Robot Cart Suggestions
 

Hey i'm from a rookie team (1676) and I would just like to know what other teams use for a cart at competitions and if the have any suggestions?

Re: Robot Cart Suggestions
 

We have a wooden cart with casters. Nothing special.

Sometimes its handy to have extra parts on the cart like batteries.

Re: Robot Cart Suggestions
 

Last year, 1293 hauled the robot the hard way on Thursday, then switched to a little red wagon for Friday and Saturday.

This year, we're planning on building a cart with some storage and additional cool factor.

Re: Robot Cart Suggestions
 

MOE likes to have a cart that is made of wood or extra bosh tubing if possible. and also made to hold the robot a little off the ground so we can work on it in the pits. 4 wheel casters are a good idea and try to get wheels that can lock,we have found that to be very helpfull. Also leave room on the cart to hold batteries the control board, extra tools, water for the drivers and what ever else your team might need.

Re: Robot Cart Suggestions
 

A hovercraft.

I have dreamed of a hover cart for years simply because I get fed up with all the cables on the ground.

Actually this is a bad idea though because imagine the dust and metal chips that would fly once the hover cart is turned on :ahh: :ahh: :ahh:

Actually just build a cart that is simple. Plywood, metal, or extruded aluminum.

Just keep in mind to keep the wheels big in diameter as there is power cables all over the pits and arena areas.

Small wheels = lifting robot and cart over many cables many times...
Trust me, I found out the hard way.

Re: Robot Cart Suggestions
 

S.P.A.M. uses a wooden cart and well we have the handle removeable so it's easy to take the robot off in all directions. And it's easier to store when going to competition. We used to use caster but now tires filled by air. I know some teams make really cool carts and with music playing. We just keep it simple and well down time it's a great place to sit on.

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Last year we had a two-wheel drive robot that rolled very easily. We also had a cart that rolled like it had square wheels. We got tired of it and finally just rolled the robot from the pit to the field with no cart at all. We loved it because we didn't have a cart to move out of the way or try to maneuver through the pits in Chicago. We did use our cart in Atlanta, though, because we didn't want to roll the robot that far. :yikes:

Re: Robot Cart Suggestions
 

I am currently building a motorized robot cart for my team. It uses 2 electric wheel chair motors and the electronics from our 2002 robot. It uses the 2002 robot and operator interface teathered of course. The cart also doubles as a shipping crate to ship all of our tools and spare parts. And is made of wood.
Some things to remember:
1. Not too big space in the pits is limited
2. Must be able to fit through a doorway
3. Make sure it can go long distances, if you go to Atlanta this would come in handy
4. There will be speed bumps, so make sure you can clear them.
I think thats just about it.

Oh and on the cart we have also confiscated the 2002 revolving light that will set on top of the cart and also we are trying to get some blue neon tubes to put in the electronics area. The cart itself is pretty much done all that is left is to paint it and make the skids for shipping, I hope to have it done the same time as the robot which looks like it will happen.

Re: Robot Cart Suggestions
 

Last year our team unveiled our uber-cart. It had an extruded aluminum t-slot frame (very simple to put together), with four drawers for parts, etc. We also installed a head unit and speakers to keep us pumped up. We had extruded risers to lift a lexan platform another foot off that part of the cart. This is where the robot was layed. We easily had body level access to the robot. The blue ground effects were also a sweet addition.

BUT, you guys may not have access to that kind of stuff (it took us 9 years to finally get a good one built)...But yea, any kind of wooden/aluminum frame with 2 casters, and 2 mounted wheels (one year we had 4 casters, and BOY that was fun)...anything that can support a robot, and has wheels, is probably good enough.

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I guess we kinda missed that memo, and put the blue underlights on our robot instead...

For out cart, we just had an off the shelf cartwith 4 wheels, 2 of which were casters. The only thing on our cart that was really out of the ordinary was the spinning light on it (form 2003 and before when we had lights wiht those covers) and we had the robot sitting on this peice of plywood that was signed by a bbunch of the good folks at AVL (our main sponsor) and it made us feel awesome each time we saw all their signatures and support, even when we were in atlanta.
Pretty much anything can work, depends on how much you want to spend...

