Be afraid... Be VERY Afraid
 

If anyone can correctly guess what this is, I solemnly swear that I will send you $15.00 on paypal before kickoff.

Re: Be afraid... Be VERY Afraid
 

So what's with only 1 CIM motor and the tiny wheel in the back? What's the use of this? Looks beautiful, but seems like you're sacrificing a whole motor's worth of power for an interesting design.

EDIT: It's a picture of CAD model. I'll take my $15 now.

Re: Be afraid... Be VERY Afraid
 

I am afraid!

It looks like instead of shifting gears you are shifting wheels. I would love to know the gear ratios for each wheel.

Beautiful design and beautiful CAD. I can't wait to see this on an actual robot!

Re: Be afraid... Be VERY Afraid
 

is it a swerve module with some sort of shifting wheel assembly? are you going for smaller wheels for when you want more torque and less speed and then bigger wheels for more speed or something like that?

great job on the cad!
can't wait to see what it actually is
does look very menacing!:ahh:

Re: Be afraid... Be VERY Afraid
 

Is it a 2 speed transmission where you shift which wheel is on the ground to shift the speed?

Re: Be afraid... Be VERY Afraid
 

You'll know what the use is on January 5th! And I assure you that:
- the CIM motor isn't wasted at all
- this is not only an interesting design, but a revolutionary one, in and beyond FRC

Re: Be afraid... Be VERY Afraid
 

Correct me if I'm wrong, but smaller wheels don't give you more torque. They do reduce the distance traveled per rotation but there should be same amount of rotational force on the shaft, regardless of wheel size. While they are probably geared differently, there's no advantage that I can see of having different sized wheels for different speeds or more torque. A shifter would accomplish that without the need for an extra wheel.

Re: Be afraid... Be VERY Afraid
 

Actually, new question (I'm sure you can answer this without giving away what this magnificent machine is) - Is the smaller wheel powered?

Re: Be afraid... Be VERY Afraid
 

Yes, both wheels are simultaneously powered :D

Re: Be afraid... Be VERY Afraid
 

You're all surprisingly close :ahh: ... This does indeed have something to do with shifting, I'll tell you that. But there's something HUGE that you guys are missing, the same "thing" that will get you those 15 bucks :P

Re: Be afraid... Be VERY Afraid
 

I can't say what, but I can ask why!

Re: Be afraid... Be VERY Afraid
 

Smaller wheels will give you more torque. Think of a wheel like a pinion on a rack, except there is no teeth. IF you reduce the pinion size you get more torque but less speed.

Is this the completed assembly? Another guess of mine is that in addition to having different speeds, based on which wheel is touching the ground, you could have different wheel bases. So basically, in one orientation(likely the one with the higher speed) you have a smaller wheel base, therfore you can turn easily. On the other hand, when the other wheel is touching the ground(likely the lower speed), you will have a larger wheel base and therefor it will be harder for you opponents to turn you.

Re: Be afraid... Be VERY Afraid
 

Oh good, now I don't feel so bad at looking at the CAD model (Which looks beautiful, by the way) and being absolutely dumbfounded about what it actually is. While the guess that it is a shifting wheel, as it stands right now it doesn't appear that either of the wheels are actuated (Might just be the angle).

I'm intrigued as to how this would be a revolutionary design both in and outside of FIRST. Perhaps once light is shed on its design I will be able to figure out how revolutionary it is.

Re: Be afraid... Be VERY Afraid
 

What I'm really confused about is where is the motor/cylinder which changes which wheel is touching the ground. If there is no such mechanism, it would do really great on a bumpy field.

I don't suppose we could get a top/bottom view.

Re: Be afraid... Be VERY Afraid
 

I propose three ideas.

1. Both "wheels" touch the ground at the same time.

2. The "wheels" aren't actually for driving.

3. The whole assembly pivots back and forth. This would work well for bumpy fields/ off road applications outside of FIRST.

Re: Be afraid... Be VERY Afraid
 

1 and 2 are wrong. 3 is partially correct!

Re: Be afraid... Be VERY Afraid
 

So it's like Octocanum but switching between two traction wheels (for different speeds/wheelbases).

