under 2 sec Mini bot
 

I am starting to think is possible to get a mini bot up in under 2 secs.

Re: under 2 sec Mini bot
 

I think it's been proven that a mini-bot can climb the pole in less than two seconds.

I wonder how many people can figure out how to do it?

Re: under 2 sec Mini bot
 

Today while at work I was doing some math on my phone and I got the theoretical time very nearly below 1 second.

Re: under 2 sec Mini bot
 

How are you getting your minibots to do that?
So far we've gotten the bot up in 10 seconds, but we're running into difficulties for making it go faster with our tetrix wheel (not the best traction), and messing around with the gear ratios, and just finding where to distribute weight.
What kinds of designs are you guys using?

Re: under 2 sec Mini bot
 

Yes.

Proof by example

http://www.chiefdelphi.com/forums/sh...ad.php?t=90114

Q.E.D.

(unless you are including the start of deployment as well?)

Re: under 2 sec Mini bot
 

I won't tell you exactly how. But, concerning weight distribution ideally your weight is pushing your drive wheel(s) into the pole, concerning gear ratios find the top of the power curve and eliminate extra gearing as each stage adds inefficiency, concerning tetrix wheel traction slit some surgical tubing down the middle and put it around the wheel with PVC glue to secure it (just an idea, haven’t tried it).

Good Luck

Re: under 2 sec Mini bot
 

It's all in the design.

1. Minimize weight.
2. Increase efficiency (eliminate gears)
3. Maximize power through gear ratio and wheel size choice.
4. Profit!

There are also some other games you can play to increase the power of the system (legally).

Re: under 2 sec Mini bot
 

Remember that that video is without a battery. Is there any minibot who has actually climbed the 8 ft with a battery in less than 2 seconds?

Re: under 2 sec Mini bot
 

Those of us who can/have done it ;) aren't likely to show anything until competition, otherwise everyone will be doing it. Even then keeping them covered in the pit might be common. It's so easy to reconfigure these tetrix kits.

Re: under 2 sec Mini bot
 

my mini bot goes up in 4-5 seconds and it only has one set of wheels powered and i plan to put it on both sets

Re: under 2 sec Mini bot
 

I agree. Has anyone considered having a 3 second bot for Thursday and Friday, and saving the sub-2 second bot for Saturday as a secret weapon?

Re: under 2 sec Mini bot
 

That is interesting. But even then, if it uses the same tetrix parts, and if another team has the parts needed, I think they could create it over lunch or something. I think it is a good idea to keep your design concealed, but you can keep it concealed even when you are using it in competition.

Re: under 2 sec Mini bot
 

I would say this is a bad plan since you are doing an unnecessary limit. Do not purposely weaken your team's capability to effectively complete the challenge. Do your best at qualifications so you can use the "secret weapon" during eliminations.

EDIT: after reading Cyperphil's post, if you want to really hide then cover the minibot with polycarbonate since its allowed.

Re: under 2 sec Mini bot
 

Wait a minute here... So teams have already build (or at least prototyped) their minibots already? Our team only has the CAD and a prototype made with servos. We are behind.

edit: our design is so crazy that I doubt that any team can fabricate the deployment system and the minibot in the 2 day period.

Re: under 2 sec Mini bot
 

My team started prototyping the day we got the FTC kit. We went through I think at least 4-5 different prototypes already. Forgot if our current minibot is going to be final design.

Re: under 2 sec Mini bot
 

So coopertition is not a big thing for you? I mean, you won't be lending your minibot out to other teams, or will you? Scouting reports will likely tag your team as "keep 'em away from the pole" even if for only a few seconds. We're considering a tinted polycarbonate box which may or may not have a minibot aboard. How fast? Thaaaaat fast! wanna see it again? :)

Re: under 2 sec Mini bot
 

Yes. We have had about 4 prototypes, all along the same lines. No final product has been created, but proof of concept has been shown. We figured that since it is such a huge part of this game, it was necessary to spend a significant amount of time on it.

I agree that the toughest part would be to create the deployment system also. Depending on what teams use to start the minibot, it will be very tough to fabricate something at competition that deploys it, or even modify their current design to allow for the new minibot.

Re: under 2 sec Mini bot
 

Haha, thanks for that joke. But don't forget to tease people with maybe a wheel.

Re: under 2 sec Mini bot
 

The only problem is you guys don't have the battery on in that video, that battery is very heavy and will slow you down. Also if you were thinking of leaving the battery on your FRC robot just remember the 12x12x12 rule won't let you do that.

