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Unread 26-12-2002, 15:43
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kmcclary kmcclary is offline
Founder 830/1015;Mentor 66/470/1502
FRC #0470 (Alpha Omega Robotics)
Team Role: Engineer
 
Join Date: Aug 2001
Rookie Year: 1994
Location: Ann Arbor, MI
Posts: 491
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OTHER than "cooling breakers", what do you do?

Let's set the "cooling the breaker" thing aside for a bit...

What ELSE to you do DESIGN wise to keep from overloading the electrical system?

Examples:

1) Do you have a AHL legal slip/breakaway clutch design? Please describe it!

2) Ever done anything funny in drivetrain or software design to avoid stall currents, especially when expecting Tug of War situations? (Ex's: Enable/disable [PWM-like] algorithims to "jerk" your machine? Deliberately adding backlash or an elastic element in the drivetrain so the motor gets a "running start" when reversing?)

3) Four wheel drive users WITHOUT wheel turning: How are you making "holonomic wheels"? (A tire that slips sideways easily to keep turn scrubbing forces from blowing the breakers, while maintaining good forward/backward traction.)

Please, let's hear some DESIGN methods to avoid breaker tripping, in addition to "cooling tricks"...

Thanks!

- Keith
__________________
Keith McClary - Organizer/Mentor/Sponsor - Ann Arbor MI area FIRST teams
ACTI - Automation Computer Technologies, Inc. (Sponsoring FIRST teams since 2001!)
MI Robot Club (Trainer) / GO-Tech Maker's Club / RepRap-Michigan) / SEMI CNC Club
"Certifiably Insane": Started FIVE FRC teams & many robot clubs (so far)!
2002: 830 "Rat Pack" | 2003-5;14: 1015;1076 "Pi Hi Samurai" | 2005-6: 1549 "Washtenuts"/"Fire Traxx"
2005-(on): 1502 "Technical Difficulties" | 2006-(on): FIRST Volunteer!
2009-(on): 470 "Alpha Omega" | WAFL | Sponsor & "Floating Engineer" for MI Dist 13 (Washtenaw Cnty)
2011: 3638 "Tigertrons" | 2013-(on): 4395 "ViBots" | 2014-(on) 66 "Grizzlies"
"Home" Teams: 66, 470, 1076, 1502, 4395
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