21-03-2005 18:52

Adam Richards

Re: pic: Very dangerous

Hehe... you guys were lucky you didn't have a 13-foot arm that was in a similar state like my team (1341) did at one of the practice matches when the fully-extended arm got stuck. Lets just say when I was waving that around, the scoring table got a bit worried they might've been hit by it. I know if we managed a picture of it, but I'm sure someone from the FL regional might have one...

21-03-2005 19:07

Mike Schroeder

Re: pic: Very dangerous

thats why you bring a teather and power up the robot close it down and take it off the field...

21-03-2005 19:27

abeD

Re: pic: Very dangerous

Problem with a tether is it takes time. And if your in the middle of the field and 5 other robots are trying to get around you and your group tethering...it can get pretty messy...I would just say if you have time at the end of the match bring it down.

21-03-2005 19:32

J Flex 188

Re: pic: Very dangerous

In Pittsburgh, we were not explicitly allowed to bring tethers onto the field during the qualification matches. I believe that they were allowed at some during the eliminations, but to have everyone tether and lower whatever mechanism is offending would indeed take forever. We were able to tether before the match on the Saturday because we were lined up to be the first match, but at the drivers meeting they did make it clear that tethering was not allowed.

Just get it out of the arena as quickly and safely as possible and bring it to an outside area or your pit to tether it back up. Luckily when we bleed our tanks at the end of the match, our elevator system runs back down because of the pneumatic brake that is released.

21-03-2005 20:09

team222badbrad

Re: pic: Very dangerous

My solution to the answer would be to have a 15 or so second power on after the matches.

Once the Refs say it is OK to come on the field have it so that the field operator can just enable the arena power for a little bit so teams can reset their robot to a somewhat better position to move from the field to the pits.

This would probably reduce the amount of time resetting the field!

21-03-2005 20:15

shamuwong

Re: pic: Very dangerous

We have a battery pack that has the same connectors as those on our winch. By plugging the battery into the connector, the arm can come down without a tether. Because the way our robot is wired, this is much easier and quicker than tethering up the robot. You may look into buying a 9.6 volt battery pack and finding a way to plug it into your connectors, if your design permits.

21-03-2005 21:02

[527]phil

Re: pic: Very dangerous

We tethered it before matches to charge up the air tanks, but they rushed us off the Field after every match so theres not enough time to tether and reset the bot.


P.S.- i made a spelling mistake that spell check didn't pick up. it's supposed to be Field, not failed, sorry

21-03-2005 23:47

JulieB

Re: pic: Very dangerous

That happens to most that have a long arm... I know how it feels Ive got hit in the head a few time helping carry it of the field

22-03-2005 00:06

Wetzel

Re: pic: Very dangerous

I saw a lot of teams that rushed to the end zone, and then sat for the last 10+ seconds with their arms way up high.

If you are done, put your arm down. Thank you.


Wetzel

22-03-2005 00:40

SteveO

Re: pic: Very dangerous

We did this a couple times (drove back with our arm up) only because our arm is likely to be touching our scored tetras in its down position (meaning the refs don't count those scored tetras). The drivers made good calls when to do this though. Also, we avoided safety problems by simply pressing the solenoid in reverse to retract our arm. This works without a tether, or power for that matter.

22-03-2005 00:56

Ryan F.

Re: pic: Very dangerous

We had to do that after almost every match last year with out hanging mechanism. Carrying a robot that's extended to 10+ feet isn't too fun!