The Game Floor

[sbrumund]

Based on simple physics principals the friction force is independant of the area.

In reality it may and will be quite different.

If the surface has a slight texture to it there may be an advantage to fiewer wheels. The wheels look like last years kit wheels which have a soft surface compound. With sufficient weight on the wheel the compound will conform to any irregularities in the surface giving you additional traction.

The real question is how much weight is needed per wheel to obtain the optimal compound deformation and the most traction.

If you have a skid steer 4 or 6 wheel drive system you need to generate enough force to slide wheels sideways. Skid steer systems in general do work well on ice becuuse you are limiting your self to kinetic friction which is very low.

Think of a car on ice. As long as you accelerate and turn slowly you remain in control because static friction dominates.

If you slam on your breaks, accelereate fast or turn to quickly all you have is kinetic friction, newtons first law takes over and inertia is the driver.

This surface does seem to give a decided advantage the the established teams with four wheel drive systems that steer each wheel. These are complex drive systems that require a lot of programming and are difficlult to design and debug in 6 weeks.

[germanystudent]

when dean's bot collided with the other one, it looked just like some of the ice collisions up here in north Idaho... so some tips for ice driving:
1) start slow, otherwise you'll peel out,
2) controlled drifting can stop you faster occasionally
3) anti-lock breaks are your beast friend, or just decreasing speed first
4) more weight does mean more friction, but also you take a LOT longer to stop
5) try to get practice on ice if you have it near where you live.

i just wish that ice rink here in town had a stronger roof... it collapsed under the snow...

[David Brinza]

The attached photo was posted by our friends at The Blue Alliance Kickoff 2009 on Flickr.

The picture leaves no doubt that the pebbled-surface Glasliner is the "right stuff"...

[Dave Flowerday]

Originally Posted by sbrumund

The wheels look like last years kit wheels which have a soft surface compound. With sufficient weight on the wheel the compound will conform to any irregularities in the surface giving you additional traction.

They are not the same as last year's kit wheels. The wheels this year have a very hard surface that does not conform at all.

[Olde Bill]

From the photos and the section of the manual dealing with field layout and marking, I'd guess that they're using Glasliner FRP Basement Liner (8' width rather than standard 4') with fibre-glass tape on the seams. Much easier for field set-up. Is it on top of carpet? At 0.060" thickness, could be very sensitive to the surface it's laying on.

Time flies like an arrow but fruit flies like a banana,
Olde Bill

[Hadi379]

I'm assuming they will be using these laminated panels as the floor covering:

http://www.glasteel.com/ingles/Detal...1262_1285.html

Any ideas where these panels can be purchased locally???

[GillSt.Bernards]

The surface can also be found at most Lowes and Home Depot stores

[Ryan Albright]

Its been a long time since I have posted on here, I been out of robotics for about 4 years now. Just busy with work. Hopefully getting in involved with my old team this year.... anyway

I am so happy they changed the floor. I was wanting them to change the floor since I was a Member back in 2003. Good luck to all

[heybhaven]

Does anyone know where you could buy or order Regolith?

[Ellery]

FYI there's already a thread on this - Please search for Glasliner FRP per the manual. People have gottem them at HomeDepot and lowes

[heybhaven]

So u can find it at home depot or lowes?

[Mike AA]

Menards just put these panels on sale starting today thru 1/18/08 if I remember right for about $24

-Mike AA

[cbudrecki]

I found a similar material at Home Depot. The only difference is that it's not the GlasLiner brand. It's still the FRP .09", fiberglass sheet. Of course I would definitely be able to confirm this if FIRST included a sample in the KOP.

$27 for a 4x8 sheet

[clark_noah]

Originally Posted by tb222

Of course I would definitely be able to confirm this if FIRST included a sample in the KOP.

I know! I wish FIRST would have given us some of this stuff.... oh well...

[cbudrecki]

Originally Posted by clark_noah

I know! I wish FIRST would have given us some of this stuff.... oh well...

even just a 6"x6" square would have been fine, just so people who couldn't make it to NH could see exactly what it was! the most important game piece this year, and no sample!!!