pic: Spartonics 1503 - 2011

[Pat Fairbank]

[cdm-description=photo]36531[/cdm-description]

[Pat Fairbank]

I neglected to mention that the robot's name is SPARDIS (Scoring Points At Relative Dimensions In Space).

More pictures from the final weekend of build can be found here (https://picasaweb.google.com/patfair/Spartonics2011Week6#).

[Travis Hoffman]

I neglected to mention that the robot's name is SPARDIS (Scoring Points At Relative Dimensions In Space).

More pictures from the final weekend of build can be found here (https://picasaweb.google.com/patfair/Spartonics2011Week6#).

+1 Doctor Who

[Nick Lawrence]

There is a bit of a backstory to this robot.

After the 2010 season, we took a step back and evaluated it as a whole and looked at our mistakes. We discovered that last year we tried to do too much, and ultimately exhausted our design and machining resources to the point of actually never finishing our 2010 robot.

So, this year we set out with a goal in mind: Build the absolute simplest robot possible to play the 2011 game.

This is our simplest creation to date.

Also, even with our current minibot deployment mechanism, we're 15 lbs underweight.

-Nick

[Jeffy]

The lightening in the arm support structure is pretty cool. Love the colors too.

[Nick Lawrence]

The lightening in the arm support structure is pretty cool. Love the colors too.

Thank you. One of our mentors actually made punches for this, and we actually flange the edges of the lightening holes out. This makes the individual pieces much much stronger.

-Nick

[Kpchem]

I have to say I'm a fan of the little light up display at the top of the arm. Is this purely decorative, or designed to tell the Feeder what tube to give you?

[Nick Lawrence]

I have to say I'm a fan of the little light up display at the top of the arm. Is this purely decorative, or designed to tell the Feeder what tube to give you?

Both.

-Nick

[Chris is me]

There is a bit of a backstory to this robot.

After the 2010 season, we took a step back and evaluated it as a whole and looked at our mistakes. We discovered that last year we tried to do too much, and ultimately exhausted our design and machining resources to the point of actually never finishing our 2010 robot.

So, this year we set out with a goal in mind: Build the absolute simplest robot possible to play the 2011 game.

This is our simplest creation to date.

Also, even with our current minibot deployment mechanism, we're 15 lbs underweight.

-Nick

Sounds eerily familiar.

It's a $@#$@#$@#$@# shame we won't be doing any double slamma jammas this year.

[Blackphantom91]

@ chris WHATT!!!!!
The robot looks really cool +1 also on the DR.Who reference.

[Paul Copioli]

So, this year we set out with a goal in mind: Build the absolute simplest robot possible to play the 2011 game.


Nick,

You will find that you will never stray away from this strategy ever again ... I think you will be very happy with your decision.

Good luck this year.

Paul

[Nick Lawrence]

Nick,

You will find that you will never stray away from this strategy ever again ... I think you will be very happy with your decision.

Good luck this year.

Paul

Thank you Paul, we're already reaping the benefits of a ridiculously simple robot.

Good luck to you this year as well.

-Nick

[thefro526]

Nick, Pat, 1503, the robot looks excellent.

Any Plans to add a floor pickup mechanism?

[Akash Rastogi]

Nick, Pat, 1503, the robot looks excellent.

Any Plans to add a floor pickup mechanism?

I think they will wait to see what the best strategy out on the field will be before they add anything. I have a feeling the smart teams will throw tubes as little often as possible.

Looks and works like a beast guys. Best of luck on the field this year, Nick. Show folks why you're one of the best drivers in frc.

[Nick Lawrence]

I think they will wait to see what the best strategy out on the field will be before they add anything. I have a feeling the smart teams will throw tubes as little often as possible.

Exactly. We'll reevaluate after our first regional.

-Nick

[thefro526]

I think they will wait to see what the best strategy out on the field will be before they add anything. I have a feeling the smart teams will throw tubes as little often as possible.


The floor pickup mechanism is an inside joke between Nick and I. ;)

From what I've heard, they don't need it. :P

[PayneTrain]

This is what team 422 learned. Build a complex and ultimately failing robot in 2008, then build a ridiculously simple robot and win 2009 Quality Award and become 2010 Regional Finalists. Simplicity is the best design strategy, even in real life engineering.

[basicxman]

Do the lights fade in and out upon teleop initialization? Does it make the oh so awesome TARDIS sound? :yikes:

[Nick Lawrence]

Do the lights fade in and out upon teleop initialization? Does it make the oh so awesome TARDIS sound? :yikes:

The lights are used for a variety of things, including but not limited to human player signalling, diagnostics and decoration.

I wish it made that sound.

-Nick

[BrendanB]

Beautiful robot 1503! I see big things for you!

[548swimmer]

Thank you. One of our mentors actually made punches for this, and we actually flange the edges of the lightening holes out. This makes the individual pieces much much stronger.

-Nick

I understand the benefits of large flanges, but I don't really see how flanging such a small area can add substantially to the cross-sectional area. I've thought about trying this before on some of our robot parts, but it always got shoved aside due to the extra fabrication time.

[basicxman]

The lights are used for a variety of things, including but not limited to human player signalling, diagnostics and decoration.

