pic: Spam 180 robot
 

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im interested... i have heard of teams using a fan to deflect balls, but is it effective? if so, how effective?

Re: pic: Spam 180 robot
 

That fan was awesome, and extremely effective. Not as much for deflecting scoring, but for propulsion.

For everyone who is skeptical about fans and there use in this game 180 will prove you wrong. Well done SPAM.

Re: pic: Spam 180 robot
 

I think the intent would be for propulsion and not deflection balls. If it is for deflecting balls I'm pretty sure it would be illegal per one of the updates.

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Not very. I've read in a few places where teams that are using fans mentioned this. They all seem to agree that the ball has too many holes to catch much wind. Especially since they aren't able to focus the wind on the ball.

Edit: No, there is no rule against using a fan to deflect the balls. The update says you can't use a fan to remove balls from the trailor.

Re: pic: Spam 180 robot
 

Nope.
http://forums.usfirst.org/showthread.php?t=10943
See question and answer #4.

Re: pic: Spam 180 robot
 

Not illegal per this Q&A. However, I don't think it is feasible due to the aerodynamics on the MOON ROCKS (IMHO).

Looks good SPAM! I cant wait to see it in action.

Re: pic: Spam 180 robot
 

Lovely Bot, any vids of this bad boy in action.

Re: pic: Spam 180 robot
 

Doh, missed that one.

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We designed the fan for populsion not deflection. I don't think it would help much since, as stated above, the holes in the balls let to much air through. However when you stand behind the fan when its on it is like being in a hurricane

Re: pic: Spam 180 robot
 

Do you guys have any video of your robot running with pneumato-boost?

A comparison video would be awesome... fan vs no fan acceleration. I'm really surprised it makes that big of a difference.

Way to think outside the regolith! :D

-q

Re: pic: Spam 180 robot
 

I don't have a video, but i did see them pushing us sideways on carpet while gaining speed multiple times at our scrimmage. No amount of traction control is good against that fan.

Re: pic: Spam 180 robot
 

I knew it. 4 wheel drive

Re: pic: Spam 180 robot
 

Wow, I want to see it in action. (:

Re: pic: Spam 180 robot
 

Personally, out of all the robots I have seen so far, this one is one of my favorites. S.P.A.M. has "two" 4wd. One that makes them go forward and backward and the other that allows them to move side to side. Their fan makes them incredibly fast and they run away from you like no tomorrow. They are also able to push you around. The fan puts out 10lbs of thrust. Their scoring mechanism is very cool as well. It has little "fingers" that picks up the ball and keeps it in until they want to score it. They are very fast as scoring as well. Their fan doesn't really deflect the balls as they don't turn the fan on unless they are trying to run away from others or trying to push them around. I would be very surprised if they decide that the fan is illegal on this machine. I can't wait to see it in action again.

Re: pic: Spam 180 robot
 

i'd just be concerned at what the safety judges will say...

what rpm are you running?

what do you have to stop hands, fingers .oose nuts and bolts, broken bands from orbit balls etc... from getting in

hope it works...

we're just a rookie team with a standard kitbot... sadpanda...

although, we did notice that our narow orientation was alot better at pushing than some of the wide robots (they'll have issues with non-bumper contact...)

Re: pic: Spam 180 robot
 

I think they have safety mesh on now. Looks like they have the minimums "suggested" by FIRST, so they should be good.

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Tell all of your alliance partners good luck. They'll need it just as much as your opponents will. :rolleyes:

Re: pic: Spam 180 robot
 

Sweet. A little bird had already hinted to me about the prop.

Where's the camera? Certainly Eric has some autonomous plan up his sleeve.

Hows the weight?

Looks VERY competitive.