Re: under 2 sec Mini bot
 

Does anyone have specs on the TETRIX motor with the gearbox removed?

Re: under 2 sec Mini bot
 

I would check the legality of that in the Q&A. In the current context of the rules, it seems like it may be legal to remove the gearbox, but it's better to be safe than sorry.

Re: under 2 sec Mini bot
 

Q&A has ruled that it is legal.

Re: under 2 sec Mini bot
 

Well, turn me over and call me Sally. Looks like I should have done a search.::rtm:: ::ouch::

Re: under 2 sec Mini bot
 

So with the max power outputs of the motors and the weight of two motors and a battery, you could calculate the absolute maximum minibot speed. Anybody know how much the motors and battery weigh?

Re: under 2 sec Mini bot
 

Re: under 2 sec Mini bot
 

Two seconds up the pole is definitely feasible. :D

Two seconds, from breaking the plane to hitting the trigger, that's the challenge.

Re: under 2 sec Mini bot
 

Make the weight work for you so increases traction

Re: under 2 sec Mini bot
 

I expect that if you're using any tetrix parts besides the bare motors, wheels, and battery, you're not building the fastest minibot you could :)

Re: under 2 sec Mini bot
 

I wouldn't be surprised to find out that if you are using the Tetrix wheels you are not building the fastest minibot you could.

Re: under 2 sec Mini bot
 

You're probably right. Sheet aluminum or polycarbonate and latex tubing is looking pretty good.

Re: under 2 sec Mini bot
 

I wouldn't be surprised to see some of the faster mini-bots using tetrix metal as well. The few pieces I played with were extremely light.

Re: under 2 sec Mini bot
 

The real race will be deployment.

Can you deploy faster than 1 second?

Re: under 2 sec Mini bot
 

I'm pretty sure that minibot didn't have a battery pack onboard :rolleyes:

Re: under 2 sec Mini bot
 

Our team has protoyped two minibots with good results, and I still think we are far behind. A reliable, fast, rugged deployment method is challenging. Do not underestimate it.

I second all the comments regarding using the required masses to improve wheel traction.

Our team will probably not be disguising our minibot in any way. Right now, it just kind of "feels wrong."

If you have enough man-hours to devote to it, a sub-2-second climb is doable. We do not have enough man-hours.

Re: under 2 sec Mini bot
 

I hear one FRC team in Phoenix is getting a whole other ex-FRC team (now FTC team) to develop their minibot. Yeah, it can take a lot of engineering effort to make an outstanding performer.

Re: under 2 sec Mini bot
 

ditch the gearheads.

Re: under 2 sec Mini bot
 

Under 2 seconds, huh? I'll bet that if we see some under 2-second MINIBOTs, we'll also see some batteries that are overcharged and leaking by the end of competitions.

Re: under 2 sec Mini bot
 

universal smart charger $35

it's an essential piece of equipment for Airsoft. it saves you from destroying your batteries. i suggest you grab one of you are worried about overcharging

Re: under 2 sec Mini bot
 

Jesse isn't worried about overcharging per se.

They're saying that to achieve sub-two second climbs, those minibots will be depending on an overcharged battery (to squeeze that extra little bit of performance from) to do so, and thus by the end of competitions, they'll be damaged.

Re: under 2 sec Mini bot
 

I believe the chargers we got for the FTC batteries are almost identical to this (without the branding/different color)

-Brando

Re: under 2 sec Mini bot
 

we just got 1.6, i will post the youtube soon once it is uploaded.

Re: under 2 sec Mini bot
 

You really want to count on that? ;)

Re: under 2 sec Mini bot
 

Possible without a shred of doubt...

Re: under 2 sec Mini bot
 

I just ran it without the gearbox and no load: @12v 7700 RPM, @14v 9100RPM. I'm not sure about the available torque.

Re: under 2 sec Mini bot
 

Do we have a video Hailey?

Re: under 2 sec Mini bot
 

Our minibot is just over 2 seconds, with battery. We are using the tetrix wheels, but they've been modified (in a legal way). From what I've heard, we're still working on the CAD of the deployment mechanism.

'Scuse me? ;)

Re: under 2 sec Mini bot
 

Our minibot climbs the pole in 2.14sec (at least thats what we were told by a comment) and it is built solely from the TETRIX kit's parts.
i'm pretty sure that with a bit improvement or Weight reduction we will be able to go up in less than 2 sec.

