Robotic Couch made from FRC parts

[ToteBot]

WAIT! Don't report this post!

Instead of building a boring old drivetrain in the offseason the makers of totebot decided to build something a little different. There was no game piece to make into a robot this year so we found a piece of furniture.

If anyone would like to build their own couch and race we are totally up for it. Ours does 8mph so beware.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k86J5dO-pQk

(hat inspired by 234)

[FrisbeeFunTime]

Woah that car. Wondering what that lady was thinking when she saw that drive by?

[ToteBot]

That was secretly staged. We didn't actually cut anyone off.

[Hitchhiker 42]

That was secretly staged. We didn't actually cut anyone off.

Not so secret anymore :)

[pilleya]

But can it go sideways?

A sofa with mecanum wheels capable of moving in all directions was built by some Australian University Students including several FIRST Alumni( from team 3132) with assistance from the University of New South Wales.

http://newsroom.unsw.edu.au/news/science-tech/couch-gets-robotic-makeover

Not all the parts were FRC targeted COTS or legal parts, so it is fantastic that your have been able to build your sofa with FRC parts.

[RoboChair]

I'm just gonna leave this here

https://www.newsreview.com/sacramento/chair-today-gone-tomorrow/content?oid=599916

[asid61]

I'm just gonna leave this here

https://www.newsreview.com/sacramento/chair-today-gone-tomorrow/content?oid=599916
"One-of-a-kind"
Now I understand the username...

Anyway @OP: neat couch! I like the form factor of it compared to other robocouches (sorry Devin). What parts did you use? Did you have any pics of the internals? What is the drivetrain powered by?

[frcguy]

I'm just gonna leave this here



https://www.newsreview.com/sacramento/chair-today-gone-tomorrow/content?oid=599916


2007? Devin with the OG robotic furniture! I expected nothing less from someone with the username "RoboChair".

[RoboChair]

2007? Devin with the OG robotic furniture!

I miss that thing :(

When I finally finish the new one in the coming years it should do nearly 20 mph for about 20 miles, assuming my math is good. I plan to upholster it in lime green pleather, keys, 2 speed gearing and maybe a cupholder >_>

I'll just show myself out now.....

[frcguy]

I miss that thing :(

When I finally finish the new one in the coming years it should do nearly 20 mph for about 20 miles, assuming my math is good. I plan to upholster it in lime green pleather, keys, 2 speed gearing and maybe a cupholder >_>

I'll just show myself out now.....

That honestly sounds absolutely terrifying and wicked awesome at the same time.

[JoaquinC]

The real Couch Division

[Ryan_Todd]

On a related note, here's what you get if you set out to trade the cushy feeling of a La-Z-Boy for a bit more utility...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R3msMHUy7-0

[Zebra_Fact_Man]

I'm sold.

Building a robot couch this summer.

[SenorZ]

Hmmmm... students have been tasked with coming up with new challenges for our 2nd annual "Totebot" races. This idea may get used.

With helmets, or course.

[marcusbernstein]

Can we just take a minute to remind ourselves of that time when Nerd Herd (687) made chair bot. Still one of my favorite robots of all time. Rumor has it it wasn't even their chair...

http://www.thebluealliance.com/match/2014calb_qm89

[Michael Hill]

How about a mobile couch made with lawnmower parts? https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=8-2OLlDAtqs

I'm amazed at engineers'(/physics students') abilities to be lazy, yet on the go.

[GaryVoshol]

Did anyone else first read this headline as building a COACH from parts? :)

[nbetik]

How much did this all cost? And are these actual FRC parts from vexpro or andymark or something else? I'm considering making something similar, but right now just trying to gauge it all out.
Thanks!

[Cothron Theiss]

Did anyone else first read this headline as building a COACH from parts? :)

Cue robot mentors vs. human mentors debate.

[Ryan_Todd]

How much did this all cost? And are these actual FRC parts from vexpro or andymark or something else?

In my experience, most of the time these kinds of contraptions are built out of old FRC parts that are (for whatever reason) no longer suitable for competition.

For example, my OmniCart (https://www.chiefdelphi.com/forums/showpost.php?p=1593989&postcount=12) used a set of old wheels/gearboxes/motors that had already been worn out from a couple years' worth of use for competitions and demos. The motor controllers were old used Victors, and were therefore bulkier and more power hungry than some of the newer motor controllers; on top of all that, the power distribution board came from a previous version of the control system and was therefore no longer legal for competition use.

Of course, all of this is not to say that you can't find any good components outside of the FRC world; knowing how powerful the Fisher-Price motors are, I once helped build a 4WD desk chair by gutting a pair of old Power Wheels ride-on toys for their drive components and throttle levers. (No video for that one, unfortunately!)

The OmniCart mentioned above also made use of an Arduino Uno to command the motor controllers, so that just goes to show that there is no shortage of different options available for doing this sort of thing.

[troy_dietz]

Rumor has it it wasn't even their chair...

http://www.thebluealliance.com/match/2014calb_qm89

I was told it belonged Andrew Keisic, a 294 mentor at the time. (He now mentors for 4201, The Vitruvian Bots)