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i believe now were only like 1lb over weight and yeah eric and mike got some nice stuff up their sleves for auton i hope and we did put mesh on it and we had every meember of the team try to stick there fingers in it and no one could get passed their 2cnd knuckle:yikes:

Re: pic: Spam 180 robot
 

what is with all of these teams using fans, i find them to be too unreliable and lack the stearing cabilites, but sure go ahead and use them

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looks good now we must wait to see it in action but to me it'll just be a webcast

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If you notice, they are not using the fan as there primary mode of transportation. They are really using it more like a turbo or NOS system just to give them a boost when they need it. From our preliminary testing we have found that fans can come close to doubling our maximum pushing force and acceleration. This means no matter how great someone's traction control is, someone with a well designed prop system will be able to out-push and outrun any bots that don't have it. If you can push anyone and catch anyone suddenly your scoring opportunities just increased dramatically.

The only downfall that I have seen is the extra power consumption.

Re: pic: Spam 180 robot
 

Lemme tell ya. This thing is not pinnable, catchable or pushable. It scores really well, and the driver is very good, already. If I wanted anyone to design a fan it would be James, and if I could have it done any way I wanted for any cost, it would be like this one, with a sterolithography cowling. If I could have powered it any way I wanted, it would be how they did it, 3 cims. If I could protect it in the best way possible it would be like this. So what I'm saying is this thing is optimized and I am really impressed. If you think the fan will hinder your alliance, I can say right now they'd be my top pick, just for the bully factor alone (not to mention all the others). I also am convinced that this thing will be in the finals in Florida. Usually SPAM has work to do in their pit on Thursday, but from what I can tell this thing is done. They also have a practice bot. So Kudos SPAM, I haven't been this impressed since 2002 ;)

Re: pic: Spam 180 robot
 

Thanks for all of the positive support. Especially, you, Dan.

We've still got some work to do. You are never really done until you pack up to go home from Atlanta.

While this is probably one of the best looking robots SPAM has built, there are a bunch of robots out there that will be better at scoring rocks.

But it sure is sweet watching this thing glide around the field. ;)

Re: pic: Spam 180 robot
 

the name btw is PUFFY the (enter adjictive we havent chosen yet (thinking about pulverizeing robot))

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I'm impressed guys!

Im pretty sad i wasn't able to come down at all this year.. Senior year of college has finally caught up with me... lol

see you guys at Fl

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so ........videos?? i am really excited to see this thing moving.

Re: pic: Spam 180 robot
 

Well..........looks like S.P.A.M. has outdone itself again, and built a fantastic machine. I can hardly wait to see how well it does. Great job!
Good luck this season. I wish we were going to be in Florida to see and compete with you.
Gil - Team 343 - Metal In Motion ;)

Re: pic: Spam 180 robot
 

Before you critisize the use of fans you should look into their usefullness.

The fans that we will be using (in 1729) are two 16" 8 pitch props that will give us 4.8 LBs of thrust each ... thats a total of 9.6LBs of additional thrust. I believe S.P.A.M.s propeller gives them a bitmore than 10 LBs of additional thrust.

If you consider that your robot will typically have between 9 and 15 LBs of thrust from the wheels (depending on whos' numbers you believe) this is a significant increase and can be a great advantage if the drivers can utilize that extra thrust.

Let me know what you think of the propellers after the regionals. Personally, I believe that there will be a propeller assisted robot on Einstien this year.

Re: pic: Spam 180 robot
 

I talked to George Wallace last night about your robot. It seems to be a killer design and you will be literally a "force" at your regionals.

Congratulations look forward to playing with you but not against you.

Oink Oink Spam!!

Re: pic: Spam 180 robot
 

I predict some design awards for this one. Great job, & like everyone else I can't wait to see this in action at the Florida Regional.

Better hang on to your capes!:yikes:

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Last time S.P.A.M.'s robot's name ended in "uffy," they were in the finals for the championship gold. Their 2002 robot's name was Fluffy and by far one of my favorite robots in the history of FIRST. :)

Re: pic: Spam 180 robot
 

well yes its name was fluffy actualy fluffy the flesh eating robot(to be exact):D