pic: Spam 180 robot

[CaptainMcfuddel]

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[cziggy343]

im interested... i have heard of teams using a fan to deflect balls, but is it effective? if so, how effective?

[Jetweb]

That fan was awesome, and extremely effective. Not as much for deflecting scoring, but for propulsion.

For everyone who is skeptical about fans and there use in this game 180 will prove you wrong. Well done SPAM.

[Dan Richardson]

I think the intent would be for propulsion and not deflection balls. If it is for deflecting balls I'm pretty sure it would be illegal per one of the updates.

[Molten]

Originally Posted by cziggy343

im interested... i have heard of teams using a fan to deflect balls, but is it effective? if so, how effective?

Not very. I've read in a few places where teams that are using fans mentioned this. They all seem to agree that the ball has too many holes to catch much wind. Especially since they aren't able to focus the wind on the ball.

Edit: No, there is no rule against using a fan to deflect the balls. The update says you can't use a fan to remove balls from the trailor.

[EricH]

Originally Posted by Stud Man Dan

I think the intent would be for propulsion and not deflection balls. If it is for deflecting balls I'm pretty sure it would be illegal per one of the updates.

Nope.
http://forums.usfirst.org/showthread.php?t=10943
See question and answer #4.

[The Lucas]

Originally Posted by Stud Man Dan

I think the intent would be for propulsion and not deflection balls. If it is for deflecting balls I'm pretty sure it would be illegal per one of the updates.

Originally Posted by GDC

A fan-induced airstream used to deflect an incoming MOON ROCK away from the TRAILER is not prohibited by the rules. However, use of a fan to descore a GAME PIECE would not be permitted.

Not illegal per this Q&A. However, I don't think it is feasible due to the aerodynamics on the MOON ROCKS (IMHO).

Looks good SPAM! I cant wait to see it in action.

[R.C.]

Lovely Bot, any vids of this bad boy in action.

[Dan Richardson]

Doh, missed that one.

[CaptainMcfuddel]

We designed the fan for populsion not deflection. I don't think it would help much since, as stated above, the holes in the balls let to much air through. However when you stand behind the fan when its on it is like being in a hurricane

[Qbranch]

Do you guys have any video of your robot running with pneumato-boost?

A comparison video would be awesome... fan vs no fan acceleration. I'm really surprised it makes that big of a difference.

Way to think outside the regolith!

-q

[Jetweb]

Originally Posted by Qbranch

Do you guys have any video of your robot running with pneumato-boost?

A comparison video would be awesome... fan vs no fan acceleration. I'm really surprised it makes that big of a difference.

Way to think outside the regolith!

-q

I don't have a video, but i did see them pushing us sideways on carpet while gaining speed multiple times at our scrimmage. No amount of traction control is good against that fan.

[Gary.C]

I knew it. 4 wheel drive

[smurfgirl]

Wow, I want to see it in action. (:

[Arefin Bari]

Personally, out of all the robots I have seen so far, this one is one of my favorites. S.P.A.M. has "two" 4wd. One that makes them go forward and backward and the other that allows them to move side to side. Their fan makes them incredibly fast and they run away from you like no tomorrow. They are also able to push you around. The fan puts out 10lbs of thrust. Their scoring mechanism is very cool as well. It has little "fingers" that picks up the ball and keeps it in until they want to score it. They are very fast as scoring as well. Their fan doesn't really deflect the balls as they don't turn the fan on unless they are trying to run away from others or trying to push them around. I would be very surprised if they decide that the fan is illegal on this machine. I can't wait to see it in action again.