@DRow literally said probably by the end of the week.
When do the field parts arrive? We pre-ordered them.
What drive do you guys think is meta? Mecanum drive? This will be my first year, so I donāt know how to approach it especially with the 55 watt limit.
It will definitely be a strain on the motors and wheels as there might be some heavier mechanisms on the drivetrain but it suppose it could be good for maneuvering the filed.
Just run 55w tank I donāt see the other drive types being needed
You cannot descore at all.
I was just thinking the same thing. Who needs 8 pts when you can just drive at a toggle at the last second and ādevalueā 10-50ish pts from your opponent.
This. But then they should focus on punishing teams that break rules rather than sweeping attempts to fix.
Mine is ready to pick up. Luckily I am close enough to save some money on shipping.
Correction: you can only descore your alliances goals.
Double Correction you con only descore on neutral goals and your own alliance goals and only the pins that are your color.
Yeah, I could get behind that. Enforcement becomes more difficult and the opportunity for people to cheat becomes higher, but I think that things were going alright until this rule.
The officials have said itās to switch it up on the teams thT use the same meta drivetrain every year.
No, you can descore any pins, but only from your alliance colored goals
Scoring Objects canāt be removed from neutral or opposing Alliance-colored Goals.
Based on Geminiā¦
To compare the performance of titanium versus aluminum in a V5RC (VEX Robotics Competition) context, we need to look at the material properties of the alloys typically used.
VEX aluminum is generally 6061-T6 aluminum, while high-end third-party ātitaniumā channels are usually Grade 5 Titanium (Ti-6Al-4V).
1. Weight Reduction Estimate
While titanium is about 60% denser than aluminum, it is significantly stronger. This allows manufacturers to make the walls of titanium C-channels much thinner (often around 0.8mm to 1.0mm) compared to the standard VEX aluminum thickness (approx. 1.6mm).
- Standard Aluminum C-Channel: ~0.50 oz per inch.
- Thin-wall Titanium C-Channel: ~0.38 oz per inch.
The Math for a Typical Robot:
A standard āmetaā competition robot (e.g., a 6-motor drive with an intake and scoring mechanism) uses roughly 15 to 20 feet of C-channel.
- Total Aluminum Weight: ~100ā120 oz (6.25ā7.5 lbs).
- Total Titanium Weight: ~76ā91 oz (4.75ā5.7 lbs).
- Estimated Savings: 1.5 to 1.8 lbs.
For a robot that typically weighs between 12 and 15 lbs, switching to titanium can reduce the total mass by approximately 10ā12%.
2. Speed Performance over a 6-foot Run
To calculate the time difference over a 6-foot (72-inch) sprint, we look at the physics of acceleration. Top speed (terminal velocity) is governed by gear ratio and motor RPM, which remains constant regardless of weight. However, a lighter robot reaches that top speed faster.
Assumptions:
- Drive: 6-motor 360 RPM (Blue cartridges, 3.25" wheels).
- Theoretical Top Speed (v_{max}): ~5.1 ft/s.
- Distance: 6 feet.
Using the relationship F = ma, where F (motor torque) is constant:
| Robot Material | Total Mass | Time to reach v_{max} | Total Time (6 ft) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aluminum | 15 lbs | ~0.65 seconds | ~1.50 seconds |
| Titanium | 13.2 lbs | ~0.57 seconds | ~1.42 seconds |
The Verdict:
On a 6-foot stretch, the titanium robot will likely be about 0.08 to 0.10 seconds faster.
While a tenth of a second seems negligible, in VEX, this āsnappinessā translates to:
- Reduced Motor Heating: Motors work less to overcome inertia, staying cool longer in a match.
- Agility: Changing direction (acceleration in reverse) happens faster, making the robot feel much more responsive during driver control.
- Center of Gravity: If you use titanium for the upper structure (lifts/intakes) and keep the base aluminum, you significantly improve stability.
Technical Note: Before purchasing, ensure you check the current V5RC Game Manual. Historically, R11 and R12 have strictly limited non-VEX materials. Titanium is generally not legal for official VEX Robotics Competition matches unless it falls under specific ānon-functional decorationā or āidentical materialā exceptions, which titanium rarely does because its density and strength-to-weight ratio differ from the official aluminum.
Iām lowk feeling so bad for V5 kids rn.
Seems like everyone is sad they canāt ram and descore one another.
Again, placing the opaque side of a cup over a pin descores that pin. This will surely be a common tactic to control your opponentās score.
I do feel like itās a good thing cause two things could happen. Either people spend the entire time decoding or knock over a tower and it goes outside the field cause a dq.