Re: Be afraid... Be VERY Afraid
 

Is the smaller wheel a kind of wheelie-bar? Such that if you are climbing something, when the bigger wheel starts to climb, the bottom wheel stays in contact with the ground.

Re: Be afraid... Be VERY Afraid
 

Thank you for the CAD compliment! And yes, it's just the angle. Both wheels are actuated as a matter of fact.

Re: Be afraid... Be VERY Afraid
 

This is how I usually think of it.

Anyways, is there a reason you are using belts and not gears for this? Is it for a more quiet operation?

Are the wheels of different material? Is one grippy for more traction but one slippery for ease of turning? Maybe this isn't a swerve, but a fixed unit and you have the slippery wheels to ease turning a 4-wheel long bot. But I doubt its as simple as this ;)

Re: Be afraid... Be VERY Afraid
 

Could we get a top down view?

Re: Be afraid... Be VERY Afraid
 

Wait, the slot near the big wheel looks the same size as the other side. Can this thing flip 180 degrees?

Re: Be afraid... Be VERY Afraid
 

That is the closest guess yet. But again, you're missing something huge... The part that I think is pretty difficult for anyone to guess, otherwise I wouldn't put $15 bucks on it :D

Re: Be afraid... Be VERY Afraid
 

980 in 2003 used something very similar, using smaller wheels for speed and larger wheels for climbing a ramp (at least, that's what I recall them doing--it might have been the other way around). I think some other teams have done something similar. We've also seen swapping mecanums and traction wheels, as well as omnis and traction wheels. I designed one once, but it didn't get past the team brainstorming stage.


This is one quarter of a wheel-shifting drivetrain, where two different types of wheel can be changed at will, or used for climbing. Again, I don't think this is exactly revolutionary for FRC--similar things have been done on several occasions.


Now, the real question is: have you locked into using this for next year? If so, I highly suggest reconsidering. Quite simply, you don't know what the game will involve. (Hey, wheel-less robots are always an option for the GDC...) So, the thing that I'm more afraid of is: http://www.andymark.com/product-p/am-superoptions.htm

Re: Be afraid... Be VERY Afraid
 

I don't think it flips 180, as that CIM will have a hard time going through the mounting material. I think it's just aesthetically pleasing.

Re: Be afraid... Be VERY Afraid
 

The wheels seem cantilevered. I think thats different from the usual octanum setup.

Re: Be afraid... Be VERY Afraid
 

I am just going to guess that it is some sort of mechanical automatic transmission. That shifts into a high torque mode when placed under additional load (such as being pushed or accelerating from standstill). Another possibility is that when this runs into something the wheels end up lifting up the robot to allow it to climb objects such as stairs or the barrier from this year easier.

Anyways beautiful model, I appreciate the detail and the actual teeth on the belt.

Re: Be afraid... Be VERY Afraid
 

In 2004, HOT (67) had a very similar system where they had two wheels on each side of the robot that were powered by the same motor. Each wheel was actuated downward to touch the ground. This allowed them to change speed/torque ratios.

Notice the two different size black treaded wheels on the right side of the robot in the picture below.

Re: Be afraid... Be VERY Afraid
 

No, we're not 100% sure that we'll use it this season, for that reason exactly. As for your guess, you are on track, but still very wrong. This is certainly revolutionary, keep in mind that there is a HUGE concept that you're not seeing here.

Re: Be afraid... Be VERY Afraid
 

I hate to do this but here's a much larger image for everyone's viewing pleasure.



Also, I'm probably 100% wrong but it could possibly be that you have an 8WD narrowed down to a single module.

Re: Be afraid... Be VERY Afraid
 

Well, it looks like by changing which wheel touches the ground, you can also change the clearance under the chassis. The hard stop looks like the vertical mounting touching the cim (The piece of metal which looks like a bell curve in the back). It looks like you could add 3, 4, maybe even 5 inches in your floor to chassis clearance.

(The big wheel looks like it can rotate clockwise all the way to where the little wheel starts)

Still want a top/bottom view:D

Re: Be afraid... Be VERY Afraid
 

Indeed, it is aesthetically pleasing and it does not flip. But don't totally throw away the pivoting idea ;)

Re: Be afraid... Be VERY Afraid
 

Well, it's obvious you're itching to tell us more...so out with it!

