The hook design
 

What is the advantages and the disadvantages of using the hook because we have so many advantages of using them but could not come up with any disadvantages so we will be able to work with them

Re: The hook design
 

Well. Using a hook will only allow you to pick up the tote from a certain angle, but if your hook is measured correctly then it may be more stable than using other systems.
You could also invest into the forklift idea, but there are still problems with that.
Disadvantages to the hook may be that there is a chance your hook will break.::rtm::

Re: The hook design
 

When considering designs, it's important to think about how easy they are to use.
1) How much precision does it require? Try approaching the game piece from various angles.
2) Do you have to be a certain distance for it to work? Can you always easily guarantee the necessary distance for your system to work?
3) How easy is it to use if you're trying to use this design on the other side of the field (or half field this year) with other robots and game elements obstructing your drivers view?

There are lots of questions that need to be answered while analyzing a design. Hopefully these will help you get started :)

Re: The hook design
 

One thing I can think about is once you stack so many totes, even if you make a strong hook, what you are grabbing onto on the bottom box may not be able to handle that load and will break.

Re: The hook design
 

GreenHorns have a simple design. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=52pEIu1BHc8

Re: The hook design
 

A hook with an alignment mechanism (Ri3D 1.0) is definitely a good way to go. The GreenHorns' hook mechanism was incredibly simple and effective, but in a 6 week build you should be able to build something that doesn't require as much driver precision. As for the bottom lip of the totes, I wouldn't factor their durability into your hook design. The totes are very durable and we had no problems.

Re: The hook design
 

Looking at the hook as far as I can tell it will work nicely. However the problem is the margin of error you give yourself with it. A hook like Ri3d could end up being a time sink if your drivers have a hard time positioning it (as we saw in the videos). Also if your strategy involves using upside down totes, a hook like GreenHorns would have to be modified.

Re: The hook design
 

Thar be a sensor for that matey

Re: The hook design
 

Advantage: Simplicity

Disadvantage: must be perfectly lined up to work
Additionally, when carrying 3+ tote stacks, the stack will begin to sag forward, which could cause your container to fall off the top. This is really apparent in some of the later Ri3D vids.
Lastly, if not designed correctly, a hook design can/will damage the handles of the totes.

Re: The hook design
 

That's the beauty of it. It's a decent design that can easily be implemented. Getting it to work efficiently and effectively is the trick.

The hook mechanism is capable of flipping over totes but as you said it's a time sink. I'd like to think a driver could get extremely efficient with the current design, but you can only be so effective with 1 non-drive motor and 1 pneumatic cylinder.

I believe the design that we put out there can be easily modified in a way that makes it an effective robot, which is capable of getting to the playoffs.

Re: The hook design
 

Thank you to all the teams and mentors that have responded to this I really appreciate your inputs and ideas and our team while put in consideration to the ideas you have given us. We appreciate it very much.

Re: The hook design
 

;) But other than many of the disadvantages to the hook theory it has many advantages to it to.

Re: The hook design
 

A disadvantage of a hook design may be that it would be hard to line up with a tote. Also, when you lift the tote with the hook the tote would not lift parallel to the robot, because you do not have enough points attached to the tote. This would result in unequal weight on your robot, risking your robot to tip.

I suggest you create a mechanism that is central to your robot's weight.