Re: Propulsion that does not involve driving wheels
 

You can use a pipe-like thing to direct the air. But anything regarding pneumatic tubing, or air ultimately from the on-board compressor simply does not have enough volume to be useful in this way.
I don't know why it would violate any rules, assuming the safety aspects were covered. An increase in "weight" (more accurately, downforce) would provide more friction and therefore traction.

Re: Propulsion that does not involve driving wheels
 

Interesting idea...
Big fans.. Maybe. Depends on the coating and the weight of the robot. Seems conviecable but you'l have to work out the number of wheels (do we have to use wheels are can we use like little bearing things?) for the least friction...

Why a big fan though? By not build a series of duct fans like on the Big RC Jets? Build a nice fat one or custom make a few by gearings the motor out and making it run 2-3 duct fans. That way you could direct the fans. You could either go for downforce or for power....

Re: Propulsion that does not involve driving wheels
 

Yes, you can only use the specified wheels, nothing else.

Re: Propulsion that does not involve driving wheels
 

You may be forced to use the 'rover wheels', but you could concievably create caster attachments for them.

Re: Propulsion that does not involve driving wheels
 

1124 ran a small test with a large downward facing fan (it was powered by a .25hp motor, about 26" in diameter, so it probably wouldnt fit on a robot), but that fan and the downforce it provided gave a significant boost in the amount of friction between the robot and the ground. it actually became hard to push (we dont have the proper instruments to give you guys how much force was required to move it, but it was a lot more than without the fan turned on)

Re: Propulsion that does not involve driving wheels
 

The instrument could be a bathroom scale or something simple like that, use it to push the robot with and without the fan running.

Re: Propulsion that does not involve driving wheels
 

I dont think FIRST would let a team have a large,SHARP!, spinning object on the robots, i mean they already get on us about the sharp corners.....


imagine what would happen if there was a collision, and the fan blade shattered and sent pieces flying everywere:ahh:

Re: Propulsion that does not involve driving wheels
 

A fan in a cage is no more dangerous than an intricate chain system or some of the launchers we saw last year--at least in my opinion.

Re: Propulsion that does not involve driving wheels
 

if its sufficiently caged, mounted, and protected, the above shouldn't happen.
shouldnt.


ill see if i can get the team to use the scale for force measuring tomorrow, when we are back in the high school.

Re: Propulsion that does not involve driving wheels
 

i highly disagree with that.....

Re: Propulsion that does not involve driving wheels
 

And yet, people still found (and were required to find) ways to protect these systems and reduce how dangerous they actually are.

Re: Propulsion that does not involve driving wheels
 

There is <R06> which states "No other forms of traction devices (wheels, tracks, legs, or other devices intended to provide traction) are permitted."

Re: Propulsion that does not involve driving wheels
 

Why not the best of both worlds? Have two cims driving the wheels and two on a fan set up. You have the same driving characteristics of everyone else with an added speed and some handling boost. The wheels alone can brake so the fans dont have to be reversed.The fans can help turning a little and best of all help blow moon rocks away. If you really get fancy, you could come up with a herding system with the fans and blow them around on the ground like a leaf blower.

Re: Propulsion that does not involve driving wheels
 

I think RogerHebert is right that you can't use a big fan on top, but what about the idea of pointing a fan (kind of like a leaf blower) over the trailer to deflect balls? Is that legal?

Re: Propulsion that does not involve driving wheels
 

However, these fans arent providing more traction- they are increasing the normal force which in turn causes the wheels to have more traction.

perhaps this is a question for the Q&A?