Team 111 Picture
 

Posted by Raul at 2/13/2001 11:54 PM EST


Engineer on team #111, Wildstang, from Rolling Meadows & Wheeling HS and Motorola.



Go to our website (link below) to see a picture of our robot from 2 days ago.

Of course it is only partially completed. No, we do not plan to go under the bar, although we are short enough to do so. We do not pick up any balls. So what exactly do we do? We facilitate the placement of goals on an already balanced (horizontal) bridge. Although it may not look it, it is the most complex robot we have built by far. Any questions?

We will post a better picture when it is completed.

Raul

Some speculation of what it does.
 

Posted by Ken Leung at 2/14/2001 1:37 AM EST


Student on team #192, Gunn Robotics Team, from Henry M. Gunn Senior High School.


In Reply to: Team 111 Picture
Posted by Raul on 2/13/2001 11:54 PM EST:



Anton sent me an instant message about the Wildstang’s robot picture, and I immediately downloaded the two pictures to look at it closely. I am using ACD see to view the pictures, but since ACD see can be opened one at a time, I decided to print out the two picture and take a good close look at them using a magnifying glass.

So… this is it! Another great robot from Wildstang.

Let’s see here…

A all-purpose arm sticking out in front of the robot, the body have a top shape just like the bridge, and an unknown object sitting in an empty space at the other end of the robot, wheels hiding at the edge of the robot, an extremely complex electronics system hiding inside the body, a really nice welding job…

So how’s the arm look like? Well, it can pivot around the end of the body, it’s sharp enough to reach under the handles of the side of the bridge, and it can certainly fit under the bridge. I see it’s powered by Van door motors, so we can assume it have some major torque in it. The cross piece of the arm seems to fit the shape of the caster pretty well…

Looking at the picture I can image the arm doing a few things…
It can go right under the goals while the spikes go in between the casters and lift the goals up.
It can go under the handles of the bridge and wedge the bridge to a up position, while it can also slam on top of the bridge to get it into a down position.
It can also tip the goal on its side.
It can clear balls under the bridge.
It can lift goals onto the bridge, either vertical or horizontal position.
It can help other robot balance the goals by letting the bridge land on top.
It can probably fit in between the horizontal bars on the goal and the plywood to pick up the goal.

How about the body? It looks really similar to the surface of the bridge… why, there is the edge of the bridge on the side, there are flat surface on top side, it seems it’s as wide as the bridge, it seems it’s as tall as the bridge, and it seems it’s as level as the bridge when balanced. I don’t know why, but I have an impression that It seems the “box” shape of the body is maximizing the size limit of the base, so that the “sides” flip out so the robot will be as wide as the bridge. But I could be wrong and that the max. width of the robot is still 36”.

The body seems to be doing a few things as well…
If the top is completely covered by those plates of aluminum web or something, then a goal can sit on it pretty easily.
The edge of the bridge can land on the edge of the robot to maintain a balanced position.
If the surface of the arm is also covered with some sort of plates of material, then this shape can potentially be an extension of the bridge, so that robots can drive over it, and onto the bridge and to the other side. And because the arm looks like it’s longer than the base, it can flip to the other side to smack on top of the bridge to get it leveled again.
If the top of the base is covered with some sort of conveyer system, it can allow goals to slide on and off the base.

Then there is the cut out on the other side of the base waiting something magical to be attached to. It’s probably something that can grab a goal and lift it on top of the base, or another arm similar to the other arm, something that can push goals onto the bridge, or something that will grab the end of the bridge, or even something that can grab stretcher.

But without other pictures, it’s really hard to tell what the robot can do. We will just have to wait and see what it actually does.

Hey Wildstang, GREAT ROBOT!!! I can’t wait to see it in action. Thanks for posting your pictures.

Some answers
 

Posted by Mike Soukup at 2/14/2001 1:51 AM EST


Engineer on team #111, Wildstang, from Rolling Meadows & Wheeling and Motorola.


In Reply to: Some speculation of what it does.
Posted by Ken Leung on 2/14/2001 1:37 AM EST:



A few of those statements somewhere in there are right on. I'm glad you're having so much fun analyzing our bot Ken.

