Hello Vex Community,
Our team has embarked on an adventurous journey away from the conventional path of roller intakes for manipulating tribals. Observing the competitive meta in South Korea, which predominantly revolves around pushing large quantities of balls back and forward, and descoring, we found our previously effective roller intake system underutilized. This led us to explore and eventually construct an excavator-like bucket mechanism, aiming to better align with the dynamic and strategic demands of the competitions here.
We have completed the design and conducted thorough testing in a lab environment. Our bucket mechanism is designed with versatility in mind, aiming to address several strategic advantages:
- Tribal Manipulation: It’s adept at removing tribals from both the match load zone and corners, potentially offering superior performance where other mechanisms may falter. But may need more precision and slow compared to roller intake since we need to stop, lower bucket, and move triballs.
- Dual-Functionality as a Launcher Blocker: By leveraging its vertical positioning, it also acts as a strategic tool against opposing launchers.
- Potential as an Elevation Mechanism: Beyond its primary function, the bucket offers additional utility as an elevation mechanism.
This 3-in-1 approach has shown promising results in lab tests, but before we bring this mechanism to the competitive arena, we seek the wisdom and insights of the Vex community. Has anyone here tested or competed with a bucket mechanism for tribal manipulation? Your experiences, particularly any challenges faced during competitions and how it compares to traditional systems, would be invaluable to us.
We’re at a crucial decision-making point and your advice could significantly influence our performance and strategy in the upcoming competitions. We’re especially interested in feedback regarding:
- Reliability and efficiency in a competitive setting in South Korea
- Adaptability to the fast-paced and strategic gameplay
- Any modifications or considerations that could enhance its performance
Thank you in advance for sharing your knowledge and experiences.
Best Regards, SuhJae/DynamiK