Originally Posted by jvriezen (Post 1154737)

Since the thread is revived, a clarification on the answer to the original question... As Inspector at 10K Lakes, I worked with a team that built a bridge tipper very simply. It was simply a standard wedge arm on a pivot, that was held just past vertical by gravity. A little movement of the robot, and it fell forward. A gate latch kept it down once it fell. No motor, no pneumatics, just the simplest of simple machines.

I never actually saw it in action, but I heard it worked marvelously well. I hope no one ran into it though....

Originally Posted by loyal (Post 1157616)

So our team 4055 has an arm that has worked flawlessly. It is legal. If we added a stinger to the arm that was on a pivot and a solenoid released it then it gravity dropped. Is it now two appendages? Like this, we go up the bridge and drive to the edge, the arm comes down and is extended straight out, the solenoid releases the gravity pivot stinger. Would that be legal?

Originally Posted by EricH (Post 1157620)

I'd be cautious with that gravity drop. Gravity is exceptionally reliable at dropping things, but not too great at pulling them back up. You should make sure that you have a way to pull up the stinger once you're balanced, without grabbing or grasping the bridge. Otherwise, no balance points.

Originally Posted by loyal (Post 1157714)

In order to pull up the stinger we will be able to just lift up the arm and the stinger will rise also. As long as it doesn't effect the balance it should work. I think?:cool: We are gonna find out before Saint Louis.

Originally Posted by EricH (Post 1157727)

It should work... but how are you going to find out before St. Louis? (If that "finding out" involves unbagging the competition robot, you're going to have some trouble with inspection.)