[FTC]: HELP! Building a Catapult

[megaman295]

Hi. Our team is trying to build an efficient, powerful, and consistent catapult, but so far we have not thought of a good way to build a good catapult and a good program for it. Can anybody give us tips on building the catapult and making a good program for it? We only have the initial kit so far, so if it needs any extra pieces, list these.

[Rick TYler]

This video might provide some inspiration: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qLqPGVd5o9I

[megaman295]

Cool! Do you think it could still work even if we aren't using VEX?

[Tony Allen]

Try this video.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VcrOkCY9JQY

[Connor]

It should still be able to work. I believe we can use rubber bands. Also my team designed a different catapult earlier in the season. I dont have a video, but i can try to describe it. The arm of it was two to three layers of polycarbonate fastened together then fastened at a base. There a small scoop at the top to hold a ball. String was tied to the top which was attached to a motor (use diferent parts attached to the motor to increase pulling speeds). A servo motor was then used to hold the catapult in place at the bottom as the string was loosened. When the servo released, the ball went flying. I dont know the coding for it, I am not the one who programmed it, but it should be fairly simple. Its a good design but catapults are slow and can only shoot one ball at a time. Just a word of advise. Hope this was some help,

[ejak0]

I believe there was a pretty decent catapult at the Seattle competition that used surgical tubing as the force generator which was attached to a long piece of channel with some sort of bin at the top. It then had a winching mechanism to reset.

Not that helpful, I know. But maybe.

[Tony Allen]

Here is a catapult using the TETRIX building system
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VcrOkCY9JQY

[danholl]

We made an arm that whacks the ball instead of trying to catapult it

On youtube check our videos for danholl3 to see it in action

Key is to always have the whacking arm start at the same location.