How does your robot hurdle?
 

In addition to running around the track or herding, does your team plan on hurdling the ball? How?
We went with a quick pivot arm that grabs the ball from the ground, holds it on our bot, runs around the track, then lifts and hurdles the ball. Next, repeat steps all over again.
We also have the ability to knock balls off the overpass and place them at the end of matches also.

I have seen a lot of shooters/catapults which seem more effective. However, I am curious as to how they will place or remove balls from the overpass.

Re: How does your robot hurdle?
 

We're planning on lifting the trackball over the trellis, about halfway, and then dropping it over. We can also place it back on the trellis at the end of the match. Ours is a forklift device with a saucer shaped vacuum.

Re: How does your robot hurdle?
 

We have a flapper on the top if our mast that with springs will shoot the ball off o the overpass.

Re: How does your robot hurdle?
 

we currently have a double-jointed arm for lifting over, but are prototyping for a catapult to fire over the overpass.

Re: How does your robot hurdle?
 

Our 2 arms design have the capabilities of lifting the ball with 1 piston over, then dropping it on the other side.

Re: How does your robot hurdle?
 

We have a catapult shooter type robot, with a patent pending gizmo that knocks the ball off, and we've accidentally placed the ball on the overpass several times while testing the shooter.

Re: How does your robot hurdle?
 

We're using lots of electrical energy. About 500 watts to be exact.

How it gets converted to kinetic? Well, that my friend, is the cool part.

Re: How does your robot hurdle?
 

Our arm will be a hybrid between an elevator and 4-bar lift. It's in final construction stages now - pictures should be up soon.

Re: How does your robot hurdle?
 

So, are you looking to replace your arm, or design to have both? Wow!
**By the way, I think we were in the pit next to each other in NJ07 last year.**

Re: How does your robot hurdle?
 

quickly....

with force



Hopefully repeatedly and efficiently


:D WC

( see ya next month!!)

Re: How does your robot hurdle?
 

Our machine will definitely have an arm capable of placing the ball and hurdling. Depending on weight and time there will be a shooter added to that arm.:cool:

Re: How does your robot hurdle?
 

I think you're thinking of 375 ^_^.

As for the arm/catapult decision...you'll have to wait and see :D.

Re: How does your robot hurdle?
 

Our team is using a pneumatic-operated catapult. However, to get the lever arm long enough we had to make our robot extend to twice it's starting size at the beginning of the match. The catapult arm will start raised at an angle, then drop down once the match starts.

Re: How does your robot hurdle?
 

Now I remember, the two-eyed camera robot of your 2007 robot.:D

Re: How does your robot hurdle?
 

We're using a catapult and a seperate knocker device mounted on the top of the catapult frame (so far) that will knock the ball off during hybrid mode. But other than really really accurate shooting we won't be able to place the ball back without help, hopefully we'll be able to hurdle fast enough to make up for it though.

Re: How does your robot hurdle?
 

Our robot is using a spring/piston method to fire the ball over. It will sit 3 inches beind the ball on our composite arm:D and be raised by the window motor.

Re: How does your robot hurdle?
 

I'm not sure just what the difference between a 'catapult' and a 'shooter' is meant to be, but we are shooting the ball with a catapult-like mechanism powered by pneumatics.

We have managed to land the ball on the rack a few times during testing, although now that we have increased our shooter's power it would actually be quite a challenge to get the extra four points you get for putting it up on the overpass. We are more than willing to sacrifice four points (12 for leaving it on the rack - 8 for just shooting it over) for the speed and overall efficiency (fun!) of shooting.

As for knocking it off at the start of the match... a 2"x24" cylinder at 20 psi will only use as much air as a 2"x8" cylinder at 60 (about 5-10 seconds of compressor time). You can also set the cylinder up to be single-acting (note that this is different from using a single-acting cylinder, which is a no-no), so you don't need to waste air pushing the rod back down. It is still a lot of air, but not so much that we won't be able to recharge in time to shoot.

We figure that if the compressor recharge rate (approx one shot every 20 seconds) is the limiting factor to our ability to score points that we're probably having a fairly successful match.

That's the theory, anyways....

Jason

Re: How does your robot hurdle?
 

despite my madman ranting and crazy talk about a awesome shooter, we have built what is looking out to be a pretty functional lift arm claw ... thing...
we just have to get he chassis painted with racing stripes first...

Re: How does your robot hurdle?
 

I am curious to see how dependent catapult/shooter robots will be where someone on their alliance needs to bring the balls down from the beginning of the match either during autonomous or tele-op play. If they cant do it and teammates cant, then what?
So far, a lot more lifting arm type mechanisms than anything else.

Re: How does your robot hurdle?
 

We're using a dual roller system to shoot the ball.... and we can also use the rollers to pick it up again... :D

A catapult only accomplishes HALF of this year’s game. You have to catch your ball before you can throw it.

Re: How does your robot hurdle?
 

Team 904 is using the "smooth as silk" elevator/arm combo to execute a controlled hurdle and still have the ability to place the trackball on the overpass at the end.

Re: How does your robot hurdle?
 

This I'd like to see... I was considering the idea but couldn't think of a good way to do it. Be sure to post a picture of your bot when it's done!

Re: How does your robot hurdle?
 

It probably doesn't work like you'd expect.

The rollers themselves turn very slowly and with great torque. The "shooting" ability comes from the mechanisms ability to squeeze the ball through a small opening. When the ball exists this opening it expands rapidly and is tossed a short distance.