Re: Be afraid... Be VERY Afraid
 

You are 100% wrong :) Thanks for posting the larger image.

Re: Be afraid... Be VERY Afraid
 

Is this thing self-pivoting? Or do you just not have the pivoting setup in this model?

Re: Be afraid... Be VERY Afraid
 

I don't have the pivoting setup on here... This is about 30% of the actual mechanism.

Re: Be afraid... Be VERY Afraid
 

Automatic load balancing/switching between pushing force and higher speed? A CVT in there somewhere? Most of the device (as we know it so far) is shown in the render. I don't see any mystery really. I must be missing something here.

Re: Be afraid... Be VERY Afraid
 

Well that doesn't do us much justice xD

Re: Be afraid... Be VERY Afraid
 

You're missing nearly everything :P. Like I said, this is about 30% of the mechanism. It's not at all what you guys think it is.

Re: Be afraid... Be VERY Afraid
 

Allow me to point out that if we can't see the concept (a third of it is missing), there is no way that we can tell if it's revolutionary or not. It may be that several teams have already done something--in that case it's NOT revolutionary unless there is something completely new.

What it is is it's a pivoting drivetrain section. If there is something else that is part of the drivetrain, that makes it different from any other pivoting drivetrain like an octocanum or the pivot-shifters of yesteryear, then it's either not put in or very well camouflaged.

Unless those two bolts at the near visibility side indicate modularity, that is, the ability to swap it out for another module in drivetrain, I think you need to raise the stakes significantly--say, pay $100 and hire whoever guesses correctly to decipher the game hint for you. (Incidentally, the modularity concept could run you into some trouble if you don't do it right--all modules go through inspection at the same time.)

Re: Be afraid... Be VERY Afraid
 

Here's a top view for ya

Re: Be afraid... Be VERY Afraid
 

What I said was two thirds of it is missing. No modularity here. And I purposely took out the distinguishing part of the mechanism so that it wouldn't be completely obvious. There is definitely something completely new here, no doubt about it :)

Re: Be afraid... Be VERY Afraid
 

Raise the stakes, then. $1000 and payment to guess the game from the game hint. You're NOT going to get anybody guessing correctly if you only give us 1/3 of the mechanism. See also "game hint".

Re: Be afraid... Be VERY Afraid
 

....

Re: Be afraid... Be VERY Afraid
 

While driving one way it uses one of the wheels, when it reverses the belt/wheel setup pivots around to go onto the other wheel with a different torque/speed.

Re: Be afraid... Be VERY Afraid
 

I'm going to guess that part of it is weight reduction. It looks like it could be made very light.

It also looks very compact.

One thing that makes it unique is that this allows for both independent wheel drive AND two speeds/torques w/o the extreme cost/weight/space penalty that would result from one using 4 AM2/Supershifters. Even compared to using 4 dewalts (not as tall but much longer in the wheel axis), it looks very space efficient.

It also looks like it is meant to be mounted through a hole in a sheet metal base/pan. Perhaps even a sheet of plywood or other flat material. Maybe this is to simplify frame design? (Just a pan with 4 wheel holes?)

Or maybe it could be mounted in a lazy susan (the missing part mentioned) and used as a crab module? There have been 2 speed crab drives before (I know 1625's done it) but they all used non-independent drive systems (1625 used two drive shafts with miter gears to drive 6 wheels, 3 per shaft).

Another aspect I see is that the Cim is off center. Perhaps some sort of a counterweight?

Last, Perhaps another benefit of the design is that if you tossed a tread on the wheel (if it had such a tread), you'd already have a spare wheel you could toss in. Then again, this "automated spare tire" effect is also

Re: Be afraid... Be VERY Afraid
 

"Simpsons did it."

Err... I mean... is it a dual wheel rocker where each wheel is a different speed with an automatic shifter mechanism?

