No-show teams and trailers

[IKE]

I really like the idea of just a kit frame with wheels, bumper, and a hitch. The weight value I see as negoitiable, but I really like the chassis idea.

I think we will have an extra kit frame this year. If FIRST can provide some wheels, I know we could donate a stationary bot.

[Mike Starke]

One thing that I do see, is that if FIRST did send a trailer out by itself, it's starting position is right in front of an opposing teams PS. As an insult to injury, that alliance could stock up on moon rocks in that PS position and at the start of the match have an easy shot to score points on the robotless trailer. I am intrigued to find out the ruling.

[klanicam]

Originally Posted by Mike Starke

One thing that I do see, is that if FIRST did send a trailer out by itself, it's starting position is right in front of an opposing teams PS. As an insult to injury, that alliance could stock up on moon rocks in that PS position and at the start of the match have an easy shot to score points on the robotless trailer. I am intrigued to find out the ruling.

I was thinking the same thing. However, if the red alliance had a dead trailer in front of the blue's fueling station, wouldn't that prevent the blue alliance from herding moon rocks to that player?

I can see robots trying to move the trailer out of the way, but I can see that as being hazardous to the field.

If they would force the team to an inoperable robot on the field, that could be even harder to remove from the fueling station.

[Daniel_LaFleur]

If a team doesn't show up, I'd like to see a caster (made from a kit wheel) attached to the tongue of the trailer with no robot, so that it can be pushed around.

This would change the dynamics of the game when a team could not be there.

[IKE]

http://www.northerntool.com/webapp/w..._150886_150886

Northern tool has a swivel trailer jack stand for $17.

Says it has a 750 pound capacity which should be enough for our trailer.

Seriously who has ever heard of a good trailer without a tongue jack?

[JesseK]

Originally Posted by Daniel_LaFleur

If a team doesn't show up, I'd like to see a caster (made from a kit wheel) attached to the tongue of the trailer with no robot, so that it can be pushed around.

This would change the dynamics of the game when a team could not be there.

Interesting concept.

Since the trailer hitches are supposed to be 7" wide I wonder if we could hook up 2 trailers to 1 robot in such a scenario. Even if it reduces a robot's mobility twice as much as 1 trailer does, it's better than just leaving the thing sitting around as an easy target.

[cardinalman86]

Originally Posted by JesseK

Since the trailer hitches are supposed to be 7" wide I wonder if we could hook up 2 trailers to 1 robot in such a scenario. Even if it reduces a robot's mobility twice as much as 1 trailer does, it's better than just leaving the thing sitting around as an easy target.

Haha! Would you even be able to drive like this!?! It would be really awesome to see, but i don't know if the robot could get enough grip on the regolith to pull both of the trailers at the same time and still get enough speed not to get completely tossed around... it might be something to try.

Would you also fit within the LAUNCHING PAD?

[DMetalKong]

Originally Posted by Mike Starke

One thing that I do see, is that if FIRST did send a trailer out by itself, it's starting position is right in front of an opposing teams PS. As an insult to injury, that alliance could stock up on moon rocks in that PS position and at the start of the match have an easy shot to score points on the robotless trailer. I am intrigued to find out the ruling.

I doubt you will see teams try and take too much advantage of this due to G14.

[JimWright949]

Originally Posted by IKE

I really like the idea of just a kit frame with wheels, bumper, and a hitch. The weight value I see as negoitiable, but I really like the chassis idea.

Driven by randomly choosen adult mentors (who are not from any team in the match)! This would give me a chance to finally drive one of these things in a real match.

-Jim