Our minibot's first test run-
http://www.chiefdelphi.com/forums/sh...ad.php?t=90373

Re: under 2 sec Mini bot
 

Here's a 1.8 second run:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NnCfXzmwe6o

And here's the 1 second deployment:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h2HWZeGKp5I

Re: under 2 sec Mini bot
 

Very nice minibot and deployment mechanism. Great use of springs. Very simplistic. With the minibot and it's deployment this year I believe that the designs that are simpler will be more effective. Great work!

Re: under 2 sec Mini bot
 

:eek: did it?

Re: under 2 sec Mini bot
 

I would assume some of these minibots don't have gearboxes.

Re: under 2 sec Mini bot
 

Or modified gearboxes;)

Re: under 2 sec Mini bot
 

Cybergnomes have just done it! 1.88 sec! With room for improvement! :yikes:

Re: under 2 sec Mini bot
 

Nice job! I'm assuming you will modify you're deployment to 18 inches.

Re: under 2 sec Mini bot
 

Team 3015 here. We have made a mini robot that went up in 4 seconds or so with the battery on it. I was just wondering if that is considered good or bad?:ahh:

Re: under 2 sec Mini bot
 

4 seconds as of right now seems a little below average on CD. However, I think that you'll find that at whatever compitition you go to that 4 seconds will certainly be competitive and you will win your fair share of minibot races.

Good Luck

Re: under 2 sec Mini bot
 

Im proud to say that we can deploy in .3 seconds, so if anyone wants to loan us a minibot...

Re: under 2 sec Mini bot
 

Any team that gets a minibot to climb has done well. It isn't a matter of good or bad, just a question if your design is going to be more or less competitive measured against other minibots. According to many posts on this forum, there are several minibots able to climb in 2 or less seconds and many have indicated times in the 3 second range. If you want to improve your time, consider looking through this and other related threads for some ideas to help your team out. Consider modifying your gear ratios and reducing weight to reduce your climbing time, and keep trying to improve!

Re: under 2 sec Mini bot
 

Exactly.

Also remember the proof is in the pudding. If you go and your minibot consistently climbs the tower, that makes you a very strong contendor no matter what.

Many folks tend to.... "overstate" the potential of their robot/minibot. Wait till you see a couple competitions. After all, the minibot is not part of the allowance and as such you can work on it pretty much anytime to improve it.

Re: under 2 sec Mini bot
 

This is excellent advice from a very consistent hanging team last year. Just like last year's bonus, many will attempt, but statistically few will succeed. At an absolute minimum, it is a 10 point endeavor if you consistently succeed. It takes a lot of tube hanging to make up those 10 points.

Re: under 2 sec Mini bot
 

In fact, it takes at least 3 tubes on the top row (3 in a logo in the middle row works too) to get 10 points. That's huge.

Re: under 2 sec Mini bot
 

anyone using omin mini wheel for the minbot

Re: under 2 sec Mini bot
 

WHY? making a pole-dancing robot?

Re: under 2 sec Mini bot
 

I've been hacking away at that joke all season.

"Presenting Team Fusion's mini-bot, Miss Candy!"

:p

Re: under 2 sec Mini bot
 

We just made 3 seconds from start of deployment to triggering. .3 seconds to deploy (plus maybe .1 for the minibot clamp to release), 2.85 seconds for the climb itself.

I do hope that we can regularly deploy though. The robot will probably be able to drive tomorrow and we can do a full test of how difficult it is to align and deploy, but for now anything could happen. We tried to design our robot with deployment in mind though. The camera is mounted on a servo so we can turn it around to align for deployment, and supposedly our deployment tray is able to self-align during deployment as long as the brakes aren't on.

What about trading minibots? Who has a flexible enough deployment system to handle a variety of minibots? It looks like our tray will be able to deploy anything that has a vertical neck no more than ~3" wide. Have any teams been actively collaborating with others to build compatible minibots?

Re: under 2 sec Mini bot
 

It's nice to hear all these claims about how fast you climb and deploy.. But I wanna see you at the pole at that ten second mark deploying and be the first one up.. You may have the fastest minibot out there.. But means nothing if you aren't at that pole at the second that base lights up..

Getting to that tower will be the hardest thing to do... You have to cover alot of area to get there...

Re: under 2 sec Mini bot
 

And that is why we used tank treads with supershifters this year. Speed to the tower, power through any opposition.