Q&A Discuss: Suction Cups
 

Thread created automatically to discuss a question in the Q&A Forum.

Suction Cups

GM 28 doesn't mention anything about the HDPE floor, though.

Attaching to that via suction seems okay to me.

I agree with Mr.Krass it seems like we have found the first loophole in the rules. The question is though can we create a vacuum this year?

About the response to this question (in the Q/A forum) ...

If you remember during the broadcast, it was said that teams could not push against more than one side of the polycarb siding (on the ramp) at a time. As far as attaching to the sides, it is my understanding that that would mean actually grabbing onto the sides with a claw mechanism or something similar. As far as the mesh ramp goes, they defined 'attaching your robot to it' as pushing something through the mesh. If you had a suction cup, that would not go through it ... though a suction cup would have a hard time sticking to wire mesh! ;)

- Katie

But you could essentially brace your self on the HDPE platform using one Suction cup on the HDPE and one on the Polycarbonate.
Yes???

Essentially ... Yes. :)

- Katie

Looks like you can attach/suction yourself to the HDPE but not to the railings because the would be considered attaching.
I think we should look for a clearer ruling on this in Tuesday Update
Getting this from the GM28
Robots may not intentionally:
· Attach themselves to the ramp mesh or framing material;
· Attach themselves to the railings/walls of any field structure;

Read rule M12. It says vacuum can be transmitted through the pneumatics system. However, I'm not sure how you would go about creating this vacuum. Are we allowed to plug stuff in to the inlet on the compressor?

I see nothing about attachment to the HDPE platform:D


Cory

Exactly!

· Attach themselves to the ramp mesh or framing material;

i.e. not the metal mesh, or the frame of the ramp.

· Attach themselves to the railings/walls of any field structure.

not the Railings/Walls OF any field structure, i.e. the vertical sections, not the HDPE! And if you noticed, the limits on suction cups are absolutely none at all! I think suction is definitely allowed on the HDPE.

No.
Rule GM31 explicitly states:
However, to solve the polyethylyne suction question, GM31 says that you may not attach to the TOP of the polycarbonate walls. It says nothing about the polyethylyne floor.

--Petey

If you were wondering about creating a vacume, u could reverse the compresser, except i would require some extra programming and solonoids, and alot of testing. My idea is that you use the intake, attach a solonoid, then have an tank outside the system. This way just switch the solonoid, then it will sucl the atmosphere out of the tank. Then from there add another solonoid that would open that tank to the suction cup. As for the suction cup, i would suggest using a silicone type. That is if silicone is legal, im still not sure...

I created a diagram if my speech was confusing. This might help...

M12:
That basically means you just have to back-drive a closed system. Shouldn't be too bad with the plethora of motors we've got.

Our robot used suction cups~ there is a big lengthy explanation of them in the thread scouting #677, if you need information about them.