![]() |
Re: Al's Annual Inspection Thread
Quote:
|
Re: Al's Annual Inspection Thread
Quote:
At this time, I have no photos to show since I am trying to do my homework in case it is decided to replace our current bumpers with ones that will hold up to the abuse better. We would not want to put the time and effort into building something that has no hope of passing inspection. I would like to use corner brackets that extend at least 6" from the corners to resist the twisting we are getting because the contact with the frame is made in the lower 1 1/2" of the bumper. We will be using our current scheme to install and remove the bumpers. It takes about 2 minutes to swap between the two. My main concern is that the corner brackets I am proposing would essentially cover the whole inside vertical surface of the bumpers, extending from the bottom to the top (5" high) and all the way around. The bumpers would end up consisting of an 1/8' thick layer of aluminum on the inside, 3/4" plywood, then the pool noodles on the outside. There would not be any gap between the aluminum and the plywood. The cloth covering would be trapped between the aluminum and the plywood. It would be the 1/8" aluminum plate that would contact the frame instead of the plywood. Does this sound like something that would be accepted at inspection? Thanks. Phil |
Re: Al's Annual Inspection Thread
Phil,
This was asked on the LRI telephone conference last night. It sounds like you are planning a legal implementation, again providing all bumper rules are met. I reminded LRIs that the 1" hard parts restriction still applies, so consider that as well. The 1" extends out from the Frame Perimeter, not the back of the bumper. So if your mod is affected by hardware or other protrusions on the frame, it may not pass inspection. |
Re: Al's Annual Inspection Thread
Thanks again for your help, Al.
I studied the Game Manual, Team Updates and Q&A, several times before working this out and will be watching out for the items in your comments. I had not seen any teams putting sheet metal between the bumper wood and the frame so I wanted to make sure we weren't going to go down the wrong path. Phil |
Re: Al's Annual Inspection Thread
Phil,
Many teams have done this for many years. WildStang is trying the same idea this year. |
Re: Al's Annual Inspection Thread
Quote:
http://blog.spectrum3847.org/2014/03...d-bumpers.html |
Re: Al's Annual Inspection Thread
The Virginia Regional did a wonderful job with inspections this year. With all the snow this year in areas that are not used to it there were a lot of unfinished robots. They had inspectors that came to you, or you could go to an inspection area. When there were a handful of teams not inspected Friday morning, inspectors took chairs to their pits to be there and answer questions. GREAT JOB Tom and crew -- especially Chuck - my kids called you Santa :)
|
Re: Al's Annual Inspection Thread
I would like to remind everyone of the rough game that were are playing this year. If you are playing in your first event this weekend or next, do not be surprised if your robot inspector points to items he would like to see fastened to your robot. In particular, the bumpers and the battery. Batteries are receiving as much external damage from hitting items inside the frame as they would from a drop. Bumpers are hit so hard that many mounting systems are failing. Remember that under G20, a robot can be disabled should the bumpers fail during the match. I have had several teams tell me that their bumpers failed in spite of their using the "lift test" described elsewhere.
I also want to remind teams that any changes, no matter how small, you make to your robot must be reinspected. If you add something or take something off, we need to know what the new weight is and we need to inspect the change to be sure structural integrity is good and no other items have been compromised. This reweigh helps get you through final inspection quicker and helps us get through all the teams prior to alliance selection. This is a very serious issue, without the reinspection, you are playing with a un-inspected robot. Many teams are taking off shooters and adding ballast to become a better defensive robot. These changes are often done in haste and therefore without regard to the effect it might have on other robot functions. Let your inspection team be your eyes and ears as they can look at your robot with a little clearer vision and help you get the design you are trying to achieve. We really want you to win. We feel we are part of your team. There have been two very clear issues with teams this past week. One is the mounting of the plastic tanks on arms and moving appendages of the robot. Not only is this a poor choice for air flow (the tubing length is excessive), it exposes the tanks to hits from other robots. Excessive current causing power to brownout on the robot. This can bring about temporary loss of the radio, full reboot of the radio and/or cRio, fault conditions on Jaguars and shutdown of digital I/O and DSC. Be sure all primary wiring (battery, main breaker and PD input) is tight, both crimp and screw terminals and the hardware. This is a real issue for teams running inefficient drive systems. Good Luck Everyone. |
Re: Al's Annual Inspection Thread
Quote:
Could you elaborate on how LRI's have been advised to handle a robot with an air tank mounted this way at upcoming events? - Ron Team #2607 controls mentor |
Re: Al's Annual Inspection Thread
Ron,
It is wise to move it down inside the robot away from the possibility of it getting hit. I would like LRIs to try and convince the team of the risk of such mounting. When a team uses air as part of their ball handling or shooting, loosing that air will put them out of business for the remainder of the match. Even something as simple as a hose getting pulled out will have that effect. The plastic tanks may fail if hit hard with a metal arm on another robot or in a collision. It doesn't violate any specific robot rules, it is just bad practice. |
Re: Al's Annual Inspection Thread
Al,
Could you give guidance on a mounting system like this, mainly the part in red: http://screencloud.net/v/8UUP The green parts are our robot / frame perimeter, everything else is BUMPER. We have used the wing nut/stud method before so I am not worried about that. My main concern is the (red) aluminum 2.5x1 angle that rises above the top of the bumper. Everything remains in the 2-10in bumper zone, but I have never seen an attachment method that went above the bumper itself in recent years. I can't find a rule this would violate and our own LRI, Brian Lucas, says it's fine, but this really seems like it's pushing it. I just wanted to get a second opinion before we start cutting metal. Thanks. |
Re: Al's Annual Inspection Thread
Quote:
|
Re: Al's Annual Inspection Thread
Quote:
|
Re: Al's Annual Inspection Thread
Thanks for the replies, we do comply with all other bumper rules, looks like we will be going ahead with this modification.
Quote:
|
Re: Al's Annual Inspection Thread
Looks to me that the bumper is more than 5" tall that way if the red part comes off with the wood backing. Unless your bumpers are already at the 10" height you may want to duplicate the lower angle stock so that the two angle (gray) pieces extend in above the lower green tube and below the upper one. Then slide the wood up a little to give good connection basis for the gray pieces.
|
Re: Al's Annual Inspection Thread
Nathan,
I would agree with Jon' assessment of the picture you provide and reiterate the violent nature of this game requires the need for secure mounting. However, I have not seen this method used before and it would be best to ask the Q&A for the definitive answer. |
Re: Al's Annual Inspection Thread
Inspection at Championship will be just like at any of your regionals.
If we find something wrong, that was missed at your regional, PLEASE don't tell us that "This robot passed XXXX Regional." We are all human (though I'm not to sure about Big Al :D ) and we miss things. Please remain calm and we will do everything in our powers to get your robot passed to play Thursday. No Robot Left Behind. |
| All times are GMT -5. The time now is 12:39. |
Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.6.4
Copyright ©2000 - 2017, Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd.
Copyright © Chief Delphi