Pit/Robot Carts?
 

Hello CD!

My rookie team is looking to build a pit cart and I have been wondering if any teams have any good pit cart/Robot Cart designs? We want something that can double as a workstation in our pit so we can work (if necessary) while we are queuing for a match. So something that has drawers for tools, etc.

Thanks everyone!

SIX MORE DAYS!!!
I must catch up on sleep now -_-

Re: Pit/Robot Carts?
 

I didn't know you were starting a rookie team! Tech High will loose a good mentor. Can't wait to see ya'll at SVR!

As for the pit/robot cart, unless you know of a pre-built good one, I suggest making your own thing. Design it with a toolbox, a nice, low to the ground cart for the robot, and holes to store stuff such as bumper covers, commonly used tools, etc.

If Cardinalbotics needs any help this year, PLEASE feel free to contact 256 for any reason. We will be more than happy to help with anything you need!

Good luck this year, and 6 more days! :D

Re: Pit/Robot Carts?
 

Yeah I'm in college so I said hey there are no FRC teams in San Francisco, so I started one. I still mentor 675, but I'm mainly working with 4159 right now.

We'll try and come up with a design ourselves but we just want something to really work off of.

I may be contacting you. we do need a bit of help and we have a really small shop, with a few untrained students still. But that will change soon once build season starts!

Re: Pit/Robot Carts?
 

You, sir, are what FRCers should look up to. Starting a team in SF is a great idea! San Jose is close to SF, and I've gone there a ton, so we would be more than happy to provide all of the help possible to you, not only in engineering, but in the business side, also. :) PM me anytime or contact us via our website: www.wghsrobotics.webs.com

Good luck!

Re: Pit/Robot Carts?
 

Will do! We have the business side of things taken care of I believe. We have a business plan and the entire team structure set up and working. Right now it's just a matter of getting our students to put the tools in their hands and building things.

Re: Pit/Robot Carts?
 

Wow. You're the first rookie team I've met who has their business side figured out! Good job! I'm impressed!

Re: Pit/Robot Carts?
 

About the robot cart, Here is a VERY good design example if you want to make a custom one like you said, and meets all the requirements you stated.

http://www.chiefdelphi.com/media/photos/35516

This cart has
-tool boxes underneath the robot
-storage near the handle in the back (most likely for battery's)
-a place for the driver station

Now remember you have only 5 days till kick off, I would not attempt to start this right now but wait until build dies down. But instead get you shop and resources ready for Jan. 7th.

Re: Pit/Robot Carts?
 

Haha, we're going for Rookie All-star this year so we are trying to be the perfect candidates.
We're competing at Sacramento this year because it's week 3 rather than week 5 and that would give us more time to fund raise if we end up going to CHMP, but I'm going down to SVR with 675.

Re: Pit/Robot Carts?
 

Thank you! We're going to work on it after build season is over because then we have 3 weeks to build a Pit Cart.

Re: Pit/Robot Carts?
 

This cart also has a lift for easy access to the bottom of the robot.

Re: Pit/Robot Carts?
 

Really!? could you give some details on this?

Re: Pit/Robot Carts?
 

I don't know exactly how it works. I could ask some of my friends over on 175 for the exact details on it.

Attached is a pic of the lift.

Re: Pit/Robot Carts?
 

Since you've been on an FRC team before im guessing you know what your talking about. However im just wondering why you would want a cart with all that stuff on it. Wont it get bulky? and really heavey?

We have a small cart with a hydraulic lift (i believe from Princess Auto) and we put a stand on it for the robots wheels to stay off the cart, so it wont roll away.

We have a pit made out of Extrusion, and diamond plate. Very expensive but was all donated by MK Extrusion and Centerline (Windsor) Ltd. The have casters on them so all we do is unlock the wheels and roll them away. For playoff's if the pits are far away, we bring one of three cabinets and the tool chest to the field side. Worked perfect for u s last year :)

Here is our cart
http://www.princessauto.com/pal/prod...ssor-Lift-Cart

I'm looking for a picture of our pits right now. We got ALOT of compliments for them last year.

Re: Pit/Robot Carts?
 

Well 675 has a pit cart that is large and bulky, but very useful. We want something that is like 675's and 254's combined. 254's is very easy to maneuver from what I remember and has a large hole for their bumpers in it, but I'm not sure if they have the drawers for tools. (knowing them, I bet they do!)

Re: Pit/Robot Carts?
 

You should also have a look at the Autodesk Cart Conundrum. This was a contest this past fall and a number of teams posted possible cart designs. There are full inventor files for these designs and could be a good starting point.

Enjoy and good luck!

Re: Pit/Robot Carts?
 

Our team (1899) started using a powered robot cart last year and we have found it very useful, and have not experienced any of the problems others are describing.

We used an old powered wheelchair base, but removed the chair, and instead added a platform for the robot to sit on with room to place tools and other equipment.

It is controlled by the original Wheelchair controller and is mounted near the back of the cart. The controller allows us to change the speed of the cart, and since it is a wheelchair base, it can turn on a dime and is extremely maneuverable.

