block thrown ball

[Tom Line]

We've done the numbers, and it appears very difficult to "throw" the ball over the hurdle, nevermind controlling it on the other side.

Any throwing system will have to be very close the ground to prevent the bot from tipping. In additional, a simple potential energy to kinetic energy computation tells you that you have to hit one of these balls VERY hard to get them to move. 220 lbs of force applied over a 6 inch distance with a 2" bore 6 inch stroke pneumatic cylinder will get you pretty close, I believe.

I can't wait to see someone try this - it would certainly be exciting and any team that takes the chance on that kind of system would get kudos from me!

Even a spring/winch system will put some pretty awesome loads on your chassis.

[Rob]

Originally Posted by Tom Line

We've done the numbers, and it appears very difficult to "throw" the ball over the hurdle, nevermind controlling it on the other side.

Any throwing system will have to be very close the ground to prevent the bot from tipping. In additional, a simple potential energy to kinetic energy computation tells you that you have to hit one of these balls VERY hard to get them to move. 220 lbs of force applied over a 6 inch distance with a 2" bore 6 inch stroke pneumatic cylinder will get you pretty close, I believe.

I can't wait to see someone try this - it would certainly be exciting and any team that takes the chance on that kind of system would get kudos from me!

Even a spring/winch system will put some pretty awesome loads on your chassis.

I'm thinking a pendulum with a 20 lb sledge on the end...Winch it up and then power it down with gravity assisting. Maybe put a football kickers cleat on the end.

RAZ

[Jeff Waegelin]

Originally Posted by Tom Line

220 lbs of force applied over a 6 inch distance with a 2" bore 6 inch stroke pneumatic cylinder will get you pretty close, I believe.

This assumes, however, that you can get the volume of air to fill the cylinder quickly enough. A 2" cylinder takes a decent amount of time to fill up, given that all the air has to flow through tubing at 60psi. Just because you can achieve 220 lbs of force from a cylinder doesn't mean that you'll be able to deliver enough energy to lift the ball in the air.

[alex1699]

why not bump them so they have to get out of the way

[EricH]

Originally Posted by johnr

you come around corner. other team is in the act of hurdling. do you race in front of him and risk your arm,forklift or whatever your using to block the throw? just another defence maybe.

One problem...aside from robot damage, if the trackball does make it over, you just gave them 8 points because it hit you.

Originally Posted by alex1699

why not bump them so they have to get out of the way

Doesn't work if they aren't impeding you. The ref probably won't call it if there is a passing lane or any other means of going around.

[Ziaholic]

Originally Posted by alex1699

why not bump them so they have to get out of the way

Read <G40> ... they don't always have to get out of the way ... only if they are IMPEDING traffic. They don't have to move if there is a way around them (clear passing lane around them), or if they are HURDLING.

Read <G42> and <G43> also ... they discuss that "aggressive" bumping a HURDLER will be penalized ...