Vertical or Horizontal?

[typhoon_driver]

verticals pack no more inertia than horizontals. That is down merely to the design of the disc and speed it runs at.

Horizontals have to do damage to be effective whereas a vertical can just flip opponents around.

The gyro forces act against a vertical as you have a wide wheelbase whereas they actually help a horizontal stay horizontal when it is flipped.

Its all about what you would rather build more than anything else.

[ady]

I always wonder the outcome if the 2 come together, would a horizontal cause more damage by hitting a vetical from the side.

[team_mayhem]

well that happen at euro champs but i cant remember who won

[grant_ploughbot]

A vertical disc head on with a horizontal is all just a big gamble really. If they are of similar specs its all about whos tooth hits the other disc first!
As Gary says, a vertical disc is good for flipping a robot over aswell, and it often causes damage to the underneath/bottom corners of the robot which useally twists the chassis alot easier than a horizontal spinner. But then again, a horizontal spinner is usually better against wedge robots head on - and it looks really spectacular when both robots spin across the arena after a good hit

[beast]

http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=m1uLA6D1BV8

[typhoon_driver]

The horizontal vs vertical is an interesting question but as grant says, its all about who hits who first and generally comes down to what happens in the space of a few hundredths of a second.

[pressure]

If a horizontal disc hits an object equal forces are appled to the disc and the object (Newtons laws etc,) hence Hypno Disc throwing its self sideways and breaking down on a number of occasions.
When a vertical (spinning upwards) hits an object much more of the force is applied to the object as the robot cannot move downwards (assuming its on a strong floor).
So in terms of effect vertical wins but as has been mentioned steering it can be a problem.

[pressure]

Ive just realised there is a sort of acception to the rule in the hoizontal spinner/Newton stakes!
Little Spinner! Because it, uniquely, has the spinner axis between the drive wheels, on the same line it gets a much reduced sideways jolt when it strikes!

[grant_ploughbot]

Steering can be a huge problem for horizontal discs too. look at warhead for example. Mike, thats not always the case. it just means that all the force going into you oponent also goes through you axles etc and so some things need to be built stronger. I believe that you can get more of the energy in a horizontal spinner into the opponent due to the friction on the floor. Alot of it depends on the design, but its basically what ever you think looks best, fits in wih your design etc etc.