Starting Energy Limits for Springs?

[Joe Johnson]

I am sorry if this has already been hashed out or if I am just missing an obvious rule, but I have searched ChiefDephi.com and even read what I could of the manuals (I did not search the various blogs and other discussion forii that FIRST uses to make rules public so my search was not as complete as it might have been).

Here goes...

...a mentor on our team made reference to a rule that limits the amount of energy that is allowed to be stored in a spring at the start of the match (for example in latex tubing used to to power a kickers to pick a random possible usage).

I have looked for such a rule but I cannot fine anything.

To the best of your knowledge, is there a rule that limits this (other than general safety rules -- which seem to apply to the times during the match and after it just as much as before it)?

Your thoughts and opinions are welcome.

Regards,
Joe J.

[EricH]

I don't think that there is one. General safety rules apply, as well as taking special care in and around the pit. (i.e., disengage the spring or put a safety catch in that cannot go off unexpectedly, even if Murphy is paying a visit)

[Chris is me]

Nothing other than <S01>. Since there's an infinite number of methods of storing energy through part deformation, this would be pretty tough to enforce.

[R.C.]

Nothing other than <S01>. Since there's an infinite number of methods of storing energy through part deformation, this would be pretty tough to enforce.

I was looking at the same ruling. I honestly don't know how you measure force for each robot setup, fish scale?

-RC

[eugenebrooks]

There are no such limits in the rules as I have read them.

There is R97, but this is specific to the inspection process.

I would not relish modifying the rules in a manner that
requires students hands to be going into a robot to load/unload
a kicker as a routine part of fielding the robot for a match.

Eugene

[Mike Betts]

Dr. J,

There is no limit. Only that what ever is done is done safely. This is where the discussions have taken place.

Regards,

Mike

[Alex_Miller]

At a pre-ship inspection we were telling teams that if you get nervous about getting around it with it in a high energy state they should have a safety stop. A lot of teams had a piece of wood that was more or less jammed into place so that if it did fire it would get stopped by the wood or other padding.

[Ken Leung]

Like many people said, there is no such rule for this year's game.

However, I distinctly remember such a rule from a number of years ago, when spring energy seem to be an issue (back in the days of 00', 01'?). We also had a rule that measure the velocity of poof balls in 2006, but again, no such rules this year.

The GDC must've thought that the no soccer deeper than 3" inside your frame perimeter and the no kicker mechanism can stick out more than 2 inches outside your frame perimeter rules, plus S01, is sufficient for safety this year.

Frankly, I am a little scared of being around some of the kickers I've seen this year (including our own) without a reliable locking mechanism on it. People better be careful when handling their robot on and off the field, especially when unlocking the robot from the tower.

[ebarker]

Thereotically I suppose you could do this:

Install a giant wind up clock spring with some type of escapement governor coupled to a generator. The generator could make any electricity necessary to run the robot. And the spring could also provide mechanical energy.

A giant wind up robot - no battery needed.

Every pit stop would involve kids walking around the robot with a giant wind up tool to wind the spring.

How cool would that be ?