pic: The Cow that Jumped over the moon!

[Toa Circuit]

loading photo ...

[z_beeblebrox]

1st: Really?
2nd Why?

If legal (which I doubt) and works (same issue), why is this better than a more normal robot? However, if you really build it, I'd love to see pictures and video.

[CalTran]

Bumper rules, specifically robot height?

[nikeairmancurry]

We had a kid on the team keep pushing this type of idea. Printing the OP's picture and showing him he wasn't alone after all.

[valeriemoore]

This is legal, but only if the bumpers stay within the bumper zone (2-10 inches).

[GaryVoshol]

Originally Posted by valeriemoore

This is legal, but only if the bumpers stay within the bumper zone (2-10 inches).

The bumper zone moves with the robot. It has to be that way, else any pyramid climb over a few inches would be illegal.

To the OP, beware the Grapple rule.

[JesseK]

There's a fundamental design flaw with this, if you continue to use the sheet.

http://dsc.discovery.com/tv-shows/my...p-lift-off.htm

Originally Posted by Mythbusters

Tossing another bee in the myth's bonnet, physics principles wouldn't permit the buzzing army to fly away with the laptop because the airflow beneath their wings would push down on the laptop.

They demonstrated this with miniature helicopters -- the helos could lift themselves in unison when all connected to the same wooden lattice. Yet once they mounted a sheet underneath the lattice, the helos couldn't get off the ground.

[Toa Circuit]

Okay, so here's the rundown of things:
Why do this design?
1. Unable to be interfered from other robots.
2. Directly dump disks into the high and pyramid goals with ease.
3. Able to block disks from opponent robots by bypassing the height limitations.
4. Sit on the pyramid at the end of the game for maximum bonus points.
5. Put other game players in a state of awe and anger and render them incapable of playing the game well.

Is it legal?
Im fairly sure. That sheet/wall is a rolled up thing of cloth that would fall down after match start, so it would at least begin satisfying the bumper rules there. Maybe the mechanism would be removed.

To JesseK:
Hmm... okay. We might have folding propellers or cut out that plate in the top to allow airflow then.

To GaryVoshol: What is the grapple rule? (I don't know any rule by that name.)

[MARS_James]

Originally Posted by Toa Circuit

What is the grapple rule? (I don't know any rule by that name.)

G14
The following actions are prohibited with regards to interaction with FIELD elements:

grabbing,
grasping
grappling
attaching to,
damaging,
becoming entangled


Actions A-D do not apply to ROBOT interactions with the PYRAMID.

[JesseK]

Oh! I didn't realize the sheet was vertical. In that case, there isn't a design flaw so long as the plate is cut to allow air flow. There's a strategy flaw with point # 5 though:

Originally Posted by R08

4.1.2 Safety & Damage Prevention

R08 ROBOT parts shall not be made from hazardous materials, be unsafe, cause an unsafe condition, or interfere with the operation of other ROBOTS.

<blue box>
Examples of items that will violate R08 include (but are not limited to):
A. Shields, curtains, or any other devices or materials designed or used to obstruct or limit the vision of any drivers and/or coaches and/or interfere with their ability to safely control their ROBOT

[nighterfighter]

Originally Posted by JesseK

Oh! I didn't realize the sheet was vertical. In that case, there isn't a design flaw so long as the plate is cut to allow air flow. There's a strategy flaw with point # 5 though:

It would be safe as long as they put some sort of shroud over the blades.

[alicen]

Originally Posted by Toa Circuit

Okay, so here's the rundown of things:

4. Sit on the pyramid at the end of the game for maximum bonus points.

Just wanted to address this real quick; you can't sit on /top/ of the pyramid, where the chain hangs so that Frisbees can be thrown and caught in the top basket, because that would be interfering with game elements. You would have to hover and fly really close to the Level 3 bar, then latch on.

Also, what happens if you're not hanging onto the tower at the end of the match and your power gets cut? I'm guessing it wouldn't be well-liked to watch a 100 lb robot falling 10 ft to the ground