot in action in the 2000 finals and we are seriously considering doing just that. (moding that design)
It would be difficult, but fairly ideal for this years game if executed well.

[Aignam]

Originally Posted by Greg Powers

As a member previously on Team 232 I actually still have the video footage of that bot in action in the 2000 finals and we are seriously considering doing just that. (moding that design)
It would be difficult, but fairly ideal for this years game if executed well.

It is a good design, and might be quite applicable for this year's game. The only problem that I see is that in 2000, we cherry-picked balls from our opponent's goal and put them in our goal or moved balls from our goal to theirs, controlling the score. In this game, that would be quite illegal. Beyond controlling the 2x Ball and hanging on the bar at the end of the match, the robot would be pretty useless. Unless, of course, you build it with a robust drivetrain, such that it could plow balls into the human player corral with ease. But is it safe to build a robot that can do more or less everything?

[Mikey229]

I think doing BOTH is a very good idea as yes you can do them both with the SAME arm...