I'll just wait for more speculation. I know, I'm evil :)

Mike

Here is how it works
 

Posted by Raul at 2/14/2001 8:27 AM EST


Engineer on team #111, Wildstang, from Rolling Meadows & Wheeling HS and Motorola.


In Reply to: Some speculation of what it does.
Posted by Ken Leung on 2/14/2001 1:37 AM EST:



I'm not as evil as Mike. I will tell you a little more details.

We call our robot configuration a "ramp-bot". Its main function is to grab an edge of the bridge and hold it in a horizontal position while other robots drop off goals on the bridge. Here is a sequence of events:

1) We position ourselves on the far side of the bridge, grab the edge and reset the bridge.
2) A robot pulls the goal up the bridge from the player station side as we allow it to come down to horizontal. Then they just drop off the goal on the bridge and drive off over our robot (we are a ramp).
3) Meanwhile, on the far side, another robot is ready to push the 2nd goal onto the bridge by driving over us. They drop it off at an approximate location. and stay on top of us.
4) We test for balance and have the robot on top of us move the goal if necessary to a better balancing position. Once balanced, we drive to the endzone with the robot on top of us.

Of course, we hope the goals can also be filled up with balls before they are dropped off on the bridge.

So, in the spirit of this year's theme of teamwork, we facilitate a large multiplier and RELY on other teams to score the balls and handle the goals.

And, we are also working on an arm that attaches as an accessory and grabs balls, just in case someone can balance the bridge better than us. We remove the ramp and add the arm. We only have the 2 globe motors left; so we will use the pnuematics for this arm.

Raul

Re: Here is how it works
 

Posted by Rich at 2/14/2001 11:13 AM EST


Engineer on team #334, BTHS Knights, from Brooklyn Tech. HS and Con Ed, SIAC Keyspan.


In Reply to: Here is how it works
Posted by Raul on 2/14/2001 8:27 AM EST:



WOW!
Now this is an unique design.
Great concept.

Two thumbs up.

Confused about how it works. . .
 

Posted by Michael "Special K" Krass at 2/14/2001 10:08 PM EST


Other on team #271, Mechanical Marauders, from Bay Shore High School and Verizon.


In Reply to: Here is how it works
Posted by Raul on 2/14/2001 8:27 AM EST:




: 4) We test for balance and have the robot on top of us move the goal if necessary to a better balancing position. Once balanced, we drive to the endzone with the robot on top of us.

If your robot is on the far side of the playing field, beyond the dividing bar, how do you get back to the endzone? That is, you can't go over the ramp, as the goals are balanced on it, and you certainly can't go under the bar with a robot on your back. . . so where does it go? Over? Does it fly?

I'm confused. . .

~ Michael, who is confused, but otherwise very impressed.

Re: Confused about how it works. . .
 

Posted by Chris Hardman at 2/14/2001 10:58 PM EST


Student on team #111, WILDSTANG, from Rolling Meadows and Wheeling High schools and motorola.


In Reply to: Confused about how it works. . .
Posted by Michael on 2/14/2001 10:08 PM EST:




: If your robot is on the far side of the playing field, beyond the dividing bar, how do you get back to the endzone? That is, you can't go over the ramp, as the goals are balanced on it, and you certainly can't go under the bar with a robot on your back. . . so where does it go? Over? Does it fly?

: I'm confused. . .

: ~ Michael, who is confused, but otherwise very impressed.

we do everything from the side closet to the endzone so we do not have to cross back over


chris

Re: Confused about how it works. . .
 

Posted by Jessica Boucher at 2/15/2001 6:47 AM EST


Student on team #237, Sie-H2O-Bots, from Watertown High School and Eastern Awning Systems & The Siemon Company.


In Reply to: Re: Confused about how it works. . .
Posted by Chris Hardman on 2/14/2001 10:58 PM EST:



What are you making the ramp out of, to handle the weight?

-Jessica B, #237

Re: Confused about how it works. . .
 

Posted by Raul at 2/15/2001 8:34 AM EST


Engineer on team #111, Wildstang, from Rolling Meadows & Wheeling HS and Motorola.


In Reply to: Re: Confused about how it works. . .
Posted by Jessica Boucher on 2/15/2001 6:47 AM EST:



It is made of aluminum 1"x 1" x.062" square extrusion with .064" aluminum perf stock flooring. It can hold over 300 lbs easily (as long as the weight/force is distributed). I have already walked on it and gone for a ride.