If there is a team out there looking into making a robot cart, I would suggest giving serious consideration to modifying a motorized wheelchair.

Here is a picture of the robot cart from the front:
http://www.saintsrobotics.com/wp-con...s/img_1509.jpg

Re: Pit/Robot Carts?
 

So don't forget to be gracious to the queuing team :yikes: who has to move the cart once you have unloaded your robot on to the field. And don't forget to take into account the competition venue - at some Regionals the "thoroughfare" space around the playing field and from the pits to the playing field is tight - Very Tight.

:cool: MWR Rocks!

Re: Pit/Robot Carts?
 

http://www.andymark.com/New-Products-s/189.htm

AndyMark has two new robot cart packages, and/or materials for you to design and build your own or customize one of these.

Re: Pit/Robot Carts?
 

The team should be moving the cart to the parking lot themselves. You have 4 team members - 2 carry the robot, one carries the controls to the driver station, the 4th parks the cart. Simples! That's how to be gracious.

Re: Pit/Robot Carts?
 

Thanks for pointing this out :D Hopefully...

Re: Pit/Robot Carts?
 

Are there really any set dimensions for a cart? Like, what I'm going for is a basic robot carrier, since it's my first year and I don't wanna do anything too complicated. :D I was thinking the platform to be the max robot dimensions, but with ten inches on each side, so there would be an ideal 5 inches around it. But, looking at all of these carts, that seems way too small! :?

Re: Pit/Robot Carts?
 

If it can't fit through a standard doorway, it's as good as useless--you may need to get through that at a demo, or to leave the classroom/build area. Now, your standard 28x38 robot with a full set of 2.5" thick bumpers will go through that at 33" (with about 3" to spare, IIRC). So you may actually be too big if you go 5" on each side.

Your best bet would be a platform just about the size of the robot with bumpers on (note: include a lip to keep stuff from coming off, and rails to put the robot wheels off the platform, or chocks so the robot doesn't move) with a storage area below for batteries and quick-fix tools. Doesn't have to be terribly high, or terribly complicated.

Re: Pit/Robot Carts?
 

Just to note, our cart is EXTREMELY heavy. We also have a brake at the back end to keep us from moving. A switch can be turned on that activates a "horn/beep" to warn people that we are approaching....and there are lights that we are in the process of trying to fix.

Re: Pit/Robot Carts?
 

eStop Robotics introduced the Competition Cart for the 2012 FRC season. The cart is intended to be a universal solution that will serve teams for a lifetime of competitions.

The Competition Cart was designed based on years of FRC competition experience. The cart is lightweight, yet extremely strong, and is easy to assemble and disassemble.

The Competition Cart is intended to be both a pit service and transport cart capable of carrying a full size FRC robot with bumpers along with two FRC KOP plastics crates below the robot. The cart offers 6" of ground clearance to easily navigate over electrical cableways and other obstacles often found at event venues.

Click here for an exploded diagram of the cart.

Re: Pit/Robot Carts?
 

This is the plan anyway.....:rolleyes:

Re: Pit/Robot Carts?
 

Remember, the cart is heavy to help keep members on their toes. We usually have a programmer push it along for some experience in "hardware". ;)

The storage compartments in the cart allow for batteries, tools, and other maintenance utilities.

Re: Pit/Robot Carts?
 

How might that give me experience in "hardware" again? ::ouch:: ::ouch:: :confused:

haha.

Back on topic: The cart is heavy indeed. Pushing it around (even short distances) can prove to be quite strenuous.


Motorized Carts anybody?

Re: Pit/Robot Carts?
 

Heavy, but also very robust.. sort of like a tank.

It was a joy to push around in Atlanta for Championships.. :o About 300lbs of Buzzstuff. Last year in St. Louis was exponentially easier without the up and downhill slopes.

We've had our tank for about a decade. The discussion of motorizing the cart is always brought up.. but before a decision is made Kickoff comes and then it's Build. Maybe this year will be different. :rolleyes:

Re: Pit/Robot Carts?
 

I was the pit manager last year. We built custom made carts ancered in dimond plate. One cart was 4 drawer long shallow, and the other was 4short deep drawer. We stored all the things in it. It was at counter level. The thing we need to fix is the Drawer glides. You need some hevy duty glides. We charged all the bateries and all the power tools in the short deep drawer. The one charging the batteries needs ventlation.

Re: Pit/Robot Carts?
 

"How might that give me experience in "hardware" again?

haha.

Back on topic: The cart is heavy indeed. Pushing it around (even short distances) can prove to be quite strenuous."


define hard, it is more work to lift the bot off the cart and into position on the field then actually push the cart...

Re: Pit/Robot Carts?
 

Talk wheels to me, forum.
I wanted to use pneumatic ones, but our overseer leader guy has concerns about their size and weight. So, now I am stuck into using KOP plaction wheels, and am told that this will not be much of a problem, as we will be mostly on carpet and linoleum. What about turning though? Standard tankish way? Should they swivel?


