Grappling Hook?

[rajkarthikkumar]

Is there anything in the rules that prevents a grappling hook from being used during the last 20 seconds?

[cait.schroeder]

As I have grasped, there is nothing in the rules preventing it, my team was actually joking about it as we have a "grappling hook gun". It just says the dimensions and how it is built to support scaling robots. My team has not talked about scaling yet but I am opposed to the idea because of the possibility of damaging the robot.

[nxtmonkeys]

No rule against it. any type of rope or cable might be considered a "entanglement hazard" though... so you'd have to be careful of that.

[Spen-curr]

A hook would be pretty cool, but I think that the options presented in the video are more reliable.

[EricH]

I would use caution, and pay attention to the safety rules. I don't think it would be illegal just because it's a grappling hook, but the exact methodology should be considered carefully.

[rich2202]

If the hook misses, and lands more than 15 inches from your robot, that would be a violation.

[Collin Stiers]

The problem with the use of a grappling hook, is that the goal opening is very near to the bar you use to climb, so if you miss your hook may be caught on the goal opening, and that could cause problems because a) you couldn't climb and B) at the end of the match you would have to figure how to get that hook down

[josh_marcy]

Originally Posted by Collin Stiers

The problem with the use of a grappling hook, is that the goal opening is very near to the bar you use to climb, so if you miss your hook may be caught on the goal opening, and that could cause problems because a) you couldn't climb and B) at the end of the match you would have to figure how to get that hook down

Also if you miss, you are in violation of G12. The manual also says that in that situation, you can be assigned an additional yellow card for egregious robot behaviour.

[Logan Byers]

The real question: 3 prongs or 4?

[bduddy]

Originally Posted by josh_marcy

Also if you miss, you are in violation of G12. The manual also says that in that situation, you can be assigned an additional yellow card for egregious robot behaviour.

I don't see how that would be the case unless your hook sticks in the floor. It should be entirely possible to design to prevent that.

[Dhill098]

G12 The following actions are prohibited with regards to interaction with ARENA elements (items A-E
exclude any DEFENSE, RUNGS, and BOULDERS)
A. Grabbing
B. Grasping
C. Attaching to (including the use of hook-and-loop tape against the FIELD carpet)
D. Grappling
E. Hanging
F. Becoming entangled
G. Damaging
Violation: FOUL. If the Head REFEREE determines that further damage is likely to occur, offending
ROBOT will be DISABLED. Corrective action (such as eliminating sharp edges, removing the
damaging MECHANISM, and/or re-Inspection) may be required before the ROBOT will be allowed
to compete in subsequent MATCHES.

According to this, I believe it's perfectly legal if it is a success.

[RoboChair]

15 inch maximum extension beyond your frame perimeter still applies. You can just extend to an infinite height.

[evanperryg]

Originally Posted by rajkarthikkumar

Is there anything in the rules that prevents a grappling hook from being used during the last 20 seconds?

We've played around with some grappling hook ideas for past games, although none have ever actually made it onto the robot. If you can, try finding someone from 1592, who designed grappling hook can pullers for last season. They were pretty cool. We may still have the CAD for some 3D printed claws that close on impact around a bar (basically, once the bar hits something inside the grasp of the open claw, the claw closes around the bar), if you might find that helpful I'd be happy to see if we can dig up the files and send them to you.