Re: Robot Cart Suggestions
 

our old cart is just made of wood...rolls around on castors, has a handle to pull it. it had four drawers and then the whole bottom opened up so we could keep batteries, vise, bench grinder, etc underneath. it was nice to put the robot on when we werent using it.

this year i've been commisioned to build the new cart and the new cart to get the bot from matches... the new cart will be made out of 2" extruded almumium with shaded lexan sides and some blacklights...should be pretty cool. the new pick up cart...well maybe you'll all just have to see it at atlanta...:) here's a teaser...hehehe custom stretched frame by me...soon the tank will be done and then the trailer...the paint should be wild...either white with a blue metalflake in it or a pearlescent/ candy blue with ghost flames...:D watch out for me

http://photobucket.com/albums/v199/r...t=016dd2d9.jpg

Re: Robot Cart Suggestions
 

For 1114's rookie year, we used a plywood board with casters. Simple and effective.

Last year, as an off season project, we took a "garden cart" available at any number of stores(Walmart, Tuvalu, etc), and rebuild the rear Axel to incorporate a single drill motor with transmission and a set of variable diameter pulleys from www.hi-lo.com . This gave us a very simple CVT transmission without any complex machining. (see attached photo) 494 built a set of variable diameter pulleys from scratch. They looked really slick.

Aside from that, a couple things you should note when constructing your cart.

-You should have storage for several batteries.
-Possibly a charger on-board. (especially at championship when you the pits are too far to go)
-Wheels should be large enough to roll over the covers the put over the audio/video cables at the venue.
-basic tools to perform minor repairs. (screwdrivers, Allen keys, zip ties, pliers)
- make sure to make it look really cool, it makes it easier for teams to remember you, which comes in handy for alliance selections ;)

Re: Robot Cart Suggestions
 

Well we decided to not go with the kit-bot frame this year, so that may end up as the frame for out cart. Nothing to fancy, but it will sure beat what we had last year, nothing.

Re: Robot Cart Suggestions
 

easy - take a wooden pallet say from home depot? put casters on it - from there build a platform about 4 feet atop of it - we did that - and it held one of those field carpets!!! with 4 of us sitting on it!!!
:yikes:

Re: Robot Cart Suggestions
 

Our cart has speakers, amps, subs, an LCD screen, DVD player, keypad ignition/turn-on circuitry, keyfob controlled electronics, neon accessories, a "cabinet" space for tools and batteries, storage space for parts trays, and pneumatic lift to create an elevated workspace. :o

Re: Robot Cart Suggestions
 

We use a modified computer table thingie. It actually was in the room that was converted to our shop, and when we were packing stuff for Atlanta we looked at it thinking "wow .. that would make a nice cart". We screwed some 2x4s to the top (to lift the wheels off the cart so it can be driven in the pits for testing) and called it done. You can disassemble it completely, which makes it nice for a tool crate, and it also weighs next to nothing. The 2x4s create a 3" gap between the bot and the top of the cart, for tools and stuff, and the control box fits perfectly on the bottom shelf. This year, we stuck some vinyl decals on it.



Ironically, its the perfect height for getting under doors at competition :cool:

Thanks to 973 for taking the picture :D

Re: Robot Cart Suggestions
 

Get some plywood, cut it to desired size. Get folding table legs, attach. Get 4" casters, attach. Get Handle (rope is sufficient), attach. you now have a cart, that is low to the ground for moving, and has table legs for in the pit, that folds out from underneath. Simple, relatively cheap, effective.

Embellish with carpet, drawers, paint.

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A Standard Furniture dolly works wonders. We used the KOP Frame and Wheels and it fits right in between them. Its perfect and is not very big.

Re: Robot Cart Suggestions
 

Just a few things:

Weight, you don't want to pay extra for shipping, and most people are lazy if they have to lift the cart

Size, so you can stuff it into a corner when you're not using it

Extra stuff, when in finals, zip ties and wrenches are needed to be at hand. I like to have a crate of somesort for this

Ground clearance, get over wires on the ground

The teams with lights and amps on their cart are cool looking, but it often gets caught in a corner and they aren't allowed to play music (depending on the competion)

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this year, the kitbot frame with some wood and things to hold it in place. custom built ;)

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Team 1492 found a lawn cart at Home Depot which had steerable wheels, BIG fat tires and a removeable tub for the lawn supplies. Removing the red tub left a strudy, steerable, stable platform to build a wooden rack to hold the bot. It cost $99. The best cart deal I have heard of!!

