Hi Everyone,
I am curious, and not behalf on any one team, what people’s analysis of the king of the hill strategy is. What does it gain you? Would you need to control the ramp the entire time? I’m curious what people think, if they have the time to comment on such a strategy. My own personal feelings it that it ties you to the ramp the entire match and severely limits offensive potnetial.
-Justin
I’d agree with your assesment overall. A Hing of the Hill doesn’t necessarly have to sit there for the entire match… I certainly wouldn’t suggest buidling a bully-bot incapable of dealing with scoring situations and adapting. That being said, it could thwart a lot of opponents if you can really stay there for the entire match. Don’t expect a ton of QPs, and be prepared for some serious stress if you do it.
My personal favorite is the King of the Hill strategy. However, it does have some obvious flaws, such as the fact that your opponents are trapped on your side and your allies are trapped on your opponents side, assuming you lack a gate mechanism.
I believe that it can be made to work, but the question is, is the trade off worth it? That remains to be seen, probably until the matches.
–Petey
I agree with you, but I also believe that the 25 points will motivate many teams to try for it - some may take the entire 2 minutes to do it, while others will play the field and then do the mad dash at the end technique. In my humble opinion - the match es will be decided in the first 15 seconds and the last 15 seconds. But - what do i know I haven’t witnessed a single match yet.
the king of the hill part will get interesting. the polycarbonate ground has zero friction, so sliding will happen. The only way to stay up is to keep moving. Wither that or use suction cups and afixiate your bot to the floor. I have an basic out line if you would like it about the suction cup idea. i want to know what strats you guys have for surviving the chaos!
*Originally posted by DarkRedDragon *
** the polycarbonate ground has zero friction, so sliding will happen. **
First nothing has zero friction, second diffrent hardness of rubber comes diffrent amounts of slippage, with the hard wheelchair wheels on the top of the HDPE they slide like mad, but with a softer rubber and alot of surface area, I belive that you could some how lift your bot on it and never be pushed around, ever. Thats the type of bot that is going to win king of the hill
There’s more to it than friction…
(and I’m not talking about suction cups - they slide too easily)
-Joel
*Originally posted by Joel Glidden *
**There’s more to it than friction…
(and I’m not talking about suction cups - they slide too easily)-Joel **
not nessacarily, when supported correctly, they take alot of effort to slide.
With large extensions, a robot could potentially block the whole ramp, not limited by the 36x30 starting size.
Also, although the traction on top will be bad, the traction on the ramp is bad as well, and may be worse, as there is much less surface area.
yes, bullying the ramp will be crucial, i mean, how do u win if u are not a “low rider”?
Bad
suction cups, if done properly, could almost garentee an immovable robot.
However, this stuff is very easy to scratch, and it WILL be scrateched and all it takes is one shallow scratch and your cups don’t seal…muhahahahaha
*Originally posted by The wheelman *
**First nothing has zero friction, second diffrent hardness of rubber comes diffrent amounts of slippage, with the hard wheelchair wheels on the top of the HDPE they slide like mad, but with a softer rubber and alot of surface area, I belive that you could some how lift your bot on it and never be pushed around, ever. Thats the type of bot that is going to win king of the hill **
Traction has about zero to do with surface area. This is even more true when on a completely flat and smooth surface. Remember, that traction is gained by friction. And, the formula for friction is F=uN where u is the frictional constant which is determined by the materials involved and N is the normal force. There’s nothing in there about surface area. You do not need a lot of surface area to have good traction. In fact, it may actually be harmful (see one of the whitepapers about it).
Matt
uh oh i can smell the whole wheel width vs traction debate coming
*Originally posted by Gope *
**suction cups, if done properly, could almost garentee an immovable robot.However, this stuff is very easy to scratch, and it WILL be scrateched and all it takes is one shallow scratch and your cups don’t seal…muhahahahaha **
Yep, I just tested that about an hour ago.
Suction cups + tiny scratch on surface = no suction
Suction cups + tiny scratch + vacuum = barely any suction
Do as you will. 
just F.Y.I.
The rules strictly state that there is NO use of any kind of vacume on the robot for any purpose. Also, you can’t get a rubber that is too soft or otherwise it will get destroyed going up the mesh ramp.
Not true.
http://www.creationsandkeepsakes.com/hyperrules/viewrule.php?ruleid=162
M12
Only items listed under the PNEUMATICS section of the Kit list may be used to store, generate or transmit compressed air or vacuum, with the following exceptions:Suction cups may be fabricated from legal Kit parts, as defined in rule K1 below.
- Tubing may not be compressed in order to generate compressed air or vacuum.
- Only the allowed air cylinders may be used to generate vacuum.
WARNING!
You may only use pneumatic components from the pneumatics kit. Custom-made pneumatic components (fittings, air cylinders, pumps, valves, etc) are not allowed. Additional off-the-shelf pneumatic components are not allowed.
Please double-check your information before posting something like this.
maybe…it comes down to traction like last year if you get into a pushing match. But if any of you were around for the 2000 competition…the ramp will be equally nasty if not even worse like last year. Fast robots may end up flying across and over the ramp. It 14 degrees just like the Ski-Jump Ramps on the Royal Navy’s Invincible -class aircraft carriers.
*Originally posted by meaubry *
** In my humble opinion - the match es will be decided in the first 15 seconds and the last 15 seconds. But - what do i know I haven’t witnessed a single match yet. **
I concur 100%. The first 15 seconds will determine who wins for the round, and the last 15 seconds will determine, by how much.
yeah, the mad dash for the ramp in the end like in 2000 and whoever knocks the most bins over has a better chance of winning. You’ll probably have at least a stack height unit of 2.
whoa whoa- a lot of you are forgetting the bars… Gatekeepers would be very ineffective if they didn’t block the ramp and both bars-