Hello! We have a net that is used to catch the ball, which dangles around, is 20 cm off the ground and is most likely capable of getting other robots tangled in it. We are planning to put something to cover it up, like fabric or a transparent shower curtain. Our question is if the material we use to cover up the net strings has to be transparent since they might block the drivers’ vision if it’s not transparent. Thanks!
It depends on what the net looks like.
Please post a picture if you can. This will help anyone trying to help you understand what needs to be done in more detail.
It’s just rope that criss-crosses. We don’t have a picture of the robot outside the bag, but we have one of the robot inside it : https://fr-fr.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=513529852100997&set=a.282838048503513.66836.264631943657457&type=1&theater
I know you can’t see too much in the picture, but that’s the best (and only) picture we have of it.
Our teams robot had a catching mechanism on it that was covered by soccer-net like material. It passed inspection easily. Of course, our drivers knew the rules well and drove carefully, and we received no fouls.
We used orange barrier netting and never once got tangles, even when someone went inside our frame perimeter, I strongly recommend it.
Ok, so from what I can see, you would definitely need some sort of clear, highly-flexible material to cover it if you wanted to. I like the shower curtain idea the most. Most curtains are flexible and can stretch some before breaking.
However, many teams use a part once per match. after the match, the part is destroyed. in your case, a clear rain-poncho would also work, and can be bought for a much lower cost than a shower curtain.
See- through is a must if you use a covering.
Tmeziere- Our teams robot had a catching mechanism on it that was covered by soccer-net like material. It passed inspection easily. Of course, our drivers knew the rules well and drove carefully, and we received no fouls.
If you drive carefully, you won’t receive fouls and won’t have to cover the ‘net.’
Hope that I have helped you!
Good luck!
Last year our robot had a frisbee blocker that would pop up to block shots. We used many different materials, but as the driver, I asked for something transparent in ordert to see and rive better. Being able to see through helped tremendously. When our alliance partner tried to put someting up for defense, they used pool noodles, which made it hard to see and blocked my vision as well as theirs. I’m not sure you need it depending on the height of your robot, but I do suggest you use something transparent.
Team 4301 used a blocker made of smooth cloth that was in no way transparent. It did, however, prove to be stretchy, puncture resistant, and very hard to entangle with. It was also on sale at Hobby Lobby form $4.00 per yard. If you don’t mind the bright color, I would recommend the use of this fabric if you can’t access anything better within your time restraints.