2009 Aparatuses

[paulcd2000]

Originally Posted by Koko Ed

I think the dump action of the teams baskets back then violate the <R18> rule.

<R18> is the rule that talks about trailer-hitch construction... Is that really the one you mean

[ttldomination]

I believe she might mean the rule where you cannot go outside the 28x 38 x 60 footprint this year. NOT AT ALL.

Honestly, I believe shooters are really inconceivable because in the past few game, the targets have not been moving as crazily as they will this year. The trailers are attached to the OTHER team's robots, and obviously taking your time to line up to shoot will prove fruitless if the trailer moves.

[smartkid]

Originally Posted by ttldomination

Honestly, I believe shooters are really inconceivable because in the past few game, the targets have not been moving as crazily as they will this year.

I agree, I think where in the realm of mechanisms that can grab and hold the cells while staying within the footprint.

[McGurky]

What do you think of doing somthing like a snowblower, and have the camera follow one basket, and shoot in that basket?

[Koko Ed]

Originally Posted by ttldomination

Honestly, I believe shooters are really inconceivable because in the past few game, the targets have not been moving as crazily as they will this year. The trailers are attached to the OTHER team's robots, and obviously taking your time to line up to shoot will prove fruitless if the trailer moves.

Everyone who say teams can't or won't do this haven't seen the teams who consistently have and will do that. Y'know the ones who are always getting the banners and the robot design awards all the time.

[bkwrm92]

Some of our team mentors want to make a shooting apparatus, but some people (mainly the design subteam and the drive team) think this will be unfeasible. The shooter not only has to adjust for distance (so small coding feat), but also has to be able to land inside the goal/on a post without a backboard. In 2006 we had a backboard, so it was much easier, but this year, I don't think shooter bots will be effective at all.

Not only that, but the game is going to be so much of a clusterf*** that you wouldn't be able to aim for more than half a second without being knocked off target/filled with balls.

I think we're going to see lots of 2006 bots that were modified/had minor design changes for this game. I also think this is going to be a very low scoring game for the actual robots, but the human players are invaluable now.

[paulcd2000]

Originally Posted by bkwrm92

Not only that, but the game is going to be so much of a clusterf*** that you wouldn't be able to aim for more than half a second without being knocked off target/filled with balls.

i think that aiming and shooting on the fly will be vital skills for any shooting robot. you may not be able to do complex manuvering while aiming and shooting, but if you're moving with a constant velocity, a rotating shooter with good software might be able to manage it.

[=Martin=Taylor=]

We considered using a wedge that could be driven into the goal and then opened (like a beak) releasing tons of balls. It would make driving/aiming a lot easier. We'll have to see how that goes in prototyping...

Originally Posted by paulcd2000

i think that aiming and shooting on the fly will be vital skills for any shooting robot. you may not be able to do complex manuvering while aiming and shooting, but if you're moving with a constant velocity, a rotating shooter with good software might be able to manage it.

If I learned anything in 2006 it was that driving while shooting is pretty-much-darn-near-impossible. The robots just jiggle too much while driving to make good shots.

The best shooters of '06 had turrets and tilts that could get into position in seconds and fire off all the balls while the robot was sitting still (think 25). Robots that could'nt shoot very fast got pushed out of position and missed most of their shots.

[McGurky]

would that go against the size rule though?

[=Martin=Taylor=]

Originally Posted by McGurky

would that go against the size rule though?

Assuming it was not very long and was included as part of the robots length. It might also be recessed within a C-shaped portion of bot, perfect for controlling a goal.

Its too bad we can't latch onto these things. It would make scoring easier.

[thefro526]

I think we're going to see a lot of conveyors and ball (moon rock) lifting devices this year. Shooting is possible but not feasible for most teams. I think the shape of the Orbit ball would make it hard to shoot because your shooting apparatus would touch different rings of the ball at the same time.

[GregW11]

What if you were to hook up a pneumatic-like system to the trailer hitch that would pull it in closer to your bot, thus making maneuverability easier? (and somewhat preventing damage to the hitch too)

[Andy L]

Originally Posted by GregW11

What if you were to hook up a pneumatic-like system to the trailer hitch that would pull it in closer to your bot, thus making maneuverability easier? (and somewhat preventing damage to the hitch too)

<R18> Part B:The Trailer Hitch must be rigidly attached to a fixed location on the ROBOT

[bkwrm92]

Originally Posted by Hachiban VIII

We considered using a wedge that could be driven into the goal and then opened (like a beak) releasing tons of balls. It would make driving/aiming a lot easier. We'll have to see how that goes in prototyping...

Originally Posted by Hachiban VIII

using a wedge

<R17> kinda kills that idea. Sorry...

[Andy L]

I think a lot of people are thinking we're gonna be in a fast paced game like last year. From what I can tell this game will be much slower than last year and shooting could be possible, maybe not long range shooting like 2006 but shooting from a few feet away.

People may also be overlooking the ability to pin someone's robot or trailer to a wall to get a quick ball dump.