Re: Be afraid... Be VERY Afraid
 

If i show the entire mechanism, there will be no guessing involved here... The point is to try to guess what that distinguishing component is. I don't believe anybody could do it, because of how out of the box it is. If it were easy, I wouldn't put $15 on it :P

Re: Be afraid... Be VERY Afraid
 

Its from Andymark.

Re: Be afraid... Be VERY Afraid
 

In this day and age, if you have something "truly revolutionary!!!!", you should be busy writing a patent for it and not bragging about it on a forum ;)

Re: Be afraid... Be VERY Afraid
 

Is the distinguishing component clearly visible on this photo (by clearly visible, I mean it is something we can see a decent portion of, it doesn't need to be shining in gold and covered in red paint)?

Re: Be afraid... Be VERY Afraid
 

The distinguishing component is in fact completely removed from the assembly.

Re: Be afraid... Be VERY Afraid
 

Suddenly, I'm missing the point of this thread.

Re: Be afraid... Be VERY Afraid
 

Is it a gearless 2 speed swerve module?

Re: Be afraid... Be VERY Afraid
 

It goes on the outside of the robot haha

Re: Be afraid... Be VERY Afraid
 

Are you seriously that slow? You want us to guess on what makes this different, and yet you took out what makes it different...

Re: Be afraid... Be VERY Afraid
 

Nope :p

Re: Be afraid... Be VERY Afraid
 

Well it looks like it definitely flips in the direction of the larger wheel with the larger wheel traveling under to other side raising the small wheel way up in the air and flips the CIM completely to the other side...

IF NOT... just shoot me... LOL

Re: Be afraid... Be VERY Afraid
 

Very nice guesses! The unit is indeed very compact and light; it needs to be, since there will be more than one on the robot. But the big secret here is actually much simpler than any of these great educated guesses.

Re: Be afraid... Be VERY Afraid
 

It definitely doesn't pivot that much xD but I will not shoot you sir :(

Re: Be afraid... Be VERY Afraid
 

To guess the purpose of this unfinished mechanism, or to guess what this crazy but simple other component is. That is as far as I go with giving hints... Lol

Re: Be afraid... Be VERY Afraid
 

In part, yes!

Re: Be afraid... Be VERY Afraid
 

Missing 2/3 of the Design

-Clinton-

Re: Be afraid... Be VERY Afraid
 

This.

Re: Be afraid... Be VERY Afraid
 

The drive will lift up the chassis and be able to traverse a step or bump.

Re: Be afraid... Be VERY Afraid
 

Video of it in action.

Re: Be afraid... Be VERY Afraid
 

Nope :P

Re: Be afraid... Be VERY Afraid
 

For viewing convenience:
Renders: here and here

DanielDTech in blue

1. The CIM motor isn't wasted at all
2. This is not only an interesting design, but a revolutionary one, in and beyond FRC
   
3. Yes, both wheels are simultaneously powered
   
4. ...This does indeed have something to do with shifting, I'll tell you that. But there's something HUGE that you guys are missing...
   
   
5. A and B are wrong. C is partially correct!
   A. Both "wheels" touch the ground at the same time
   B. The "wheels" aren't actually for driving
   C. The whole assembly pivots back and forth. This would work well for bumpy fields/ off road applications outside of FIRST
   
   
6. ...yes, it's just the angle. Both wheels are actuated as a matter of fact.
   While the guess that it is a shifting wheel, as it stands right now it doesn't appear that either of the wheels are actuated (Might just be the angle).
   
   
7. That is the closest guess yet. But again, you're missing something huge... The part that I think is pretty difficult for anyone to guess, otherwise I wouldn't put $15 bucks on it
   So it's like Octocanum but switching between two traction wheels (for different speeds/wheelbases).
   
   
8. You are on track, but still very wrong. This is certainly revolutionary, keep in mind that there is a HUGE concept that you're not seeing here.
   This is one quarter of a wheel-shifting drivetrain, where two different types of wheel can be changed at will, or used for climbing. Again, I don't think this is exactly revolutionary for FRC--similar things have been done on several occasions.
   
   
9. Indeed, it is aesthetically pleasing and it does not flip. But don't totally throw away the pivoting idea
   I don't think it flips 180...
   
