To All Ramp Bots.

[Starke]

Originally Posted by Pavan

To all of the slitted ramp bots:

I have seen many ramp bots with a slit cut through the center of their ramps, and for robots like our teams it would be very difficult to get up. How hard would it be to cover the "Slit" and what would you cover it with?

This is what I'm talking about.

I would think that the Robonauts would be picking teams in elimination rounds based on what I have seen so far . I would say make sure to pick a ramp bot that your robot can make it up easily. Many teams have slotted ramps becuase of a weight issue, and that is something they can not get around.

[Ed Coleman]

Do you think Scott's picture is a bit reminicent of Jimmie Johnson in his Nextel commercial? I like it though. I need a picture of me with that.

[VanMan]

Our team has uber small slits in the ramps. You didn't have to make your ramps out of metal. If you didn't use metal, you would have enough weight to make no slits. Our ramps are very successful moving ramps. http://kyle.fnsnet.net/gallery2/main.php?g2_itemId=805

[Lil' Lavery]

116 didn't particularly like the "slitted" ramps either. We could get up them fine, but not as quickly and it took considerably more precision. I understand a few teams need the slits to make weight or store an arm, but otherwise, please try and eliminate them for the good of all climbers.
As for 118, you're going to need to line up as if you were climbing slitted ramps regardless of what ramp you're climbing. If you approach a ramp "corner first" (leading with a wheel), you will lose contact with one or more of your other wheels as you go up the incline, probably leading to that attempt up the ramp not succeeding.

[cziggy343]

Originally Posted by Lil' Lavery

116 didn't particularly like the "slitted" ramps either. We could get up them fine, but not as quickly and it took considerably more precision. I understand a few teams need the slits to make weight or store an arm, but otherwise, please try and eliminate them for the good of all climbers.
As for 118, you're going to need to line up as if you were climbing slitted ramps regardless of what ramp you're climbing. If you approach a ramp "corner first" (leading with a wheel), you will lose contact with one or more of your other wheels as you go up the incline, probably leading to that attempt up the ramp not succeeding.

our team was going to have ramps, and they would be slitted. we can climb up ramps as well as anybody, but we wanted the ramps as a safety net. should we leave them off? b/c our robot is a kick-butt tube scorer (just ask 116). any thoughts would be lovely before palmetto.

[VanMan]

I love your tube scorer. It looks so cool. Its like a see-saw.

[Sindegen]

Our ramps are slitted but we have side rails also and the pieces the robots drive on ar at least 1 foot wide with some heavy duty grip tape. It is just right for a robot to come in and barely have any space for their bot to turn and fall off.

[Pavan Dave]

The reason I am asking this is because for a crab drive system the wheels are not always aligned straight like many robots have in rows of eight. In a crab drive every wheel turns when you tap the stick so the slotted ramps are very dangerous especially for us because it is much much harder to make sure all the wheels are exactly parallel with the ramp.

[LordTalps]

Originally Posted by Pavan

The reason I am asking this is because for a crab drive system the wheels are not always aligned straight like many robots have in rows of eight. In a crab drive every wheel turns when you tap the stick so the slotted ramps are very dangerous especially for us because it is much much harder to make sure all the wheels are exactly parallel with the ramp.

Don't worry, we have ramps made of single sheets of honeycombed fiberglass Sturdy, great support, lightweight, you'll love us. Don't forget team 1885 if you need another team on your alliance

[Ericgehrken]

Originally Posted by Ed Coleman

Do you think Scott's picture is a bit reminicent of Jimmie Johnson in his Nextel commercial? I like it though. I need a picture of me with that.

Yeah that kind of does look like Jimmie with the Nextel Cup. If they never won a cup never listen to them.

[Lil' Lavery]

Originally Posted by cziggy343

our team was going to have ramps, and they would be slitted. we can climb up ramps as well as anybody, but we wanted the ramps as a safety net. should we leave them off? b/c our robot is a kick-butt tube scorer (just ask 116). any thoughts would be lovely before palmetto.

IF (and only if) you can put on the ramps without sacrificing your scoring ability. 217 removed their platforms in St. Louis because (among other reasons) they couldn't see the tubes as well with them on. 612 also made an improvement during the eliminations when they took their ramps off (no longer had to worry about them deploying early, and gave more time to score).
In my opinion, it is better to be great at one aspect than mediocre at multiple.

[AdamHeard]

Originally Posted by IndySam

I’m not sure that crab drive was the way to go this year. This can be a very defensive game.

Team 45 had a very maneuverable robot and a skilled veteran driver but during the competition in St. Louis they added weight to the robot and traction to their wheels and sacrificed a little maneuverability so they wouldn’t get pushed around as much.

118's crab has more pushing power than most robots. It will handle defense better than any other drivetrain.

[cziggy343]

Originally Posted by Lil' Lavery

IF (and only if) you can put on the ramps without sacrificing your scoring ability. 217 removed their platforms in St. Louis because (among other reasons) they couldn't see the tubes as well with them on. 612 also made an improvement during the eliminations when they took their ramps off (no longer had to worry about them deploying early, and gave more time to score).
In my opinion, it is better to be great at one aspect than mediocre at multiple.

so if we practice with it, and it works just as well as it did before, then keep it? and if not, scrap the idea? that sounds good to me. hopefully the engineers will listen to me . thanks for the advice.

[Ed Coleman]

Originally Posted by Lil' Lavery

IF (and only if) you can put on the ramps without sacrificing your scoring ability. 217 removed their platforms in St. Louis because (among other reasons) they couldn't see the tubes as well with them on. 612 also made an improvement during the eliminations when they took their ramps off (no longer had to worry about them deploying early, and gave more time to score).
In my opinion, it is better to be great at one aspect than mediocre at multiple.

Mediocre? Do I need to remind you to go back to the picture of Scott with the banner from our win? A bot with a strong ramp can be a descent to excelent scorer also. If you don't think so, watch how we handle Purdue.

[Vikesrock]

Originally Posted by Ed Coleman

Mediocre? Do I need to remind you to go back to the picture of Scott with the banner from our win? A bot with a strong ramp can be a descent to excelent scorer also. If you don't think so, watch how we handle Purdue.

I don't think anyone said that it is impossible to be good at both. Lil' Lavery's point, which I agree with, is that a team shouldn't compromise their scoring arm/lift/whatever by adding ramps that will end up being mediocre. Excelling at ramping or scoring is far more useful than being average at both.

If you think that your team can do both well and neither is severely hampered by the other, then good for you and your team! That means that you have confidence in your robot and you designed it well.