Bridge Manipulator
 

I have seen three types of bridge manipulators triangles like 846's robot, i have seen just straight metal pushing down on the bridge like 233's robot, and i have seen wheels like our robot 1649's robot. I was wondering what type of bridge actuator you used if I missed it and which bridge manipulator worked the best. I know that all three types were able to get the bridge down but I want to hear your pros and cons for each bridge.

I like the triangle manipulators because you don't have to push down on the bridge you can just lower the manipulator and drive up and over.

Re: Bridge Manipulator
 

Sorry to ask, but aren't the "triangle" from 846 and the "straight" wedge from 233 just different implementations of the same thing? They are both passive manipulators, unless I have misunderstood the design of 233's system.

Either way, we had passive wedges with a triangular arm on each edge of the robot and a lexan strip between them. We also had locks on each arm so we could put all our weight behind the manipulators. Except for the rare time when the lock failed to engage correctly, we barely had to slow down to climb the bridge. We were very happy with their performance overall.

Re: Bridge Manipulator
 

Our bridge manipulator was a passive-wedge style with a gate lock to hold it down.

I have to say, our robot was full of inconsistent components, but the bridge manipulator worked better than we could have hoped.

- Sunny G.

Re: Bridge Manipulator
 

They are both passive bridge manipulators but they are different designs one was built directly just to push down on the bridge while the other one was built to push down the bridge as the robot approached it.

Re: Bridge Manipulator
 

My team had a "passive" manipulator that was essentially two thick sheet metal tusks put together, lowered by a single pneumatic piston (we changed it from the original picture). This let us drive straight into the bridge without stopping, saving us precious time, but we were also able to lower the piston when the Joebot was right in front of the bridge, so it could be used "actively."
You might notice that the top of the tusks is very close to the edge of the bridge. Every once in a while, we encountered an issue with the tusks driving under the bridge and pushing it up.

Re: Bridge Manipulator
 

So this would make it active, not passive, right?

Correct

Re: Bridge Manipulator
 

See this thread.

Re: Bridge Manipulator
 

Re: Bridge Manipulator
 

I believe we (2914) had a really unique system. Just drive into the bridge to tip it the other way, or drive back then forwards and it will swing right to us.

Re: Bridge Manipulator
 

3397 had a "hammer" (actually it was a pvc arm with an elbow joint) on our robot that was powered by a Fisher-Price motor with the standard KoP gearbox. It worked beautifully.

Re: Bridge Manipulator
 

Like someone mentioned, we were subtly different from the triangular wedge. Here is a short report that explains the design considerations

http://f.cl.ly/items/3l203Z2v272J1n3...her_Report.pdf

Re: Bridge Manipulator
 

Is the manipulator we're looking at supposed to be the "roll cage" like polycarb or the piece of aluminum somewhat under your shooter?

Re: Bridge Manipulator
 

Our wheelies were incredibly consistent with lowering the bridge... even in autonomous :D

Re: Bridge Manipulator
 

We used our cannon to get the bridge down. Worked every time!