   
10. You are 100% wrong
    I'm probably 100% wrong but it could possibly be that you have an 8WD narrowed down to a single module.
    
    
11. I don't have the pivoting setup on here... This is about 30% of the actual mechanism.
    Is this thing self-pivoting? Or do you just not have the pivoting setup in this model?
    
    
12. You're missing nearly everything. Like I said, this is about 30% of the mechanism. It's not at all what you guys think it is.
    Automatic load balancing/switching between pushing force and higher speed? A CVT in there somewhere? Most of the device is shown in the render. I don't see any mystery really. I must be missing something here.
    
    
13. Very nice guesses! The unit is indeed very compact and light; it needs to be, since there will be more than one on the robot. But the big secret here is actually much simpler than any of these great educated guesses.
    It also looks like it is meant to be mounted through a hole in a sheet metal [or plywood] base/pan...Maybe this is to simplify frame design? (Just a pan with 4 wheel holes?) ... Or maybe it could be mounted in a lazy susan and used as a crab module? ... Another aspect I see is that the Cim is off center. Perhaps some sort of a counterweight? ... If you tossed a tread on the wheel, you'd already have a spare wheel you could toss in.
    
    
14. In part, yes!
    A dual wheel rocker where each wheel is a different speed with an automatic shifter mechanism?
    Editor's note: raise your hand if you're surprised this was JVN, that he got the first "yes" guess or that the first word in the post was "Simpsons"
    
    
15. It definitely doesn't pivot that much
    Well is looks like it definitely flips in the direction of the larger wheel with the larger wheel traveling under to other side raising the small wheel way up in the air and flips the CIM completely to the other side...
    
    
16. Nope
    The drive will lift up the chassis and be able to traverse a step or bump.
    

[/ImTooMethodical] I'll guess later.

Re: Be afraid... Be VERY Afraid
 

Is your mechanism inside the wheels? Internal gearing/anything?

*begins to lose interest*

Re: Be afraid... Be VERY Afraid
 

The other 2/3s of it: the drivetrain.

Re: Be afraid... Be VERY Afraid
 

Hmm.. I'll take a crack at it..

Is this a mechanism for a robot?

Re: Be afraid... Be VERY Afraid
 

THANK YOU for not shooting me... I DO want to live... ;-)

SO, I believe you said JVN got it correct in what can actually be seen... "a dual wheel rocker where each wheel is a different speed with an automatic shifter mechanism"

Since I'm a pretend engineer please be gentle with me... it appears that part of the 2/3 missing is the mechanical actuator that causes the automatic shifting... like a vertical pneumatic cylinder that causes a pivot/change between the wheels, right?

IF NOT the case, I'm going to fire-up the TiVo and lose myself in THE WALKING DEAD and come back to this tomorrow...

Re: Be afraid... Be VERY Afraid
 

Judging from the ratios I see, the wheels seem like they would be spinning at approximately the same speed, also the way the assembly is mounted suggests that it pivots, and the shape of the cut out of the mount suggests the smaller wheel can be raised significantly. In my opinion, this seems like a mechanism to either raise the chassis to over come an obstacle or a mechanism that allows a team to switch the configuration of their drive terrain during a mach, for example switching from a 4 wheel to an 8 wheel or 6 wheel to an 8 wheel or any other combination.

Re: Be afraid... Be VERY Afraid
 

I believe he's missing the encoder.

Don't forget your sensors.

Re: Be afraid... Be VERY Afraid
 

Yes, there is a vertical cylinder that causes the pivot. But that's only another, let's say, 10% of the unit. So, I'll talk to you tomorrow! :P

Re: Be afraid... Be VERY Afraid
 

"Hey guys, check out this super awesome thing I made, which is exactly what multiple teams made 8-9 years ago, with some revolutionary component missing. You have no possible way of guessing what is missing because I've given you absolutely no details, but I will string this thread along for the next month because it's fun to have lots of people wondering what my (not so) revolutionary design will be"

Does that about cover it?

Re: Be afraid... Be VERY Afraid
 

No. Much more simpler and out of the box as that.

