Other uses for robots

[a kenny03]

i've been discussing with teachers from other departments for a little while...
what kind of uses could you get out of an older robot?
are there any fundraising of teaching possibilities out there for old robots?

[ebarker]

Originally Posted by a kenny03

are there any fundraising or teaching possibilities out there for old robots?

We took some new stuff and parts off older robots to build a machine you can see in the 1st video on this page here

It is educational. It is a teaching moment. And it definitely attracts cash.

.

[Alan Anderson]

Hands-on demos.
Parades.
Presentations.
Mobile t-shirt cannon.
Pre-season driver practice.
Defense practice.
Technology testbed.

[a kenny03]

yeah. ive been approached by the driver education department to see if we could create a sort of driving experience for the students. and using the lunacy robot for fundraising ideas

[Wayne C.]

since we need to rip the controls out of the 2009 robot and will do so tomorrow we plan on making it into a planter......

[Andrew Schreiber]

Originally Posted by Wayne C.

since we need to rip the controls out of the 2009 robot and will do so tomorrow we plan on making it into a planter......

Please make sure it is safe for the environment.

[Lil' Lavery]

Originally Posted by a kenny03

yeah. ive been approached by the driver education department to see if we could create a sort of driving experience for the students. and using the lunacy robot for fundraising ideas

By driver practice he meant for the team's robot drivers, not automobile drivers. I don't really feel that driving a remote controlled vehicle quite translates into the same experience as driving a car.

[Daniel_LaFleur]

Originally Posted by Lil' Lavery

By driver practice he meant for the team's robot drivers, not automobile drivers. I don't really feel that driving a remote controlled vehicle quite translates into the same experience as driving a car.

... unless you are seated on the robot

1058 did that a few years back, with a wheelie bar too ... it might still be in service

[BrendanB]

Dan, that thing was fun! One of the first times driving in was with the cheerleaders during practice. I don't know if it is still in service though.

Our team has taken apart a couple of robots (2005 and 2007). We recently went through and have brought all other robots to operational status (2006 and 2008 robots). After getting them to work, we created directions for operating them and then put them into the coaches garage attic until they are used again. Our idea was sort of archiving them so we know that what we put up there works and if students in the future bring them down to use them for demos or any other reason, directions will be there as over the years few members know how to operate them.

Keeping old robots is definitely a good idea. Demos for sponsors and recruiting are nice and the fact that prototyping in some games gets some what easier when you already have a robot that plays a similar game.

[johnr]

Didn't some team donate their robot to a city to use for sewer inspections? I thought some of the bots over the years would be great at sidewalk/parking lot sweeping.

[Lil' Lavery]

Originally Posted by Daniel_LaFleur

... unless you are seated on the robot

1058 did that a few years back, with a wheelie bar too ... it might still be in service

If you're sitting on it, would it still qualify as "remote controlled?"

[Chris is me]

Lunacy shooter robots make pretty awesome dodgeball players...

[EricH]

Originally Posted by Chris is me

Lunacy shooter robots make pretty awesome dodgeball players...

So do Aim High robots, if they're still around. Just have to tweak the angle a bit and it's a head (or body) shot every time.

Said robots also make great entertainment. Load 'em up, then have everyone stand back. Let fly!

[Daniel_LaFleur]

Originally Posted by Lil' Lavery

If you're sitting on it, would it still qualify as "remote controlled?"

Since the controls sat on your lap and weren't attached to the robot (last time I saw ... they may have tethered it now), I'd say it counts as remote controlled.


**Of course, I'm biased**