do the racks move?

[groves]

yesterday people I spoke with agreed that the rack seemed mobile or at least able to spin. a've been reading and have not seen much information on this. the drawings don't seam to have casters.

[Travis Hoffman]

http://www.chiefdelphi.com/media/photos/26156?

[petek]

Originally Posted by groves

yesterday people I spoke with agreed that the rack seemed mobile or at least able to spin. a've been reading and have not seen much information on this. the drawings don't seam to have casters.

I presume you're asking "does the whole rack assembly move?" and <G07> says that it can and will be moved, but I haven't found any information on how it is moved; I'm guessing it just slides on the carpet. For non-moveable field elements, FIRST usually attaches to the carpet with velcro on the underside (e.g. Triple Play goals), but that wouldn't work in this case since the Rack gets repositioned at the start of each match. If there isn't some way of attaching it to the carpet we can expect that it will get moved by robot contact during the competition, too.

[Wayne C.]

the rack just slides around on the carpet and is held in a rough position by the chains attached to the fixed central plate. As I understand it, they will give the rack a slight twist each time to reposition the prongs. That means the width of the side alleys will also be variable to some extent

The whole thing is quite heavy. I dont know if it is legal to grab it and keep it spinning (but we thought of that).

The spokes are somewhat rigid in place but if you jar them they will rock around.

[jgannon]

Originally Posted by Wayne C.

As I understand it, they will give the rack a slight twist each time to reposition the prongs.

They do more than that... <G07> tells us that the rack will also be translated up to three feet from the center of the field before the beginning of the match.

[paradoxal]

Originally Posted by Wayne C.

the rack just slides around on the carpet and is held in a rough position by the chains attached to the fixed central plate. As I understand it, they will give the rack a slight twist each time to reposition the prongs. That means the width of the side alleys will also be variable to some extent

The whole thing is quite heavy. I dont know if it is legal to grab it and keep it spinning (but we thought of that).

The spokes are somewhat rigid in place but if you jar them they will rock around.

G33, it is illegal to attach to any field structure, so no grabbing. and "robots may push or react against any element of the field, provided there is no damage or disruption of the field elements" so no, you cant purposefully move it

[Cody Carey]

Originally Posted by paradoxal

G33, it is illegal to attach to any field structure, so no grabbing. and "robots may push or react against any element of the field, provided there is no damage or disruption of the field elements" so no, you cant purposefully move it

It depends on the definition of "Disruption", and since it is not in the manual, this will need to be clarified. "Disruption" could simply mean that you can't knock the rack on its side. I am assuming that there will be robots moving the rack on the field.

[AV_guy007]

after being at kickoff and trying to move the rack we determined it would be almost impossible for a robot to move it any significant amount.

[KDawg]

When the refs 'move' the rack in the middle at the beginning of the match, does the whole structure move or do just the legs take a spin?

I guess what I'm trying to ask is that can the whole structure be moved?

Thanks

[Cody Carey]

Yes, they can move it up to three feet in any direction at the beginning of the match.

[Greg Marra]

The rack is able to move, but it weighs a lot and is very difficult to budge. Don't plan on your robot being able to move it at all.

If you want to see video of people trying to move it, check out The Blue Alliance's Kickoff Coverage, where we show just how hard it is to do anything to move the rack.

[Cody Carey]

Originally Posted by Greg Marra

The rack is able to move, but it weighs a lot and is very difficult to budge. Don't plan on your robot being able to move it at all.

If you want to see video of people trying to move it, check out The Blue Alliance's Kickoff Coverage, where we show just how hard it is to do anything to move the rack.

Could two, or maybe all three robots move it if they were pushing at the same time?

[paradoxal]

Originally Posted by Cody C

Could two, or maybe all three robots move it if they were pushing at the same time?

then that would take away from the time you have to score,and besides, its best to have it in the middle, half of your ringers on behind you, and half are on the opponents side of the field

[Cody Carey]

Originally Posted by paradoxal

then that would take away from the time you have to score,and besides, its best to have it in the middle, half of your ringers on behind you, and half are on the opponents side of the field

It would decrease the amount of time to get back from running across the field to grab ringers, and increase the amount of time for the opposing alliance to run across as well, since it would presumably be quicker to pick up from the opposing side than the human player, this would be an advantage.

[Greg Marra]

Originally Posted by Cody C

It would decrease the amount of time to get back from running across the field to grab ringers, and increase the amount of time for the opposing alliance to run across as well, since it would presumably be quicker to pick up from the opposing side than the human player, this would be an advantage.

The Rack is physically chained to the floor. You won't be able to move it more than three feet from the center of the field.