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Intake Types

Use this section when the quick reference helps you narrow the field, but you still need a better starting point for design choices.

Still deciding? Start with the Intake Quick Reference.

Choose a direction first

Use passive intake or claw when:

  • the gamepiece is awkward, large, fragile, or easier to grab directly
  • your robot only needs careful one-piece control
  • your team needs the simplest mechanism it can finish and trust early

Use active intake when:

  • the game rewards repeated floor pickup and faster cycles
  • driver alignment needs to be more forgiving
  • your robot can support a clean intake and transfer path

Passive intake pages

Active intake pages

How to use these pages

  • Use the quick reference first to compare overall intake families.
  • Use the passive page when you are deciding whether direct grabbing is good enough for the full game cycle.
  • Use the active pages to compare which powered intake style best fits the gamepiece and robot layout.
  • Treat the transfer path as part of the intake system, not an afterthought.
  • Prefer the intake your team can finish early, test often, and maintain between matches.