I wish it made that sound.

-Nick

asdf :(

[Nick Lawrence]

I understand the benefits of large flanges, but I don't really see how flanging such a small area can add substantially to the cross-sectional area. I've thought about trying this before on some of our robot parts, but it always got shoved aside due to the extra fabrication time.

I was skeptical at first myself, until I tried to twist one of or siderails.

It takes a lot more force to do so with these flanged lightening holes.

These punches made the difference between having to swiss cheese a super heavy over-trussed frame and being 15 lbs underweight.

-Nick

[548swimmer]

I was skeptical at first myself, until I tried to twist one of or siderails.

It takes a lot more force to do so with these flanged lightening holes.

These punches made the difference between having to swiss cheese a super heavy over-trussed frame and being 15 lbs underweight.

-Nick

So do the punches punch and flange in one operation? If so, I want a set :).

If not for the mini-flanges, would the sidewalls be just bare sheet? If so, that would explain why the mini-flanges help so much.

[Nick Lawrence]

So do the punches punch and flange in one operation? If so, I want a set :).

If not for the mini-flanges, would the sidewalls be just bare sheet? If so, that would explain why the mini-flanges help so much.

Unfortunately, no they do not. We have two different punches for each shape, one that punches a smaller sized shape, then another that flanges the edges of that shape out.

All the pieces do have folds in them though.

Here (https://picasaweb.google.com/patfair/Spartonics2011Week2#5565523088524667794) is a photo of one of our practice bot siderails being made.

Here (https://picasaweb.google.com/patfair/Spartonics2011Week2#5565523495923275698)is a closeup of that siderail. After the first successful rail, we switched to an impact wrench to make things go faster.

Also, our bearings holes are punched in the same way. It's really neat, come take a close look at our robot sometime.

-Nick

[548swimmer]

Unfortunately, no they do not. We have two different punches for each shape, one that punches a smaller sized shape, then another that flanges the edges of that shape out.

All the pieces do have folds in them though.

Here (https://picasaweb.google.com/patfair/Spartonics2011Week2#5565523088524667794) is a photo of one of our practice bot siderails being made.

Here (https://picasaweb.google.com/patfair/Spartonics2011Week2#5565523495923275698)is a closeup of that siderail. After the first successful rail, we switched to an impact wrench to make things go faster.

Also, our bearings holes are punched in the same way. It's really neat, come take a close look at our robot sometime.

-Nick

That's really neat! I'm spoiled by our sponsors waterjet :). Assuming we both make it to nationals, I'll check out your robot for sure!

[David Dawson]

Holy reduction batman! Is that a rs755 mated to a cimulator mated to a gem 3 stage planetary connected to at least a 3:1 chain reduction? When i come up with solutions like this my team makes me sit in the corner. This year i had to power our arm with two rs755 mated with cimulator and a tough box plus 3:1 chain reduction to make up for the lack of gearing.

[Pat Fairbank]

Holy reduction batman! Is that a rs755 mated to a cimulator mated to a gem 3 stage planetary connected to at least a 3:1 chain reduction? When i come up with solutions like this my team makes me sit in the corner. This year i had to power our arm with two rs755 mated with cimulator and a tough box plus 3:1 chain reduction to make up for the lack of gearing.
There's also a 2:1 gear reduction in there after the GEM, which makes the total reduction 889.2:1.

It works surprisingly well, but one thing we've discovered is that the GEM won't backdrive (the radial load from the gear it drives causes the output shaft to bind inside somewhere), so we use a big wrench when we need to move the arm without power.

[Akash Rastogi]

There's also a 2:1 gear reduction in there after the GEM, which makes the total reduction 889.2:1.

It works surprisingly well, but one thing we've discovered is that the GEM won't backdrive (the radial load from the gear it drives causes the output shaft to bind inside somewhere), so we use a big wrench when we need to move the arm without power.

Pat, do you guys think you'll be adding floor pickup?

[Pat Fairbank]

Pat, do you guys think you'll be adding floor pickup?
We're going to see how Pittsburgh goes as is, and then re-evaluate after that since we have three weeks before our next event.

Personally, after spectating at FLR, I'm still inclined to believe that we can be sufficiently effective without.

[Akash Rastogi]

Aaaand 1503 proves you don't need floor loading to dominate at a regional.

[LeelandS]

I just finished watching the Pittsburgh regional. You guys did great! Very well done. Seeing you guys run with 1114 was absolutely amazing. You guys have a very solid robot. I'll be watching GTR for sure, can't wait to see how you guys do.

Best of luck!

[Nick Lawrence]

I just finished watching the Pittsburgh regional. You guys did great! Very well done. Seeing you guys run with 1114 was absolutely amazing. You guys have a very solid robot. I'll be watching GTR for sure, can't wait to see how you guys do.

Best of luck!

Thank you very much! It was really cool to win with an old friend, it was nice to be on the same side of the field during eliminations once again.

-Nick

[Justin Montois]

Thank you very much! It was really cool to win with an old friend, it was nice to be on the same side of the field during eliminations once again.

-Nick

Needs to update his signature. Nick.

Congrats dude, you guys were great. Ill see you at GTR.