Posted by Nate Rhoades at 1/8/2001 10:45 PM EST
Student on team #177, Bobcat Robotics, from South Windsor High School and IFC.
I was wondering if anyone had built the bridge yet, and if so, exactly how easy is it to ballance two goals on it? I was thinking that if the goals were placed upright on the bridge, the slightest angle could cause them to roll off (casters) and possibly spill all the balls. Then I thought of the idea of placing two goals on the bridge upside down. They wouldn’t roll off, but they’d be top heavy. Maybe one could fit them parallel to the bridge laying down? Or, place the goal OVER the weighted bar, to reduce the probability of complete loss of control. I am also assuming that there will be few or no balls in the goals. The amount of points the small balls are compared to the time to gather them (unless really well) is not worth sacrificing the early ending matches (I think). I believe this is a mulitplier game. Sooo… if anyone could follow up with this post it would benifit everyone, i think. Have fun! (Remember: we can always release our competitive rage with a battle bot! 
-Nate, Team 177 Bobcat Robotics
Posted by Ken Leung at 1/9/2001 5:39 AM EST
Student on team #192, Gunn Robotics Team, from Henry M. Gunn Senior High School.
In Reply to: ???Bridge???
Posted by Nate Rhoades on 1/8/2001 10:45 PM EST:
It is true that the game will be all about multiplier, but not entirely. I can picture robots at the finals will be able to get full multiplier, and so little points from small/big balls will really matter a lot to determine the winner. So the alliance that can do everything perfectly together is going to win by getting one more ball on the goal.
Posted by Matt Berube at 1/9/2001 7:48 AM EST
Engineer on team #49, Delphi Knights, from Buena Vista High School and Delphi Automotive.
In Reply to: ???Bridge???
Posted by Nate Rhoades on 1/8/2001 10:45 PM EST:
I personally cannot think of many game senarios where you would not want to push the close goal up to the operator station and fill it with balls while the robots are getting across the bridge. These are FREE points! You should be able, with teamwork, to get 11-12 black balls into the closest goal in
Posted by Ryan at 1/9/2001 10:35 PM EST
Student on team #30, Fury, from High Technology High School and CelWave.
In Reply to: ???Bridge???
Posted by Nate Rhoades on 1/8/2001 10:45 PM EST:
without giving away my team’s strategy, we plan on filling the goals and balancing both onto the ramp. We don’t think it will be that hard with our secret weapon.