pic: Robot cart design
 

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Are the pans meant to hold the wheels?

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What do you mean by "fail safe"? I don't think I understand how the design is supposed to work.

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It looks like you manually lift it and it locks in place. I cannot tell though. Also, would this cart be used for just one year, because if the robot specs change this cart might be useless.

Re: pic: Robot cart design
 

If you were to make an entire tray instead of the 2 small railings, you would be able to use it for a robot in any configuration. You lose the ability to work on the middle section easy...but I think its a good tradeoff.

maybe make an "open box" shape so if you have a wide robot or something your cart doesnt become obselete?


yours current:

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my suggestion

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Re: pic: Robot cart design
 

Camren
You have a good start. Remember that the robots change from year to year so add some adjustability to your design. Add some mounting holes where the robots sets. This way you can add features that will support the robot on its frame rather than setting it on its wheels. (You will want to run the drive train in the pits) Watch the minimum over lap in the legs. (This could be s safety issue) Have fixed wheels on one end and casters on the other. (A cart with 4 casters is very hard to move through a crowd) Keep up the good work and post often.
:)

Re: pic: Robot cart design
 

Camren just don't use casters like we have on our battery box :P You guys have no idea how many times those have broken. Are you still planning on building a new battery box for next year?

Re: pic: Robot cart design
 

It's possible to have the rails, but make them adjustable so they can fit multiple robots over the years. 330's done that for years.

I'm a tad bit concerned over the lack of support up high. What I mean by that is, what's keeping the rails from bending, either away from each other or towards each other, or in unison to one side or the other? Also, what's the moment like if someone jostles the robot while it's being moved? (Read: if the robot is at max height, in motion or not, what's it going to take to knock it over, cart and all?)

Re: pic: Robot cart design
 

You would really benefit from some gussets at the bottom to help support the large load you are going to have.

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Make sure that "normal" height of cart plus robot can get through a school door such as they have at IRI. Won't mention the team(s) that have had issues with that! ;)

Re: pic: Robot cart design
 

It doesn't look like you'll have an issue with weight or anything of the sort, but also take into consideration how you're moving the cart. Not like the pneumatic AM castors you're making, but transporting the entire cart (with or without robot) to competitions (ie. van, bus, truck, trailer), and how you're getting it into the vehicle.

Also, after long periods of queing times, have any teams ever thought about putting in foldout seats? XD

Re: pic: Robot cart design
 

Yes the wheels go into the pans which are only an inch tall

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5 pieces 2 sides 2 middle bars and the cushioned laying pad for working on the bottom. Transporting was a big constraint while designing

Re: pic: Robot cart design
 

Actually, we have our newest cart setup with a main sofa-like seat and soon to come fold-able side seats. Also, it will be motorized and will be couch :D

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You really should stay away from supporting a robot by it's wheels while on a cart or in the pits. Controls will probably want to run the transmissions to test the robot, and if it's resting on the wheels that's a bear. In addition, if someone accidentally hits the controls while the robot is on and enabled, it's going to drive off the cart and hurt someone. See if you can plan on supporting the robot by its frame.

Re: pic: Robot cart design
 

a suggestion:

make the bottom be set up in some way so the sides can move in and out with enough range that you will always be able to fit the robot frame to that (the width of an industry standard door or just smaller would be a good idea) then have the top "rails" be set with holes and have pins that slide into the holes and stop at a certain height. That way, you can have it resting on the wheels if u need to and on the frame when u need to. If you do it right, new pins could be made in a madder of minutes on a lathe if you need taller or shorter.

Re: pic: Robot cart design
 

This can be very useful. I designed a cart last fall that my team used for this years FRC season, and the programmers were quite happy about this. It let us troubleshoot problems at a regional and gave us a way to test code involving driving without the danger of a moving robot. Another thing to consider is the wheels. I chose 8in pneumatic wheels for mine which worked very well. I bought them from grainger and you might want to consider this as an alternative to making your own casters. Also, to ensure that the cart could be used for many years, it is made out of extrusion which makes it easy to change the wheel positions for future robots. Ill try to post some pictures soon. Also, make sure that a five foot tall robot can be taken through a standard doorway on the cart, it makes life a lot easier.

Re: pic: Robot cart design
 

Thanks for all the support guys

Planning on making a better autodesk design this weekend. I kind of half way did this one (anyone notice the pan legs weren't matched with the base). Some additions I am planning are:

-More support for limbs
-Width and Height constraints (I'm pretty sure the setup i have now fits height but I have not check and bumpers are always a burden when going through doorways.)
-Pan feet for frame support
- A bumper holder that attaches to the bottom. (right now their is just a cushioned board for working on the underbelly
- Fold out seat
- Fan Bracket (Pits, Que and Arena are very hot)

Also in my new sketch I will add color and more views. Ill try and make a portfolio including some good views, annotation and animation

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what are you thinking of making this out of?

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Preferably aluminum but i'm unsure how it will handle the abuse so possibly steel.

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if aluminum can't take the abuse of being a robot cart, you should take another look at your design. Steel will, in all likelihood, hurt more then it will help.

For example (over engineering it): If your robot weighs 200 lbs and you have 4 support beams holding that weight, then each beam will receive (ideally) 50 lbs. Basic mechanical physics tells use that the beams will be receiving a compression from the weight. Go to your school (or local) lifting room and put a 50 lbs weight (or 50 lbs equivalency) on the top of some aluminum of about the dimensions you want to have for your support beam. If it notices the weight at all then beef it up.

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Most aluminum isn't that weak. Do take careful note of which alloy you use, because depending on the abuse your cart takes, that will make a difference.

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i would suggest adding some wheels before doing anything else :D

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I was thinking of old fashion emperor style transport. 4 rookies on each corner.

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I don't think the field volunteers would be happy about a "cart" involving 16 rookies (though i'm sure software would love it).