Re: Be afraid... Be VERY Afraid
 

Re: Be afraid... Be VERY Afraid
 

Hey guys, check out this extremely super awesome thing I made, which is not not exactly what multiple teams made 8-9 years ago, with some revolutionary and simple component missing. You have little way of guessing what is missing because I've given you very little details, but I will string this thread along for the next month because it's fun to have lots of people wondering what my extremely revolutionary drive mechanism will be.

I've made some edits, please review.

Re: Be afraid... Be VERY Afraid
 

GAME HINT!

Re: Be afraid... Be VERY Afraid
 

A couple thoughts on the design of what is revealed..

1. I don't think that putting this in a swerve module would be very smart. It is apparent that the small wheel can't be pivoted down until it reaches the center of the assembly. If this were on a pod that could turn the wheel touching the ground would literally be dragged sideways because the pod wouldn't pivot around the center of the wheel as is apparent in the top view. I'm ruling out swerve as this seems like it would probably be pretty suckish in that application. (Unless it only pivots when the big wheel is in the perfect position, again not that great a design.)

2. You only have mounting holes for this assembly on the wheel side which is presumably the outboard side of the chassis. This assembly either nests into another part of the chassis or else I would say that is also a design failure as the entire module would be in cantilever.

3. It appears that the axle that you are using to pivot on is live as it is modeled the same way as the wheel axles. If this is the case you could be doing something interesting where your drive motor also pivots the module, a second motor that pivots the module assists in powering the wheels (never mind), or if these are on a drivetrain with two to a side then the front and back can be chained together via this shaft. There is also very little holding those two halves together if all of those shafts are live. All I see is two standoffs by the motor. Based on the pictures I would try to get a standoff towards the big wheel side of the pivoting assembly.

4. If four of these are going on the Outer corners of a chassis I would be concerned about being able to turn. Your basically running a four wheel drive which picking up some wheels can't really help. Octocanium gets around this with omni/mec wheels. If this is the case your turning will basically stink. (unless you're wide) Unfortuantly, you can't just throw another wheel in the middle and chain off it because it won't switch ratios with the other wheels.

Based on what you've given us I think I see the general intent but I'm not sure that you've thought all the way through everything as it appears here.

I am not afraid.
Regards, Bryan

Re: Be afraid... Be VERY Afraid
 

The rest of it pivots this one portion of it shown here in its entirety and this is used to make the whole bot pivot?

I'm probably not even close, I've never been on drivetrain team. ::ouch::

Re: Be afraid... Be VERY Afraid
 

When you say "both wheels are actuated", it sounds as if you mean independently actuated--if so, along what line of action?

If not, what we have is a pivoting drivetrain module with two wheels at different gear ratios and diameters. The wheel are indeed drive wheels, powered simultaneously but contacting independently (meaning the treads shown contact the ground one at a time?) The special thing has something to do with changing the 3D position and/or its first derivative with respect to the chassis on which these units are mounted. I feel like it has something to do with being able to turn. As it stands, this seems like it would be really bad at turning--at least versus the work put into it--but it's definitely not swerve...
EDIT: Bryan beat me to #2 and 3 (though he did 3 way better than I did).

All that, and you know what bugs me? that little peg thing inside the triangular pivot axle support. What's up with that thing?

Re: Be afraid... Be VERY Afraid
 

Just because no one's said it yet, I'm going to take a guess that this is for a ball drive.

Something similar to http://sphericaldrivesystem.com/

But on second thought, I dont' see how that could work without omni's for wheels.

If it's not a ball drive, I'm still going to guess that these wheels don't touch the carpet directly.

Re: Be afraid... Be VERY Afraid
 

I can assure you that you definitely do not "see the general intent", unless that "general intent" is to drive the robot. None of you said is relevant to the overall idea of this mechanism.

As for the pivoting axis, what you see are spacers covering the actual moving axles. The middle axle is only used for, apart from holding that big pulley in the middle, mounting the pulley system to the oddly-shaped plate that you see.

Re: Be afraid... Be VERY Afraid
 

The power source for Doc Brown's Flux Capacitor

Re: Be afraid... Be VERY Afraid
 

What are the benefits of a ball drive?

Re: Be afraid... Be VERY Afraid
 

I think he created this as a joke; and it actually serves no purpose.