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Although I do like Robostang's design, my preference is Truck Town's (though, technically, it's not a cart as much as something that tows one). ;)

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Our robot this year is it's own cart (it's tall enough and has two unpowered wheels in the back, so it can be tipped and moved around). In prior years we used a handtruck.

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Our team made a trade many years ago (forgot with whom) and the part that we got out of it was a custom carrier. It is a frame of powder coated aluminum, with two hadles. Their latching design allows them to be flipped down, turning the carrier into a table for pit working. The way we test our wheels is by "blocking the robot," which is 4 pieces of wood placed under the robot.



Here's a pic of the carrier, just so you can see what it's like.

Re: Robot Cart Suggestions
 

After watching/helping catch many robots that had started rolling off their carts while going over the wire-protector at the field entrance, I would recommend that the cart supports the bot by it's frame instead of resting on it's wheels, or use some angle-iron around the cart edges to prevent loosing your bot off the top of the cart.

Also, never forget about the doorways, we had a robot cart one year that was wider than the average doorway... but not for long. Picking it up at every doorway got tiring REALLY quickly.

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We use a cart our principal got at Costco. It was under $50 I think. It has a folding handle and large (10") pneumatic tires, with the front two swiveling. It is a little tippy but it is really good for going over those cable-ways on the floor or through grass/mud/dirt/etc.

Re: Robot Cart Suggestions
 

Yea, get bigs wheels and mabey even some motorized wheels. Here is our cart,
-2 Cims driving it
-4 speakers and 2 subs
-dvd player and 7in screen
-overkill we know but its fun to have

Re: Robot Cart Suggestions
 

For two years our team just used a boring old simple dolly. When we heard that 25 was making a motorized cart, we also had to (they never finished theirs, btw).

We took a motorized scooter (one with a seat) and added a large box to the back. The top had hinges so things could be stored inside, and the robot rested on top. One member of our team is responsible for driving it around. It even worked out for traveling! The whole scooter itself breaks down and fits inside the box. We shipped it with our robot to Atlanta in the crate.

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We came up with the idea of looking to see if there was anything we could buy off the shelf so we wouldn't have to go through the hassle of trying to build an awesome cart between competitions. We found hydraulic lift carts. With just a pump of the foot or a squeeze of the hand, the cart will easily go up and down. However, the picture below doesn't show the handle that allows the table to be lowered or the brakes on the back wheels.

Re: Robot Cart Suggestions
 

We use a simple cart, made of aluminum and casters. Very simple, very nice.

To pimp it out a bit, I always like:
- removable handles (so you can work on robot on the cart)
- Storage for batteries and a few other necessary items
- A turn table so you can pivot the robot while working on it

We like the ol' KISS principal on our robot, and the cart is no different. Cheap, Easy, Reliable, Simple, Quick - everything you need. :)

(But ground effect lighting, mass storage, stereos, cray supercomputers, and hovercarts are all really cool too!)

Re: Robot Cart Suggestions
 

We whipped together a cart at about 11:30 PM the night before our Regional. It's made so the robot rests on its frame, has casts, 2 subs, 2 speakers, 17in LCD, amp, modded xbox w/ wireless controllers, and batter/tool storage.

Re: Robot Cart Suggestions
 

Well it depends on the size and shape of you bot but... id go wil a small steel cart with independent wheels and try to find one with a small drawer or mail it to me (ill make you one ;) ) but the thing is if its too tall low over hangs might be a problem and if too short you might get stuck on some random object on the ground so try for some thing like 6 to 8 inches off the ground. AND WHOA if you look though all my posts this is my longest one ever. i think im turning smart! :eek: this might be bad.....

Re: Robot Cart Suggestions
 

Our cart we got this year worked great with places to store the following.

Holds 2 Battery's in back tray's.
Holds 6 Battery's and 2 chargers on front tray.
Has 2 compressors from prior years robots.
Has ~3 gallon air tank.
Has 3 drawers for tools.
Holds 2 joysticks and the RC on the top tray.
Robot height can be adjusted up and down 1 foot.
At current height a full sized robot can fit through most doors while on cart.

