Team update 3/6/2012

[Tetraman]

Originally Posted by Marc S.

I wasn't looking for first to say that team XXX is illegal, I was looking for the rule update/clarification that made the hanging mechanism (like the one on 118) illegal.

It's rule [G10]. It's been there since the start of the competition season.

Every regional from now on is going to have the team of Field Builders attempt to figure out their own ways of solving the problem with the basketballs now, which is a very good thing.

I wonder if it would have been smarter for the GDC to forego the ball ramp and instead allow teams to activate mechanisms further outside the frame perimeter and increase the size of the fender.

[Ryan Dognaux]

Originally Posted by Kevin Sevcik

Potentially addressing, you mean. It'll be interesting to see how well this modification performs at Week 2 events. It might make things worse by causing balls to collect right at the edge of the bridge where they're hardest to squish and most likely to cause difficulties. The only advantage is that they'll be slightly easier to remove there.

After looking at the modified field drawings, I definitely think this will improve things during week 2. The angle of the polycarbonate piece is greatly increased. Hopefully balls will, at worst, remain at the edge of the polycarbonate, allowing teams to simply push the balls out of the way with their drive train or intake them into their robot. Teams seemed to have the most problems during week 1 when the balls would escape the reach of most team's intakes or appendages under the bridge.

[GoSparx]

Originally Posted by Kevin Sevcik

Potentially addressing, you mean. It'll be interesting to see how well this modification performs at Week 2 events. It might make things worse by causing balls to collect right at the edge of the bridge where they're hardest to squish and most likely to cause difficulties. The only advantage is that they'll be slightly easier to remove there.

No matter what, it seems, FIRST can never appease the masses.......

[DampRobot]

Was there really a problem with illegal motors being used? I know there was some confusion about not being able to use 540s on our team, but I would expect that teams would understand the motor restrictions...

[PayneTrain]

General

The official Android App for the 2012 FRC Q&A system is now available

Just in time!
I honestly do like the apps, but you think techies in FIRST would go to Android before iOS.

[Madison]

It looks as if the change to the bridge may break 179's robot.

[RogerR]

Originally Posted by Madison

It looks as if the change to the bridge may break 179's robot.

how so?

It looks like they hang right from the edge, barely extending in a couple inches. Is the angle of the ball ramps that severe?