Re: Interesting/Cool Scaling Mechanism Designs
 

Rule R79:
"Compressed air on the ROBOT must be provided by one and only one compressor. Compressor specifications must not exceed nominal 1.10 cfm flow rate @ 12VDC."

this has already been pointed out...

also, a custom fan blowing a tube up (like a balloon) would be, in any circumstance, a compressor, thereby violating this rule. ergo, the custom fan has got to go if it is actuating something like it is.

We decided to use stored energy so that it would continue to climb once released. Also no chance of back driving. It is very fast.
We built a device that used a trailer winch to pre load shocks before matches.

Re: Interesting/Cool Scaling Mechanism Designs
 

2386 nearly went with using gas shocks too. They have the advantage of still pulling the robot up even once the buzzer goes. Effectively giving you another 5 seconds to the match.

Re: Interesting/Cool Scaling Mechanism Designs
 

3.1.4

Re: Interesting/Cool Scaling Mechanism Designs
 

3.3.1

The final assessment of ROBOTS having SCALED or CHALLENGED the TOWER is made five (5) seconds
after the ARENA timer displays zero (0), or when all ROBOTS have come to rest following the conclusion
of the MATCH, whichever happens first.

Re: Interesting/Cool Scaling Mechanism Designs
 

The way I interpret it is that if your robot no longer meets the criteria of scaled (falls, back drives) after the conclusion of the match it does not count.

Re: Interesting/Cool Scaling Mechanism Designs
 

Safety rule #1:

G1:
ROBOTS whose operation or design is dangerous or unsafe are not permitted.

Violation: If before the MATCH, the offending ROBOT will not be allowed to participate in the MATCH.
If during the MATCH, the offending ROBOT will be DISABLED.

Examples include, but are not limited to: A. Uncontrolled motion that cannot be stopped by the DRIVE TEAM
__________________________________________________ ____
There, so the # 1 rule for safety is that the robot is not permitted to make actions which the drive team cannot control... right? so if the robot is still releasing some form of energy (compressed air, compressed spring, etc...) after the completion of the match, how are they to stop it? (they can't)


pm or email me if you have a comment about that ^

Re: Interesting/Cool Scaling Mechanism Designs
 

Here is our climb:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hc8e...vOaUM3LD&t=174

We are on the left. We use power antenna to lift the hooks which are held on via magnets. The antenna are then retracted leave the hooks hanging. The hooks stay on very well since they too have magnets to keep them attached to the bar. Our driver was still running in the lowest speed. He should be able to go up a bit faster.

Re: Interesting/Cool Scaling Mechanism Designs
 

But, if you happen to be flooring it for the batter at the conclusion of the match, and you're just not quite on at the buzzer but the robot ends up fully on there, you'll be quite happy with getting no challenge (and potentially no capture), even though your robot meets the conditions?

Right, didn't think so. If your robot is still moving at the time power is cut off, it's got 5 seconds to stop moving. At that time, it is assessed for points.

bennett, it can be perfectly safe to have a pneumatic cylinder in operation, provided the operation was triggered by the drive team (or the robot's timers). I've seen that one way too many times, under far stricter pneumatics rules. 2004, 2010 to some extent...

Re: Interesting/Cool Scaling Mechanism Designs
 

Here's FRC Team 1501 lifter in action (still action :D ):http://www.chiefdelphi.com/media/photos/43471
The hook design uses a spring to hold it back while we drive around the field. When we are ready to lift we use a pneumatic lifter to lift the hook to the bar. When it hits the bar, the spring over centers the hook and a spring pin keeps the hook from opening up as we lift. There are two pulleys for the rope.
Since the hook is loose in the lifter, we pinch the two ropes and the strap between the two lifter joint pieces.
The rope loop is attached to the front corners of the robot. When we lift we engage the PTO on our tranny. This reels in a ratchet strap that is attached to the rope.
We have tweaked it and it should be ready for the Indiana State Championships

Re: Interesting/Cool Scaling Mechanism Designs
 

4060's definitely got my #1 most creative latching design this year. This was beyond the realm of any ideas my team threw out, and beyond what I've read/been inspired by in the past. Well done, IMO.

I really like the scaling designs by 148/1114, wherein they negate the effect of scaling neighbors by angling the bumpers completely clear of the volume the neighbors would occupy during a scale.

1418's scaling mechanism consists of a scissor lift hook that's spring-actuated, and then a direct-cabled winch pulls the hook back down for the scale. It is quite compact and fits in a neat, tidy rectangular volume on the rear of their robot. The spring has a bit of force to it, so their latching mechanism to keep it in place is the tough thing for them to solve/maintain - yet they did it very well in their 2nd competition this season. It takes them about 15 seconds to line up, deploy and scale. They solve the problem of neighbors by scaling much higher than the requirement.

2363's mechanism is pretty fun to watch. It unfolds in two different directions - think of a 'vertical flop' mechanism. It takes about 10 seconds for them to line up, deploy and scale. The deployment used to be SUPER fast.

I think 842's takes the win overall though. You just can't beat a mechanism that was implemented day-of using a crazy-simple set of parts. It really makes me want to find a spare 3 lbs so I can take the build kids through the non-trivial and ever-so-humbling venture into finding volume on the bot to put all of the winch components.

Re: Interesting/Cool Scaling Mechanism Designs
 

Im sorry to be the bearer of bad news, but this was specifically ruled illegal. See Q&A Q738 - unless you replaced the antenna motor with a legal motor?

https://frc-qa.firstinspires.org/Que...omotive-motors

Re: Interesting/Cool Scaling Mechanism Designs
 

For the purpose of FRC, a compressor is a positive displacement device.

Fans are legal per R29:

A fan is a fan, not a compressor. The rule does NOT say "a fan is legal unless you blow it into a tube", so don't try to create rules that don't exist,

Re: Interesting/Cool Scaling Mechanism Designs
 

What about:

FRC doesn't define a compressor but they do say that there shall be only one source of compressed air, and that it must be rated 1.10cfm or less. I don't remember anything about a positive displacement device in the rules...

That is unless they replace the motor with a legal frc motor.