Re: Team 997 Spartan Robotics "Ultamate Ascent" Climber (vid)
 

Its getting close to ship date, but you might still have time to throw on a flywheel connected to a motor to act as gyroscopic resistance to swinging.

Re: Team 997 Spartan Robotics "Ultamate Ascent" Climber (vid)
 

I'd love to see a robot with that. Has this technique ever been used succesfully in FRC?

Re: Team 997 Spartan Robotics "Ultamate Ascent" Climber (vid)
 

263 and 2168 used fly wheels in 2009 to help their robots turn/resist turning on the slick surface. There may have been others too. I don't know about during a hanging maneuver though. There's never been an FRC challenge that required you perform a second action after the hang, so I don't think any teams considered gyroscopic stabilization necessary for previous hanging challenges.

I too would love to see a robot that implemented this.

Re: Team 997 Spartan Robotics "Ultamate Ascent" Climber (vid)
 

Be aware that the ability of a flywheel to resist a swinging motion will also produce a precession force. This may not be very large depending on the size and location of the flywheel and the amount of resistance to swinging. However for a hanging robot there may be a risk of reducing the grip on one of the hooks and perhaps destabilizing the robot. A flywheel sure sounds cool, and might also really look cool in operation. But the problem might be quicker and easier to address with cushioning. Remember, keep It Simple.

Re: Team 997 Spartan Robotics "Ultamate Ascent" Climber (vid)
 

Wow! Thanks for all the awesome ideas! I really like the flywheel design idea. And, we had considered using gas shocks while designing it, and we were going to buy pistons with springs in them. However, money is a big issue on my team.

UPDATE! We have completed the climb in about 40 seconds. As you can imagine, we are fully utilizing the Autonomous Period. Also, we have an awesome driver. There is padding where there can be, and things are going well. A bottom cover for the base bumper has been made.

Re: Team 997 Spartan Robotics "Ultamate Ascent" Climber (vid)
 

My Team, 3606 BearMetal, (also CHS ), has a very similar robot to yours. We're not using pneumatics but we have three lead screws and three "hooks", our center hook also moves back and forth. We're really quick climbing to the in a minute to a minute and a half. We also might do part of the climb in autonomous like your team.

Re: Team 997 Spartan Robotics "Ultamate Ascent" Climber (vid)
 

Wait, BearMetal? Are you guys going to the Portland Regional? Cuz we might actually end up on the same team! That would be pretty cool. How much of the pyramid do you guys take up?

Re: Team 997 Spartan Robotics "Ultamate Ascent" Climber (vid)
 

No we're all the way in Louisiana going to the New Orleans regional.

Re: Team 997 Spartan Robotics "Ultamate Ascent" Climber (vid)
 

I think you are thinking of FRC 2046 Bear Metal. They are from Tacoma I think.

Re: Team 997 Spartan Robotics "Ultamate Ascent" Climber (vid)
 

It's Tahoma... Pretty close spelling but not the same place :) 2471 will be attending Portland and Spokane, Bearmetal (2046) is going to Portland and Ellensburg (the third Washington state regional). It's nice to see a local team get some attention on chief Delphi though. We will be revealing our robot on Friday on the webcast that a bunch of teams have volunteered to showcase their robot on. It should be fun seeing this thing in real life!

Btw did you decide to put wheels on it or not?

Re: Team 997 Spartan Robotics "Ultamate Ascent" Climber (vid)
 

We decided against wheels in the end. Though adding on a drive train may be something we look into as an off-season activity for the kids.

Re: Team 997 Spartan Robotics "Ultamate Ascent" Climber (vid)
 

BearMetal is registered for Portland and Ellensburg, WA regionals. Portland should be fun!!

Re: Team 997 Spartan Robotics "Ultamate Ascent" Climber (vid)
 

Oh, My mistake! Thanks though! Hopefully, we'll see each-other anyway. :D *at nationals* Cough, Cough. Have you posted a vid/ pic Of yours? I'm curious as to how you moved the pistons back and forth.