Defensive Strategies

[Mike Norton]

you need to think out of the box.


First everybody is worry about the 3rd robot scoring. what would happen if a defence robot can push 2 robots at the same time around leaving the other robot 1 on 1.

If you where to block a side goal while waiting there you could be filling it with balls

no one have said anything about the ramp. this is going to be big. it is worth 25pts if you get three robots up there. I like that because if you push your opponent up on to the ramp you can hold them there until the end. (by the way the ramp I think will flip robots over if being push to it) that will make it easy to move a turtle on its back up the ramp.


go to where the points are and you will win.

[Jon K.]

Originally Posted by Mike Norton

you need to think out of the box.


First everybody is worry about the 3rd robot scoring. what would happen if a defence robot can push 2 robots at the same time around leaving the other robot 1 on 1.

If you where to block a side goal while waiting there you could be filling it with balls

no one have said anything about the ramp. this is going to be big. it is worth 25pts if you get three robots up there. I like that because if you push your opponent up on to the ramp you can hold them there until the end. (by the way the ramp I think will flip robots over if being push to it) that will make it easy to move a turtle on its back up the ramp.


go to where the points are and you will win.

Only thing to watch is if the refs continually see you tipping teams even if it is pushing them up a ramp they may start calling penalties and dq's etc... Something for the FIRST q&a maybe?

[Mike Norton]

the way the rules are stated it looks like they are looking for teams to do this. because they will let you pin forever on the platform.


It will be up to the other team to make sure their robot will not be tip over

Look at this video. that year almost every match there was a robot on there back. this was at the nationals. and not once where we ever warn. because if your robot is defending and trying to stop someone from scoring and they flip over it would not be your fault. But you had to make sure you did not have anything on your robot to help the other robot to flip. ( like a wedge ) like our robots they always had a flat surface only 1/2 - 7 inches off the floor. this alone help robots over if they turn and you pushed them on there side. some form the front

so if the other teams robot is worth points to your team they become a scoring object.

yes

[blue_crew]

is the pinning rule the only rule that does not apply on the ramp/platform?

[Mike Norton]

is the pinning rule the only rule that does not apply on the ramp/platform?

Yes that is the only one

[Arkorobotics]

Originally Posted by Mike Norton

Yes that is the only one

You mean you can pin this robot the whole round on the ramp?

[EricH]

Originally Posted by Arkorobotics

You mean you can pin this robot the whole round on the ramp?

As the rule is written, you can pin any robot for any length of tim on the platform as long as one or both robots is not touching the carpet. Though I would like to see someone pin a robot on the ramp during auto mode.

[Mr. Freeman]

Originally Posted by EricH

As the rule is written, you can pin any robot for any length of time on the platform as long as one or both robots is not touching the carpet. Though I would like to see someone pin a robot on the ramp during auto mode.

Could someone please post which rule states this?

Also, I wonder how effective shooting a ball at the plexiglass window in front of the opponent drivers would be. Might be enough to distract them quite well.

You'd also waste a lot of balls doing this though.

[Donut]

Originally Posted by GDC

Extensions, wings, or appendages that have the express purpose of blocking the view of robot operators are contrary to the spirit of the game and will not be permitted. Strategies designed to deliberately distract drivers, as they may constitute impediments to safe operations of the robot, and are therefore prohibited under Rule <S01>.

Robot structures, shooting mechanisms, ball containment systems, etc. that may intermittently occlude the view of an opponent while the robot is shooting at the target or otherwise engaged in normal game play while on an Alliance Platform are permitted and to be expected.

That was in the Q&A about distracting with the robot, the bolded should apply to the balls fired at a plexiglass window as well though.

[GaryVoshol]

Originally Posted by Mr. Freeman

Could someone please post which rule states this?

Rule <G24>, emphasis mine:

Originally Posted by G24

<G24> Pinning - While on the carpeted field surface, a ROBOT cannot pin (inhibit the movement of another
ROBOT while in contact with a field element or border) for more than 10 seconds. This rule does not
apply if either ROBOT is entirely on an ALLIANCE PLATFORM. If a ROBOT has been pinned for 10
seconds, the team with the pinning ROBOT will be told by a referee to release the pinned ROBOT and
back away approximately 3 feet. Once the pinning ROBOT has backed off by 3 feet, it may again
attempt to pin its opponent, and if successful, the 10 second count will start over. If a referee determines
that this rule has been violated, a 5-point penalty flag will be assessed for each violation.

Originally Posted by Mr. Freeman

Also, I wonder how effective shooting a ball at the plexiglass window in front of the opponent drivers would be. Might be enough to distract them quite well.

There's a Q&A that says the robot cannot intentionally block the view of the driver because of safety (you can easily search for it yourself). [Edit: Oh, you don't have to, Donut found it for you.] I'm sure firing balls at the driver window would be disallowed because of the same safety considerations.

[sanddrag]

Originally Posted by Arkorobotics

You mean you can pin this robot the whole round on the ramp?

Yes, but I think that'd be pretty hard on the drive system and electrical system.

[Mike Norton]

Yes, but I think that'd be pretty hard on the drive system and electrical system.

Not if you do it right. My only thing was how many robots would move up the ramp without falling over if being pushed the ramp will play big this year. Like I said every robot is now worth points. So if you plan on getting some points why mess with the ball when you can use other robots

[henryBsick]

Originally Posted by Mike Norton

Not if you do it right. My only thing was how many robots would move up the ramp without falling over if being pushed the ramp will play big this year. Like I said every robot is now worth points. So if you plan on getting some points why mess with the ball when you can use other robots

Correct they are, but you cannot assume that you will be able to bulley every robot that you will be against this year. Robots are dynamic, balls on the other hand are fairly static.

[Mike Norton]

Correct they are, but you cannot assume that you will be able to bulley every robot that you will be against this yea. Robots are dynamic, balls on the other hand are fairly static.

I would say 80% of the robots will be pushed around easy it is the 20% that you have to worry about. I been around long enough to know that at a competition you will have the weak, quick and weak, brittle robots, the average robot, strong and slow or the strong and fast. Then you will have a robot that will do everything and be good at everything. these robots will be at the top 1%.

If you are a small school and looking to do good and have fun I do think you have to think out of the box. like looking at the other robots as points. I do not think you will run into any teams that will have 3 strong robots during the seeding rounds. So for the seeding rounds this option would work out good.

I always do like your robot from Penn team 222. You always come to the competition prepared. But you must know what track can do with power. and how so many robots do go over on a flat surface.

We will see you in New England and at your competition. a great venue in Penn. Good luck and take your team far.

[cfair]

Does anyone know whether the leafblower idea (blowing air to deflect shots) is legal?