Re: Articulated arm vs Forklift style arm
 

I have experience working with a Forklift, as a deal with them on a day to day basis working in a backroom of a grocery store. So, putting a forklift style mechanism ona robot would be easy to machine. However, it only privides a 3-axis movement. Therefore, taking more time needed to do the task.

As, for an articulated arm? I have been looking at the one we have in our shop. it provides a 6-axis movement but the programming it takes to perform the task is very redundant. It does get the task done in a very timely manner though.

Is there a possible way to combine the forklift style with the articulated arm?

Re: Articulated arm vs Forklift style arm
 

I think it's a clever idea.
Lends itself well to picking up deflated pieces too.

Re: Articulated arm vs Forklift style arm
 

Go back and look at the 2007 and 2010 games for suction related devices. Many teams used suction in 2007 to pick up tubes, as well as last year to hang on to the soccer balls. Obviously 2007 may have some direct correlations, so start there. If I remember correctly Team Voltage had a pretty nice suction system in 2007 (Team 386).

-Brando

Re: Articulated arm vs Forklift style arm
 

After all, the deflated pieces are still in play. But, we need to devise a way to place the cylinder on an axel and raise it so we can angle the hose, and lift it higher to reach the middle and top rows

Re: Articulated arm vs Forklift style arm
 

As a team that has very successfully implemented a vacuum, I would caution you from using a vacuum to pick up these tubes. Instead look back at 2007 and look at the mechanisms that were most effective, particularly in acquiring and retaining the pieces.

Re: Articulated arm vs Forklift style arm
 

we had orginally had four ideas for an arm. the hook idea was disposed of right off the bat. are idea that made it to prototyping was an inside expander. our vacum idea like that similar to team 230's is now back for protyping. any thing recomeneded for the inside expander?

Re: Articulated arm vs Forklift style arm
 

i was thinking of doing a fork lift type arm but was wondering how important it would be to be able to pick the pieces of the ground. if it is important than the arm would have to be far more complex than i originally thought.

Re: Articulated arm vs Forklift style arm
 

The forklift style is a better choice in my opinion. Yes it isn't has fancy or complex but it doesn't matter. You simply lifting tubes up to a certain height. It would also be able to repair something on a forklift style arm. It is also very easy to design and to create. Now of course we are considering creating a system (suction or rollers) to keep the objects in place so you may want to consider that as well.

Re: Articulated arm vs Forklift style arm
 

I have to agree with you here. We used a suction device in 2007 and while it was successful, to a certain degree, in picking up the tubes, it was difficult to maintain a grip on it while being defended. It all depends on your contact point and surface area for the suction device, but I would suggest looking at devices that did work very well in 2007. Take a look finals videos on the blue alliance for devices that worked under extreme defense.

Re: Articulated arm vs Forklift style arm
 

This is my teams second year in FRC, so we can't look back to rack n' roll. but, what would you suggest for a manipulator instead, a suction device would be efficent for picking the tubes off of the ground, but i do think that a forklift that raises 10' would work for placing the tubes on the scoring grid

Re: Articulated arm vs Forklift style arm
 

Check out Team 47's bucket from 2007. (Now Team 51)

Re: Articulated arm vs Forklift style arm
 

"This is my teams second year in FRC, so we can't look back to rack n' roll."

Sure you can, go the the blue alliance web page and watch the video's

http://www.thebluealliance.net/

Re: Articulated arm vs Forklift style arm
 

Maybe a combination of mechanisms would fit this game best. Try combining an elevator lie system with a movable wrist extended from it. that way you can alter the height and pick up from the ground if necessary (we will see). and this way you can concentrate on getting certain goal heights or whatever you want to do from there.

Re: Articulated arm vs Forklift style arm
 

We're thinking of using static electricity to pick up the tubes. The programmers are trying to figure out how to make the robot shuffle it's feet on the carpet.

Re: Articulated arm vs Forklift style arm
 

What if one were to design a forklift that could still pick up things off the floor, over the top of the bumpers, without use of a motor to articulate their grabber?

Hmmm... :D