Pinning Long Robots

[Brad Voracek]

Originally Posted by Vikesrock

When you say "middle" do you mean the middle of the robot? If so doesn't the answer to your question depend on the center of mass of your robot (among other things).

Assuming your center of mass is behind the center of your robot (as ours is) it seems like you would want to reverse the side away from the pinning robot adding to the rotational moment they are providing.

Brad, "turn into them" is a little vague. For our robot turning towards them by powering the far side forward will result in canceling the moment and us getting pinned. Reversing the far side will add to the moment and spin us around, likely letting us escape. Both of these maneuvers are trying to turn our bot towards the pinner, but only one will work.

Heh, true. Well the pinning motion I believe is being described here, after watching san diego, is where a wide robot gets inbetween your trailer and the back of your robot. The initial reaction would be to try and "turn away" (to the right in the shown picture) or drive straight to get into it. But you would want to turn left, pushing your trailer into them, allowing you to eventually speed out of it. I also believe letting go of the sticks completely will help, because if your opponent ever stops accelerating you will be let free, and will have to accelerate at that point. Then again whoever is pushing you should never let go.