I’m surprised that I haven’t seen any chatter about using a catapult. Has anyone tested catapulting a cube using their aerial assist or boulder catapult? I have seen a video of one of the robot in 3 days teams testing one but they were testing it in a stairwell and it didn’t really show accuracy or repeatability.
If you have immediately dismissed a catapult, why?
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
I think a some sort of launcher from the ground would work, but a catapult would be very difficult. Given the small area you are allowed to shoot from, a the arc would have to be very vertical, which is hard with a catapult, but could work with a punch potentially.
Another issue I see with the lack of vision tape. The driver would have to aim by hand every time, and what they are aiming for moves up a down.
Not exactly sure what 'Snow Problem is doing, but I know they are launching the cubes. You might want to check out their Ri3D team to see what method they are using!
It doesn’t seem like catapulting boxes would be as effective, and given that G08 states that they don’t really want cubes flyings except in certain areas, it doesn’t seem that preferable. Plus, with there not being a height limit (Not currently, but if you can find it, please tell me), I know at least my team was talking about just making a robot that can extend tall enough to just place it into the scale or switch.
What could go wrong?
/S
remember to compensate for the extra height if the scale is tipped the other direction
We decided against a catapult on the grounds that if we tried to fling a cube into the scale, its motion would be too unpredictable, especially if there were already cubes in the scale.
We made the same decision, based on the same thing.
Vision will be 100% necessary to compete this year. The switch targets won’t be necessary at all imo BUT the cubes and LED lights will probably very useful to track. We will be tracking these on our robot this year for many different functions
I 100% disagree. I’m sure a lot of the best robots this year won’t be using vision. It can definitely help but it is by no means nessasary.
Catapults lack accuracy. In 2016, they worked because you could line up with the reflective tape on the goal. Since there isn’t any on the scale, you would just kinda have to guess and hope it lands where you want it. Very sporadic and uncontrolled. Also, the angle is hard since you pretty much have to be standing under the scale
The target this year is really big, and you kind of have to be right next to it (to satisfy the game rules) and shoot mostly up. I think it’s a great year for shooting!
but I also don’t know if we’re going to try to prototype it. I expect quite a few teams will at least see how well it works, before dismissing the idea.
In 'Snow Problem we built a catapult prototype. Our biggest problems was height. I do think a catapult would be possible but it would take more time and tinkering to bring to the point we want. Our goal is a little over 7 feet when launching the POWER CUBE. We were reaching around 5.5 feet.
I have to agree with you. I see no part of this game that is really worth vision. A good color sensor? Sure.
DiscoBots went catapult this year.
Is the catapult also used to score in the Switch?
Simplicity in every form. Great job 4613 Barker Redbacks!
Yes, we adjust the timing in the solenoids for a smaller catapult shot into the switch.
My crazy freshmen and sophomores want to use our cube distribution arm/bucket to intercept or block cubes that are catapulted at distance. They built an alternative “box scoop” from thin steel instead of double plex to see if this is possible.
We must be beat down and mentally depleted. Everything else works (for now):ahh:
See all at the Dallas Regional
Not sure how effective this is going to be considering the only two places your opponent can legally shoot from are their neutral zone (which is protected so that’s a tech foul if they touch you when you try to block them), or when they’re touching the switch fence (so it would be hard to get in front of them to block the shot). Or am I missing something? Good luck on getting the strategy to work.