Being born left-handed and part of about 15% of the general population I guess it was my destiny to also sign-off on a robot design that cannot go under the Low-Bar defense.
Having perused reveals and Week Zero events it looks like we are in a distinct minority this season in a sea of low-profile robots for this year’s game.
So I’m starting this thread to provide comfort and advice and a sounding board for fellow Low-Bar Challenged teams across the world of FIRST FRC to unite in fellowship and support… and to rally to one another’s side and, who knows, MAYBE change the world… because you are NOT alone.
I predict you will be the most sought after robot type, assuming the robot performs well with all of that extra available volume. Supply and demand forces at work. Welcome to FIRST Robotics where you can even get a economics lesson.
What are the odds that 1114, 254 or similar will be joining your support group? While it may be slim, I think there is a chance.
I am almost positive that the archtype of a tall, all-defenses-breaching-robot that can shoot a ball in auto into the high goal and defend the alliance courtyard with a tall structure will be a very desirable partner. This would be our dream first pick alliance partner.
That being said, we also fear you the most but have designed around tall robots by placing our tiny shooter on a longer than normal robot frame so that we can fire over the tallest robot height simply by making the release point of the ball so far back from the bumper that a robot cannot block the trajectory without sticking some arm or something into our perimeter.
We are thrilled to be in this category.
We are here by choice!
We chose our strategy carefully and with purpose.
Being a member of this club is an honor!
Depending on the shooter type, being tall also enables you to shoot over blocking robots. Of course some short robots will not have this problem but it seems like the majority of low high goal shooting robots will.
Good point, but I’ve seen alot of low bots drive right up to the goal and shoot nearly vertically. Given the time limit on contact in the courtyard low bots should be able to score still.
I am guessing that the low bars are going to get clogged up within 30 seconds of tele-op. The big robots are useful for defense by blocking shots. Because if you get close enough to a robot no mater how tall it is you will be able to block the shots. I have yet to see a robot reveal where to robot is a big bot. I think you will just have to figure out how to most effectively play the game with your big robot. Best of luck
Given everything we know now, I think building a Low-Bar Challenged robot is the way to go. It makes climbing easier, blocking shots possible, and having unblockable shots. Of course, you give up the opportunity to go under the low bar, but most qualification matches will have at least 1 robot on your alliance than can go under and it should be easy to find a 3rd robot that can in eliminations. Plus, if you have a decent drive train, it is just as quick to go over the easier defenses than go under the bar.
All that being said, I don’t think there is a significant difference between low bar vs non-low bar.
Only if you are talking about driving onto the other teams robot. Many good robots will be releasing the ball from a high position, or have an arch that makes it physically impossible to block their shots. Remember also that robots are essentially protected from contact while any part of their bumper crosses the plane of the outerworks. So these robots could shoot from the outerworks and there really isn’t anything that could be done to block their shots.