Attaching them as well, any suggestions for that?
Hehe, there I go thinking out type. But seriously, any help or input or anything would be greatly appreciated! :D

Re: Pit/Robot Carts?
 

Im sure there are pictures on their website, but i love the one that technical difficulties have. YOU CAN RIDE IT! :)

Re: Pit/Robot Carts?
 

I don't know if your leader has been to a normal competition. For a cart, you can expect concrete or gym floors (depending on venue), not carpet (as only the field area and practice field can be expected to have carpet). You can also expect to go over at least one cable run via its ramped cover.

Again for a cart (you could be asking about either cart or robot--your post is kind of unclear), I would make one end swivel and one end not. Maneuvering is a tad easier that way.

If you're asking about robot, that's a whole 'nother ball game.

Re: Pit/Robot Carts?
 

I'm confused, how does this provide access to the bottom of the robot?

Re: Pit/Robot Carts?
 

A scissor lift allows the robot to be lifted to a height where the bottom of the robot is easily accessible. The cart holds the robot up by its frame so wheels/chains can be changed easily.

Re: Pit/Robot Carts?
 

Oh he has, it was just a general statement, sorry for the confusion. :L My concern comes from the jostling that may occur when going over those cables with said plaction wheels. (these things: http://i606.photobucket.com/albums/t...icture0077.jpg )

I'm asking about cart wheels, sorry if that wasn't clear. ^^; So....swivel, as in chair wheels sort of?

I am not :L

Re: Pit/Robot Carts?
 

It looks to me like there's a platform under the robot. Am i just not looking at the picture correctly?

Re: Pit/Robot Carts?
 

Our team has a cart with a main box base. On top of that is a 4 jack system. The jacks can slide left to right and forwards and backwards. This allows for any size frame in the normal frame requirements. The jacks have U-brackets on them that fit around our frame. They fit snug enough that when we lock down the jacks the cart can tip several degrees without any slip.

Re: Pit/Robot Carts?
 

No, you are not incorrect. There is a platform under the robot.

Re: Pit/Robot Carts?
 

So then how would lifting it up provide access to the bottom of the robot if there is still a full platform under it??:confused:

Re: Pit/Robot Carts?
 

The robot is elevated off of the platform by pegs that secure it by the frame. This supplies a generous amount of space to reach all our drive components.

Using the lift also allows for easier access.

Please refer to O'Sancheski's post on the first page of this thread. It shows a picture of the lift elevated up.

Re: Pit/Robot Carts?
 

Best robot cart ever hands down once you take off the side gates. While it doesn't have storage (a few mods will give you a second shelf) it is great for easily maneuvering around a venue and over uneven ground. When my old team went to a regional a few years back we rolled in with one similar to this and got such positive feedback from a few teams later that day a few were getting taken out of boxes fresh from Home Depot.

http://www.homedepot.com/Outdoors-Ga...atalogId=10053

Re: Pit/Robot Carts?
 

Hey, can anyone help me with an 80/20 problem? I'm not sure how to connect them to each other (or other metal, for that matter) perpendicularly.

Eg: Piece A = --------- and Piece B = |
(~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~))|
((~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~)))|

If A is one of those 2.5 cm square tube pieces, and B is a piece of 80/20, how would that work?

Re: Pit/Robot Carts?
 

The scissor jack would need to be braced though, because it has very little rigidity. The motor pushing the scissor jack would need to be fairly strong (more than strong enough to lift 120+lb with very bad leverage).

Re: Pit/Robot Carts?
 

For a "cart", our team used to use a handcart, but the robot had to be turned sideways to fit (with bumpers). Now we use a something else: a sheet of wood,something like 1x2 ft, with a caster in each corner). The new cart is mucheasier to use and will work with most robots with a flat bottom. The four casters make the cart much more manueverable. The robot sits much lower on the new one too.

Re: Pit/Robot Carts?
 

Our current cart is a hydraulic lift cart that has a custom fabricated platform attached to the table of the cart. As previous posters have stated the platform is designed to accommodate various robot configurations and still allow access for testing or repair.

The main advantage is when lifted the bottom of the robot is about 30 inches off the floor.

Re: Pit/Robot Carts?
 

I am not sure if you are talking about the Quickframe tube to 8020, but their training videos at http://www.8020.net/Training-1.asp will tell you all about how to fit it all together. Quickframe has some special connectors that attach directly to the T-slot. If it is basic square tube (not 8020 stuff) you can make plates or use a t shaped 8020 fitting and run a couple of bolts through it and attach to the t-slot 8020.

Re: Pit/Robot Carts?
 

Sorry for resurrecting this thread. We were looking at this very cart at Home Depot this weekend. It looks too wide to fit through a standard interior door, such as those at our school. For anyone that owns it, does it fit ok through usual doors?

Re: Pit/Robot Carts?
 

It says it's 37.25" wide, and from what I remember, the doorways in our school are 38" wide. Take a measurement to be sure.