Robots design?

[excel2474]

Do you guys think the robots this year will be similar to 2006 Aim High?

[Electricia 1599]

i could see it just because of the task we have.

[Jacob Paikoff]

I'm not sure, I could see alot of teams designing robots like Aim High, but my team seems to think that it would be almost impossible to shoot the rocks a good distance, let alone accurately into a moving target.

[excel2474]

Yeah, but most likely people wouldn’t shoot the balls very far though. And I think the methods of picking up the balls off the floor would be similar.

[Otaku]

If we can throw the balls across our shop pretty far and accurately, I think there's teams out there that can build shooters that do the same.

Also, yeah, I can imagine this being similar to Aim High, and we've definitely considered redesigning our '06 bot.

[Koko Ed]

What about 2002?
The goals are similar in design to them.

[Tetraman]

Originally Posted by Koko Ed

What about 2002.
The goals are similar in design to them.

Exactly...more like Zone Zeal then anything else.

[clark_noah]

Originally Posted by excel2474

Yeah, but most likely people wouldn’t shoot the balls very far though. And I think the methods of picking up the balls off the floor would be similar.

agreed, I am remembering ideas from 2006 for how to get the balls off the ground, however I don't think there is accurcy in shooting them, but maybe I'm wrong...
I'm thinking more of a basket that dumps the balls, kind of like the robot in the animation.

[fredliu168]

I would go with conveyers to pick up the balls, and a basket dump at the top.

Also, some kind of rollers or claw to "latch" onto opponent goals can help (not sure if it's legal).

[clark_noah]

Originally Posted by fredliu168

Also, some kind of rollers or claw to "latch" onto opponent goals can help (not sure if it's legal).

no, that is in voilation of grabbing onto an arena structure, <G29>

[Lesman]

I can't think of a way to shoot the balls. The most effective way to shoot in Aim High was feeding a ball through 2 pairs of spinning wheels but with these orbit balls I see a number of problems. It would be difficult to apply pressure, as they deform (and break) easily. Furthermore they do not have a uniform surface, to shots will be inconsistent. And, the fabric covering will decrease traction (especially compared to the rubbery foam in the nerf balls). I really can't imagine an effective shooter based on a softball pitcher model.The best I can think of is a catapult style shooter that I remember one team had in 2006.

[clark_noah]

Originally Posted by Lesman

The best I can think of is a catapult style shooter that I remember one team had in 2006.

that seems really hard to get accurate....

[Lodyev]

Thinking outside of the box for this one wasn't a problem for us.
Building outside of it, well, that should be interesting...

[excel2474]

Originally Posted by Lesman

I can't think of a way to shoot the balls. The most effective way to shoot in Aim High was feeding a ball through 2 pairs of spinning wheels but with these orbit balls I see a number of problems. It would be difficult to apply pressure, as they deform (and break) easily. Furthermore they do not have a uniform surface, to shots will be inconsistent. And, the fabric covering will decrease traction (especially compared to the rubbery foam in the nerf balls). I really can't imagine an effective shooter based on a softball pitcher model.The best I can think of is a catapult style shooter that I remember one team had in 2006.

I think you could still use a softball pitcher design, but yeah I think you are right about accuracy. But like Dean said, there will be some luck involved. I think that as long as you shoot enough balls in the general vicinity of your target, then luck might be on your side.

[Alex Dinsmoor]

Originally Posted by excel2474

I think you could still use a softball pitcher design, but yeah I think you are right about accuracy. But like Dean said, there will be some luck involved. I think that as long as you shoot enough balls in the general vicinity of your target, then luck might be on your side.

Luck is going to be a big factor this year, with the slipperiness of the ball and its poor durability any shooter is going to shoot every ball with a different velocity. Although if a team finds out how to successfully shoot a ball with accuracy, then they have made one heck of a bot.