1208 progress
 

Despite endless snow and ice, team 1208 finally has a working robot. Here is how it performed today: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TgmtZ...layer_embedded

Re: 1208 progress
 

Looking Good!
What diameter wheels are you using? From the video I'm guessing 6"-8"

Re: 1208 progress
 

8 inch wheels.

Re: 1208 progress
 

Whats powering the arm?

Re: 1208 progress
 

How does the arm start in the frame perimeter and then extend out?

Re: 1208 progress
 

My team is working on our arm now. It is basically the same design. What did you use to power the second joint?

Re: 1208 progress
 

We are using 2 window motors through I believe a 4.8:1 sprocket reduction. The arm is definitely fast enough going up and generates about twice the amount of torque that we need with our "Antler". Gravity pulls it down faster than we would like when driven down (the arm stays up without power due to the window motor worm gear) so we are testing out different mechanical methods to decrease the speed coming down (we are testing springs and an open-air piston with reduced air flow connected to the arm.

The arm starts in the down position and the "Antler" starts in the up position in the starting configuration to put is inside the frame perimeter. There isn't a lot of clearance but there is more than enough.

We are powering the second joint with a winch mechanism using another window motor. We are testing to see if we should use a modified window motor with the brass pins removed. This would allow us to accidentally hit the ground with the "Antler" and limit the extent of damages to the Robot, although this will mean that we have to constantly power the Antler angle.

FYI - We filled the rack in about 2 minutes with human players tossing tubes to the robot over a simulated wall with a few students that haven't had much driving time yet. The more experienced drive team does better.