spinning kickers

[Da Kid]

We have a kicker that is just a piece of wood and can continuously spin. Can it countinuously spin? How long can it be out and what are the rules regarding this.

[Scoutin' Master]

If I understand you correctly, that this arm swings parallel to the ground, you probably shouldn't have it continuously spin.

Rule G30 says this:
ROBOT Volume – During a MATCH, no part of the ROBOT shall extend outside the vertical projection of the FRAME PERIMETER, except as follows:
a. BALL Interaction Volume – Solely for the purposes of interacting with a BALL, MECHANISMS that are below the BUMPER may extend up to the BUMPER PERIMETER, for a period not exceeding two seconds. After returning inside the FRAMER PERIMETER, such MECHANISMS are not permitted to re-extend beyond the FRAME PERIMETER for at least two seconds.

Basically, you cannot have the arm extending out of your frame for more than 2 seconds at a time and cannot come back outside until another 2 seconds has passed.

What would be best is to control this arm, not have it continuously going out and in.

Hope this helps!

[BaByGrL]

Originally Posted by Da Kid

We have a kicker that is just a piece of wood and can continuously spin. Can it countinuously spin? How long can it be out and what are the rules regarding this.

Are you guys using pistons to move the wood?

[Da Kid]

no, we're using a motor. i have another question can there be a break in the bumpers for the kicker to go through?

[Scoutin' Master]

No. From what I understand, this year the bumpers must go all the way around the robot.
BUMPERS must provide complete protection of the entire FRAME PERIMETER of the ROBOT (i.e. BUMPERS must wrap entirely around the ROBOT).

Even if you could make a break in the bumpers, no mechanism can extend beyond the bumper perimeter.
MECHANISMS that are below the BUMPER may extend up to the BUMPER PERIMETER, for a period not exceeding two seconds.

[Grim Tuesday]

No, no breaks in the bumpers, but the continouslly spinning kicker is 100% allowed. In fact, we are using one too.

[Paul Copioli]

but the continouslly spinning kicker is 100% allowed. In fact, we are using one too.

Be careful with this design. If the spinning kicker goes outside the frame perimeter at all, then it must retract within 2 seconds and must not go back out past the frame perimeter for 2 more seconds.

[nitneylion452]

Originally Posted by Paul Copioli

Be careful with this design. If the spinning kicker goes outside the frame perimeter at all, then it must retract within 2 seconds and must not go back out past the frame perimeter for 2 more seconds.

Originally Posted by Grim Tuesday

No, no breaks in the bumpers, but the continouslly spinning kicker is 100% allowed. In fact, we are using one too.

Exactly what I was thinking. Remember that the ball cannot penetrate beyond 3" inside the frame perimeter, so you might have some difficulty with that. Also, a continuously spinning block of wood seems like it may burn out a motor, and have a lot of accuracy issues.