Re: can we use 2 batteries?
 

Most of the robot was together and on the scale...honest!

Re: can we use 2 batteries?
 

Last year we used a nice thick steel plate for some added ballast at the front of our robot. Helped prevent tipping, and brought us up to the weight limit. The plate started around 20lbs, but i think we ended up shaving off a little before competing.

hopefully we're under again this year so we can use some more steel plates to offset the battery, which is looking to be on one side of the robot, making us a little lopsided!

Re: can we use 2 batteries?
 

We need a robot before we can worry about ballast... Woohoo crunch time!

Re: can we use 2 batteries?
 

Ballast should be a simple problem to solve. although i like the sledgehammer and wrenches one.

Re: can we use 2 batteries?
 

no point of using 2 batteries anyways just bring a few fully charged battery for back up if necessary the robot would definitely not use up all the power after 1 match. unless if the battery is really old.

Re: can we use 2 batteries?
 

All teams really need to bring multiple batteries and multiple battery chargers to each regional. You should never start a match with anything other than a fully-charged battery and it can often take an hour or two to recharge a battery following a match. Bring plenty of spares!

Russ

Re: can we use 2 batteries?
 

You've obviously never built any high-torque treaded tank drive robots. 1075 has no trouble building a robot whose drivetrain will swiftly kill one of our batteries in as little as 10 seconds.

We had to fix that, obviously, but we were still just barely squeezing 2.5 mins out.

In contrast, our forklift cart powered by 2 12V deepcycle marine batteries in parallel with 2004's IFI system will run for an entire competition weekend on a charge. There is definitely a benefit to be had by running multiple batteries, HOWEVER, its not allowed. C'est la vie.

Re: can we use 2 batteries?
 

This year our robot with trailer hitch and bumpers weighed just over 105 pounds!

Re: can we use 2 batteries?
 

Anyone who has to look at batteries, wrenchs, lead plates, or anything else mentioned deserves an award as far as I'm concerned. Our robot is box, yet we were still only .2 under. You guys are engineering idols.

Re: can we use 2 batteries?
 

in 2007 we added 13 lead diving weights to the robot (zip tied to the frame for lowest possible CG.) The advantage was that they were meant for a diving belt, so they were relatively small, already coated with 1/8" rubber, and had a wide, thin slot for putting zip ties through.