Side Project Ideas?
 

I'm trying think of some project for our team to build before build season to train the freshman for build season.

Any ideas on something that would actually be worthwhile to build and also not incredibly difficult or expensive?

Re: Side Project Ideas?
 

A hockey puck launcher. I'm sure there are several ways to approach this, and we actually tried this once during our offseason which went well.

EDIT: Just thought of something else: a custom driver station would be cool to have. Custom buttons, joystick holders, etc.

Re: Side Project Ideas?
 

How's your storage situation? If you don't have something for long raw materials, a rack for that would certainly be good training for working from a print and shop safety.

Other thoughts: a display stand for an old robot, an FLL table for a team to adopt, a new boulder intake, 4-bar arm, a couple cardboard combat robots*...

(*full disclosure: I work at AndyMark, but that was so much fun)

Re: Side Project Ideas?
 

We recycled the team version drawbridge into a material rack back in june. It was a fun 2 day project that has helped us manage our raw materials while also reusing the obscene amount of materials used on practice field elements.

Re: Side Project Ideas?
 

We are going to try this. You know just in case. ..

Re: Side Project Ideas?
 

Definitely think about making a custom robot cart. It can add a lot of value if you make it right, and can give students more training on whatever machines/design/assembly techniques are used to make it. If you design it to have tool storage, space for batteries/bumpers, and more stuff like that it can be a very efficient use of pit space as well, and it would be a very valuable investment to a team looking for an offseason project that directly realtes to FRC.

Re: Side Project Ideas?
 

And the other part of that is to also design it to be able to adjust to fit future robots. Here's one for you: 330's cart has had the same design since 2002. I want to say it's the same cart, but I remember hearing that they rebuilt it recently. It's pretty bare-bones as far as storage, though: throw everything underneath the robot and hope the mat doesn't tear.

Re: Side Project Ideas?
 

A t-shirt cannon robot is a great side project. It helps bring a lot of publicity to the team when you shoot of shirts at the football games :)

Re: Side Project Ideas?
 

A t-shirt cannon or a custom driver station

Re: Side Project Ideas?
 

Same Body Glove mat, new chassis. The original handle was sanded down and slots were added for cotter pins. It's bare bones because once you remove the wheel pods, it's only about 2 inches thick. The rails are adjustable in width (perfect for our WCD) and it's more than happy to tote around lunches until we remember to eat them. The only issue is the convex Colson wheels. The back two are stationary, but the front two are casters and wobble like crazy when you try to move at a reasonable speed (at least people can hear us when we're late for a match)

Re: Side Project Ideas?
 

Making a new pit could be helpful depending on what your pit looks like from year to year. Maybe do a small project first like a battery cart, then use that knowledge to plan out and create a nice pit.

Re: Side Project Ideas?
 

There are a lot of options depending on your teams capabilities. We are going to be making a belt grinder as one of our training projects this fall. For mill and lathe training we are making Kant Twist clamps with a 3 inch opening capacity.

Re: Side Project Ideas?
 

Reprogam your robot. I'm sure there are some new capabilities you would like, especially if you go to off season events. Consider any improvements to the current design as well.

Also, look at prototyping things you haven't done before. A shooter, catapult, or alternative drive system (Kiwi, H, other). Just remember, you don't necessarily have to have everything FRC sized. For a lot of things, you could use FTC motors and battery but the FRC RoboRIO & motor controllers.

Re: Side Project Ideas?
 

This past season, my team made a motorized cart for the special education program to deliver soup to teachers.

Re: Side Project Ideas?
 

Our team did a football kicker and we are also are building a new pit cart, safety cart, and side cart.