OR

We will all bow to this magnificent revolutionary on January 5th.

Re: Be afraid... Be VERY Afraid
 

I think someone suggested 180 degree but it seems like it is designed to pivot around maybe 90 degrees. Notice the cutout around the smaller wheel is large enough to fit the larger one as well. (although this may be for aesthetic/symmetrical reasons) What that would buy you I have no idea though. Maybe you can drive a second mechanism from the smaller wheel in an upright position?

Edit: nope

Re: Be afraid... Be VERY Afraid
 

Cory, I am with you. I have absolutely no interest in this guessing game. Why am I posting? I have absolutely nothing better to do. This is a guy who just joined CD the day he posted this so this is his first post. Here is a 17 year old who is probably a senior this year and a team captain and this is his 4th year in FRC. Why is everybody else posting? Definitely not for the $15.

And why should I be afraid? Is it because if your robot is on the field, then mine should not even be used because yours is that awesome.

Re: Be afraid... Be VERY Afraid
 

I believe this post was intended to generate hype...but the response being generated isn't exactly what I'd call hype. It's just not the nature of CD. "Be afraid" -- really? This isn't really how folks share ideas in this community, but it's interesting. Good luck with the design, and I hope you're well into the fabrication and testing phase for your prototype if you have any plans of using this in 2013.

Re: Be afraid... Be VERY Afraid
 

Does anyone remember this thread?

The solid 7071 billet frame, direct drive CIMs.

Re: Be afraid... Be VERY Afraid
 

This is silly, either show it or don't.

I"m afraid you'll be the partner that's not moving on our alliance...

-RC

Re: Be afraid... Be VERY Afraid
 

I spent the last 20 minutes trying to find this thread to post here. You beat me to it :mad: :rolleyes:

Re: Be afraid... Be VERY Afraid
 

Now this is a gem-filled read.

Edit: so this is where negative reputation on CD comes from :D

Re: Be afraid... Be VERY Afraid
 

Ok, because you said yes to JVN's automatic shifter idea, this is another guess.

There is some kind of mechanism that automatically pushes the wheel with more speed down. This causes you to have normal(high speed) operation most of the time. However when you reach an object that is either immovable or hard to move, the wheel will automatically pivot forward(overcoming the spring mechanism). This is because the wheel still wants to travel forward and it can by overcoming the spring. Eventually it pivots enough that the lower speed, high torque wheel touches the ground. Therefor you get the automatic shift into high torque. When you overcome the immovable/hard to move object the spring pushes the module back to "normal" and high speed mode ensues.

Re: Be afraid... Be VERY Afraid
 

Am I the only one that realizes this won't work because there is not enough belt wrap on the 2nd stage pulley before the drive wheels? This needs to be fixed before implementation otherwise it will sit there spinning without actually transferring power to the drive wheels...

Re: Be afraid... Be VERY Afraid
 

Chief Delphi is a place to showcase your ideas / designs and get feedback on them. Baiting people into trying to guess the function of your partially revealed design won't go over too well here.

Based on your previous season's robot's performance, I would recommend focusing your efforts on implementing simple functioning mechanisms that can effectively score points in the shortest amount of time. If this is a drive module, I don't see how this will make your robot score more points, unless the 2013 game challenge is drive on something really complicated - and it won't be.

Re: Be afraid... Be VERY Afraid
 

So I spoke to this student (I know others on 714), and he actually does legitimately have an idea he thinks is genuine and new.

So, this is not a troll thread. He is just now regretting posting this because he might not want to reveal what his idea actually is.

So....yeah.

Ease up on the kid though, he is not trying to troll. Not defending the way he presented this though.

Either you post your full design/idea, or you just leave it off the internet if you think it is that great. This is not how Chief Delphi works.

Re: Be afraid... Be VERY Afraid
 

Sorry, but i'm not afraid. I would be afraid if it was a robot, driving around, that you've gone through a competition season with and it showed to give you a distinct advantage. Right now, all I see is a CAD model with 1 CIM that was probably done pre-season which means you'll be going into 2013 with an untested drive. That's something that should scare you, not me ;)