Re: Robot Cart Suggestions
 

^ that is FREAKING SWEET

Re: Robot Cart Suggestions
 

Our cart is pretty simple. Welded frame with medium size pneumatic tires. It has a method for turning it into a workstand, but we never use that. Removable handle. Painted with our team colors. This year we added a mat to the frame that can carry a basic tool set and a battery. The cool thing is that the robot rests on a pair of rails that can be adjusted to the robot in about 5 minutes. just loosen about 4 screws per rail, slide the rail, tighten the screws.

One thing about speakers is that FIRST does not like them on. The At The Event section of the manual says something about playing music, including cart music. I can't remember just what.

Re: Robot Cart Suggestions
 

Our cart looks something like this:



Now that's a pimp cart if I've ever seen one.

Seriously though, this cart has its advantages. It is very easy to transport the robot, and is also very easy to store, and cheap to ship, when it comes to competitions that are farther away or inaccessible by car. As much as we'd like to build one with a sound system, underglow, etc, there are still issues with transporting it and whatnot.

Re: Robot Cart Suggestions
 

Just as a note to the rookie teams, don't do this if your drive motors are attached to the wheels your pushing it on. There's an effect you're probably familiar wtih called backdrive (where the motor acts as a generator by being turned by the wheel). This causes quite a bit of voltage to go back to the victor, leaving a bit of voltage flowing INTO the OUT side of it. This is bad. (I don't know about other teams, but back in the 883's we used to fry quite a few due to backdrive).


As far as our cart, we have one thats made out of aluminum extrusion and anodized diamond plate, but its too bulky, doesnt move very well, and has now been replaced by a handcart we bought at home depot. I think the team is formulating plans to be build a new motorized cart, but thats just speculation at this point.

Oh, and whoever brought their cart to the team party: I bow in the presence of greatness. Good work.

Re: Robot Cart Suggestions
 

our principles of engineering class designed workbenches individually, and the class voted for one. the robotics advisor had the final say, and the class built it. it was a fun project.

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I've been thinking about building one for a while, but the question that always comes to mind is how do you transport that thing long distances from your city to like a faraway regional or the championship. I'm guessing you take it by bus or someone drives it a VERY LONG distance. Right now we just bring a little dolly that built out of 2x4's and some casters. This alone already feels like an inconvenience to check in.

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That would be us, The Robostangs team 548. See Tammy's post earlier for cart details.

Moving the cart around isn't too bad, we have a team trailer that we bring to all our competitions so we just bring the cart in that. When we don't feel like using the trailer, we just take all the seats out of a mini van.

Lindsey

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We have a dolly, it looks kinda like 177's!!! :)

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Got any room in your crate? No limit to what goes in. Just make sure of two things: one, make sure the cart, robot, and all necessary toolboxes fit, and two, secure it somehow. Last thing you need is the robot destroyed by the cart during shipping (OK, I'm exaggerating, but still...).

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And three: make sure it isn't overweight, because MCS will charge you an absolutely exorbitant amount (and might even if you aren't. FedEx weighed our crate in at 280 when they took possession of it. Somehow in transit to Sacramento it gained about 120lbs and MCS charged us a whole boatload for it).

Re: Robot Cart Suggestions
 

We have this cart:
http://www1.mscdirect.com/CGI/NNSRIT...PMPXNO=4556954
We are going to modify it to fit our robot.

Re: Robot Cart Suggestions
 

1625 might build a cart with two wheel chair motors in the back and casters in the front a stand on the back for the person who drives it were planning a scissor lift to raise it from around 6 in off the ground to around 36 or so.
anyone have a suggestion should i use pneumatics of hydraulics steal a car jack cylinder or something. to pimp it out anodized aluminum leds and a fog machine maybe. any help with the piston problem would be appreciated we have the pneumatics and compressor from the 2005 season.

Re: Robot Cart Suggestions
 

I would keep the anodizing and the LED's and ditch the fog machine.

While it would look cool, you will never be able to effectively control the fog and it's just gonna be totally unpractical at robot competitions.

Not to mention possibly illegal as far as the rules go.. If it's not, it should be.

Re: Robot Cart Suggestions
 

With some one standing on the back of the cart you first must make sure there is enough weight in the front to make sure the casters stay on the ground. on the lift i would use some thing pnuematic. For one it is less of a mess, lighter and safer in my opinion.
And make sure the fog machine isn't going to set off any smoke alarms that could get interesting.