Re: Climbing Mechanism Ideas
 

Treads aren't something I'd advise unless you've prototyped in the off-season.

Re: Climbing Mechanism Ideas
 

I can only think of two approaches that will work and meet the requirements of the rules (or at least their spirit, as I read them; QA will need to clarify some things on the 9th). Approach #1: a caterpillar, either outside or inside the corner. Approach #2: a human/ape approach, with at least two grasping and releasing appendages. You can't balance on two rungs, as you won't be able to touch three zones at a time.

Re: Climbing Mechanism Ideas
 

Would it be against the rules to use a spike relay, a NOT gate, and an additional relay on your electromagnet? I'm not saying that an electromagnet would be feasible, I'm just saying that your robot (if designed well) would not fall at the end of a match.

Re: Climbing Mechanism Ideas
 

I thought of a third approach.
If you had a hooked conveyor belt on a pivot in the body, which was on rails, you could lift yourself from the ground, tilt the pivot to grasp the second rung, then elevate yourself above the first rung and hang from the second. Repeat to hang from the third rung.

Here's a picture: http://imgur.com/w37qr

It would then repeat this to get up to the third ring.
Pros:- Doesn't take as many motors
- Robot does not have to be specifically designed to lift.
Cons:-Takes a long time
-Requires a functioning hooked conveyor that can lift the whole robot

Re: Climbing Mechanism Ideas
 

Yes, by R32, electric solenoids may not exceed 10 watts. The rule refers to "electrical solenoid actuators", but R52 simply refers to "electric solenoids". Also, in previous years electromagnets have been lumped in with motors/electric actuators and I do not see that changing this year.

Re: Climbing Mechanism Ideas
 

Yes, that would be illegal. You cannot have custom components between the MC and the motor/electrical actuators. The only thing that you could possibly put there is a cap as a filter. Also, the second relay would need power, which restricts the relay to be a spike. Additionally, the magnet probably would fail R32.

Re: Climbing Mechanism Ideas
 

Any teams had any luck prototyping "minibot climber" types? I'm talking about something that rides up the diagonals of the pyramids on wheels, hanging on somehow.

Re: Climbing Mechanism Ideas
 

We've actually done tank treads for the past four years that we've gotten better at treads than wheels.

Re: Climbing Mechanism Ideas
 

For this, I've been thinking of having an articulated 1717 2010-esque lifter that will be able to traverse the corners. Have a latching system on the top, and drive wheels at the bottom. By any chance, does anybody have close up pics of their latching mechanism from that year?

I see that they posted pics of their bot here: http://www.chiefdelphi.com/media/photos/35361
But the only pic that is broken is the one for the latching.

Re: Climbing Mechanism Ideas
 

We would definitely pick this robot in the first round if it could get 30 points every match. If it could score in auton, that it is a no brainier.

At the risk of looking like an idiot like last year (thanks HOT), the 30 point hang will be able to be accomplished by less than 20 teams in all of FRC.
So if your robot can get 30 points from the hang, they are a keeper for a great partner to frisbee shooting robots.

Re: Climbing Mechanism Ideas
 

If they can do that and a little more they might be picking you ;)

Re: Climbing Mechanism Ideas
 

It was great for bending omniwheels too, let's not forget that
;)

Re: Climbing Mechanism Ideas
 

Here is an interesting idea: http://youtu.be/zkpH1BjD6Wc

Re: Climbing Mechanism Ideas
 

A little more towards the insane side of the spectrum...

I did a quick calculation comparing kinetic and potential energy. The numbers actually make this feasible.

Remember “Back to the Future”? If you put a 30 inch vertical hook on the back of your robot, and drove at full speed under the tower, the hook would catch on the lowest bar, and the robot would flip up high enough for you to catch the second bar. Then you release the lower bar hook and score 20 points. Unless the tower or the robot comes apart at impact…

You need a very fast robot and the starting height of the robot CG should be as high as possible. We think it would be ruled "unsafe" for competition, but it would be fun to prototype...

Re: Climbing Mechanism Ideas
 

That has come up, and It would be amazing to see. But I feel the "floor protector" would keep from that design from successfully working. Although I think you already came to that conclusion :)