Do you "have" to use a shooter?

FIRST General Forum
1

It seams that you have to use a shooter to make a 2 and 3 point basket.

2

There are no rules saying you HAVE TO use a shooter.

but various other rules and field elements make scoring without one Just as difficult, if not more.

3

Well your robot can only extend to 84in, so if you want to do a 3 shooter, then yes you need a shooter. 2 points is only 61 inches.

4

Thanks that is very helpful

5

Some teams are experimenting with other firing mechanisms. A straight up shooter isn’t necessary to score.

However if you’re thinking of a dunking mechanism, this is not possible this year as even with full extension your robot cannot reach the baskets (see spoiler for math explaining it) (Disregard and see EDIT)

Math
[spoiler]Barriers:
Fender width to overcome: 38.75"

Now all the things to take out of the fender width:
Hoop: Inside Diameter 18"
Backboard: 0.5"
Connection from hoop to backboard: 6" from inside of hoop to backboard
Total: 24.5"

38.75" - 24.5" = 14.25"

Now lets see how far you can extend into that 14.25"
Robot extension: 14"
Bumper to overcome: ~3.25"
14" - (~3.25") = 10.75"

14.25" - 10.75" = 3.50"

So even under ideal circumstances you appendage can only reach 3.5" from the edge of the basket. Dunking is not even close to being an option.
[/spoiler]

Best of luck, and I hope this was helpful

EDIT: Oops, I really need to be more careful before talking in absolutes. The math above only applies from dunking from the side parallel to the driver station. The other sides of the fender can be dunked on.

6

Oh, really… Someone asked a question about that, and mathematically, it is possible to dunk. It is possible to dunk within the rules, at least in the 2-pointers. http://www.chiefdelphi.com/forums/showthread.php?threadid=99975 for the math.

7

That is from the front of the fender, look at the middle row of baskets from the side of the fender… its much closer…

8

@ Eric and Eric: Ha wow, that was really silly of me. Good catch.

So i suppose I should reiterate that: It’s not possible to dunk from the “front” of the fender (side parallel to the drivers station).

9

There are no rules saying that you have to use a shooter. But it is really helpful, and your alliance members would get ticked off at you for not being able to score a lot.

10

no but if you use a dumper you cant make the 3 point basket and there is still a 4 or so inch gap between you dumping part and the basket also you can be blocked because there are only 2 or three places you can dump from

11

So you wouldn’t be able to just drive right up to the basket and drop your balls down a chute into the second basket?

12

I don’t think you have to use a shooter. If you can use something to force/push the balls out with some speed wouldn’t it make up for those 4 or so inches your lobber couldn’t reach.

13

Can you attempt a dunk? Yes. In fact, for the 2-pointers, it will definitely work without added propulsion, if you do it right (and possibly are willing to take penalties). For the 1-point basket, some propulsion will be needed in the horizontal direction; for the 3-pointer, vertical and horizontal propulsion will need to be supplied.

Is it possible to supply that propulsion? Yes. See 2008’s hurdling designs for ideas. Is it going to be easy? Not necessarily.