Fishing Rod for our Launcher

[hips dont lie]

Is there anything in the rules that says that we can or cannot use a fiberglass fishing rod as a throwing arm on our robot.

[lemiant]

Is there anything in the rules that says that we can or cannot use a fiberglass fishing rod as a throwing arm on our robot.

As long as it's not unsafe, and it costs less than $400 then yes.

[tsaksa]

If you want to build a spring powered catapult you might want to consider a section of a cross country ski, or toy bow and arrow as sources of material. Both can usually be found cheaply at many goodwill stores. We prototyped such a launcher and it can be made extremely accurate and reasonably powerful. Our students really want to do a reaction wheel, but I think that is more weight and complexity than required. Take a look at the soccer kicker that the robowranglers did a few years back for ideas. They used a simple cam to control the spring.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_hTyXQUgYLE

[Al Skierkiewicz]

Of course it must fit inside the size and weight constraints and be listed on your BOM at cost. However, since fiberglass has a tendency to fracture, you may be called for having an unsafe mechanism.

[SteveGPage]

I saw a couple of teams try that approach in "Breakaway", using a V-shaped apparatus to try and launch a hanging hook onto the tower. Many found that they had significant control issues when they released the poles, since they would tend to twist when they were released. I would guess the size and weight of a basketball would magnify that issue.

[CalTran]

What we've used before was some thin diameter (I can't remember the exact measurement) PVC tubing. We did that in 2010 in an attempt to fling a hook up to the bar to hang. It'd be pretty cheap, and if you're looking to rapidly prototype, then it'd be convenient until you find a better material.