Emptying balls from a robot

[focus fanatic]

so has anyone thought about how they are going to empty the balls out of there robot

[Faith]

We've thought of it... and aren't yet sure. We'll probably have a hole somewhere you can just reach in and pull balls out of...

[Eric Scheuing]

Do you mean during the match, or after? If it's during the match go for a hopper with a piston that blocks the exit.

[Eugenia Gabrielov]

I dont' know the structure of your storage mechanism, so I'll give some general advice.

1) Watch out for your shooting mechanism/feeding mechanism height and choose a release method accordingly.
2) You don't want to release them all at once. A simple piston is handy for holding.
3) Make sure to take your bumpers into account, if you have them, to add to measurements.

Good luck

[jskene]

Remember that there is a penalty if the referees cannot remove the balls from your robot at the end of the match.

[Greg Marra]

Originally Posted by jskene

Remember that there is a penalty if the referees cannot remove the balls from your robot at the end of the match.

Is there actually a rule that says this? I don't remember seeing one.

[Faith]

Originally Posted by Greg Marra

Is there actually a rule that says this? I don't remember seeing one.

Yes, there is definitely a rule on this.

[Andy A.]

Originally Posted by Plooshiska

Yes, there is definitely a rule on this.

Yes and no.

<G30> Field Reset, ROBOT Ball Release - ROBOTs must be designed to permit the release and removal of any
balls from the ROBOT without being powered up after a match. If a ROBOT violates this rule, the head
referee will warn the offending team and request that they modify the ROBOT. If the modification is not
made, the head referee may not allow the ROBOT to compete in future matches.

There is no point penalty prescribed in the manual. There is a provision for disallowing the bot to compete at the head Ref's discretion provided the team has already been warned.

Next time you want to quote a rule, please do so. It's not that we don't believe you, we just don't believe you. Throw the book at us, not your word.

-Andy A.

[Ianworld]

Yup, we're probably going to install a hand crank on ours to help pull the balls out. I think this will catch more than a few teams off guard at the regionals.