#1860 kicker prototype
 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QMqMi_OIuRY

Our kicker prototype
At the moment, we are only using the correct angle for kick, but aren't considering the air drag!

We would appreciate any feedback!

Re: #1860 kicker prototype
 

Looks good! How far from the bump is your kicker? Is it pneumatic or does it use surgical tubing?

Re: #1860 kicker prototype
 

It's near of the floor. The bumper is placed with 10 inches above the floor, so the point of contact between kicker and ball is nearly 9,5inches. We are using a motor with gear box!!

Re: #1860 kicker prototype
 

Looks good. A lot of teams have shown kickers that are being cocked by hand, but it's nice to see one that's motorized.:)

Re: #1860 kicker prototype
 

We're playing soccer this year, 1860 better win the World Champs in Atlanta this year. ;)

Re: #1860 kicker prototype
 

Hmm - very nice - is the kicker fairly accurate with every "kick" (in terms of direction, speed, ball control?) Also, is the reset time fairly fast?

Re: #1860 kicker prototype
 

I think that the main trouble that we're having is the ball position for the kick at the moment.

Before this, our main trouble was find the exact angle to kick, because we need consider three fundamental points in the trajectory: the height of the bumper, the height of first bump and the height of the second bump.

We think that we need improve the kicker in order to pass the second bump without touch the floor!!

Re: #1860 kicker prototype
 

Would be much better if we could put a small guy inside the robot to play the match :D

Re: #1860 kicker prototype
 

Just to clarify...your kicker uses ONLY a motor and gearbox to provide the impulse? No tubing or springs???

Re: #1860 kicker prototype
 

We don't use springs or anything with elastic energy conservation. I don't understood exactly what is "tubbing", but we calculate the force for the kicker based in the centripetal acceleration!!

Re: #1860 kicker prototype
 

By "tubing" he was referring to the surgical tubing provided in the kit (stretched out to provide elastic energy). Your answer shows that you're not using it.

Re: #1860 kicker prototype
 

So did you just program a limiter onto the motor? Does it reverse, or is the motor somehow mechanically pulled away from the kicker?
This looks really effective! good job.

Re: #1860 kicker prototype
 

We are using two limit's sensors (in order to provide for us two positions: the armed position for the kick and the position after of the kick. Note: the same sensor which detect that the ball was been kicked will detect if there is some ball for kick).

So we keep our kick armed within FRAME PERIMETER and when the driver to press the button, the CIM motor turns forward. After kick, CIM motor turns reverse and keep armed position.

By PWM variation we can change how far the ball goes!

Note: we'll adapt some mechanism to guarantee that pendulum will keep the armed position when the robot move yourself.