View Full Version : Are magnets allowed?
HeyIt'sFez!
09-01-2013, 21:19
My team was wondering if the use of magnets during any part of the game is illegal. If they are legal, which ones are allowed, and when?
Tom Line
09-01-2013, 21:39
If the rules do not state they are illegal, then they are not. I am not aware of any rule outlawing the use of magnets, but I am not an official. I suggest you download the game manual and do a search for the word 'magnet'.
V.M.Santore
09-01-2013, 21:45
There are no rules against the use of magnets; I do however suggest you keep them very very far away from your cRIO.
Navid Shafa
09-01-2013, 21:54
You don't mean an electro-magnet do you? Thoughts have been drifting that way...
Magnets were common on mini-bots during Logomotion a few years ago.
If you are thinking the same as me by using magnets to help get up the pyramid. We discovered that the pyramid is made of aluminum
nikeairmancurry
09-01-2013, 23:38
If you are thinking the same as me by using magnets to help get up the pyramid. We discovered that the pyramid is made of aluminum
2.2.5 The Pyramid
The PYRAMID is made out of 1 1/2 in. diameter steel tubing and powder coated Red or Blue.
Nope magnets are a go.
Discussed in this (http://www.chiefdelphi.com/forums/showthread.php?t=110547&highlight=magnet) thread. As well, there is nothing in the rules against magnets, but there are a few things to take into account.
1. You will be hard pressed to find manageable rare Earth magnets that will hold your entire robot.
2. Electromagnets, while possible to design, may not fall under custom circuits. As well, keep in mind that power is cut at the end of the match, in which you risk up to an 8 foot fall.
PhantomPhyxer
10-01-2013, 07:13
If you are thinking the same as me by using magnets to help get up the pyramid. We discovered that the pyramid is made of aluminum
Please check the Game Piece Drawings at this location:http://www.usfirst.org/sites/default/files/uploadedFiles/Robotics_Programs/FRC/Game_and_Season__Info/2013/2013_Game_Specific_Drawings.pdf
Item 3, GE-13020-03
1 1/2" x .083 Wall thickness 1020 (20 pts of Carbon) DOM ( Drawn Over Mandrel) Structural Round Steel Tubing, Drawing Title Pyramind Leg, Middle
If you check the drawings closely the Aluminum parts are not for the Tower.
Nirnaeth
10-01-2013, 11:02
Discussed in this (http://www.chiefdelphi.com/forums/showthread.php?t=110547&highlight=magnet) thread. As well, there is nothing in the rules against magnets, but there are a few things to take into account.
1. You will be hard pressed to find manageable rare Earth magnets that will hold your entire robot.
2. Electromagnets, while possible to design, may not fall under custom circuits. As well, keep in mind that power is cut at the end of the match, in which you risk up to an 8 foot fall.
Hmm, what about using magnets for alignment, similar to how the Microsoft Surface has alignment magnets for their covers?
nighterfighter
10-01-2013, 11:34
Hmm, what about using magnets for alignment, similar to how the Microsoft Surface has alignment magnets for their covers?
The Microsoft Surface uses those magnets to align the cases, correct? Those are already designed to be lined up, and they weight almost nothing.
Magnets to align the robot would have to be incredibly powerful to be able to turn the robot into position.
Unless of course you had a way of sending back how "strong" the magnet is trying to pull in one direction.
Jim Wilks
10-01-2013, 11:38
I do however suggest you keep them very very far away from your cRIO.
Why?
nighterfighter
10-01-2013, 11:40
Why?
I'm assuming he is referring to the fact that magnets have the capability to erase hard drives.
If i'm not mistaken though, the cRIO uses flash memory.
Tristan Lall
10-01-2013, 15:05
I'm assuming he is referring to the fact that magnets have the capability to erase hard drives.
Any permanent magnet you'd be comfortable holding by hand near a hard drive can't erase or corrupt it.1 (There are stronger magnets inside the hard drive, much closer to the platters, and yet it still works.)
1 If you're going to prove me wrong, post pictures and specifications. I'm genuinely curious.
Jim Wilks
10-01-2013, 15:36
I'm assuming he is referring to the fact that magnets have the capability to erase hard drives.
If i'm not mistaken though, the cRIO uses flash memory.
The CRIO has no hard drive at all.
SophRoboDawg
10-01-2013, 16:01
Where exactly did you see this? I was looking and I didn't see it anywhere...
nighterfighter
10-01-2013, 19:25
The CRIO has no hard drive at all.
Correct. I wasn't trying to claim it was, just trying to explain why V.M. Santore may have said why to keep them away from the cRIO.
Anyway, back to the topic at hand, magnets and their application in this game.
Could they be used to keep the robot attached to the pyramid after power is cut off?
The robot could extend some appendage with magents to stay secured.
How many/strong of a magnet would be needed to support 150lbs of robot?
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