Right now we weigh in at 118 lbs (w/o the decorations). Yes, I feel bad for those of you who are struggling to make weight. Every year in the past we struggled at the end with weight. So this year, I was paranoid about it and took the time to keep it down.

Raul

: What are you making the ramp out of, to handle the weight?

: -Jessica B, #237

"Far side" = side away from player station (EOM)
 

Posted by Raul at 2/15/2001 8:02 AM EST


Engineer on team #111, Wildstang, from Rolling Meadows & Wheeling HS and Motorola.


In Reply to: Confused about how it works. . .
Posted by Michael on 2/14/2001 10:08 PM EST:



:
: : 4) We test for balance and have the robot on top of us move the goal if necessary to a better balancing position. Once balanced, we drive to the endzone with the robot on top of us.

: If your robot is on the far side of the playing field, beyond the dividing bar, how do you get back to the endzone? That is, you can't go over the ramp, as the goals are balanced on it, and you certainly can't go under the bar with a robot on your back. . . so where does it go? Over? Does it fly?

: I'm confused. . .

: ~ Michael, who is confused, but otherwise very impressed.

Wildstang at it again
 

Posted by Andy Baker at 2/14/2001 2:01 AM EST


Engineer on team #45, TechnoKats, from Kokomo High School and Delphi Automotive Systems.


In Reply to: Team 111 Picture
Posted by Raul on 2/13/2001 11:54 PM EST:



Very impressive, as usual. You guys really should not post these pictures... they make the rest of us wanna just pack it up and go home!! :)

I really like the feature of putting goals on the bridge w/o being on it... extremely valuable.

I look forward to seeing it up close.

Andy B.

Re: Team 111 Picture
 

Posted by Jessica Boucher at 2/14/2001 6:40 AM EST


Student on team #237, Sie-H2O-Bots, from Watertown High School and Eastern Awning Systems & The Siemon Company.


In Reply to: Team 111 Picture
Posted by Raul on 2/13/2001 11:54 PM EST:



Wow, now thats a piece of machining beauty.

Congrats, I hope the rest of us can just keep up.

-Jessica B, #237

----Bidding starts at $5M-----
 

Posted by Anton Abaya at 2/14/2001 6:58 AM EST


Coach on team #419, Rambots, from UMass Boston / BC High and NONE AT THE MOMENT! :(.


In Reply to: Team 111 Picture
Posted by Raul on 2/13/2001 11:54 PM EST:



>>

Looks great guys. Can I touch?

Do I take it you guys intend on getting picked? Or do you plan on becoming a seeded team? What am I asking??? This is wildstang! They'll take the #1 spot! Or so a little birdie told me.

Does it talk?

-anton :-)
"I have no particular talent. I am merely inquisitive." --Albert Einstein

Large and in charge...as usual
 

Posted by Erin at 2/14/2001 7:30 AM EST


Other on team #65, Huskie Brigade, from Pontiac Northern High School and GM Powertrain.


In Reply to: Team 111 Picture
Posted by Raul on 2/13/2001 11:54 PM EST:



Raul,

I am in awe of your team each year. This year is not an exception. Nice robot- can't wait to see more pics. How do you think you would do with a team that can already get two goals on the bridge? What about a team that can get up the bridge, but can't hold the goals? can you guys drag both goals up there and balance the bridge yourself if no other robot is able to be up on an already balanced bridge?

Just a few thoughts. Congrats on what you have so far. Looks great.

-Erin
"Don't hot your head when you have a headache!! It makes it worse."

Re: Large and in charge...as usual
 

Posted by Raul at 2/14/2001 8:05 AM EST


Engineer on team #111, Wildstang, from Rolling Meadows & Wheeling HS and Motorola.


In Reply to: Large and in charge...as usual
Posted by Erin on 2/14/2001 7:30 AM EST:



Erin,

We decided NOT to do everything ourselves this year. We rely on other teams to push and pull goals onto the bridge while we balance it. Any robot that can just push or pull goals compliments us well.

Hey, so who owns the big truck?

Raul

: How do you think you would do with a team that can already get two goals on the bridge? What about a team that can get up the bridge, but can't hold the goals?