Thread: Robot Cart
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Unread 23-02-2012, 17:16
Cal578 Cal578 is offline
Passionate FIRST-er, CD donor
AKA: Gerry
FRC #0578 (Red Raider Robotics)
Team Role: Mentor
 
Join Date: Jan 2012
Rookie Year: 2008
Location: Rochester, NY
Posts: 256
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Re: Robot Cart

My advice is to keep it simple. The two most important things it should do are:
  • Carry the robot between pits and field, and back.
  • Give you a safe and productive work surface.
Everything else is gravy.

Keep it small enough to fit in the pits and allow people to work around it. Locking wheels are helpful (but make sure all students know how to lock and unlock them). Swiveling wheels on one end and straight wheels on the other work best. And a handle at waist height for easy steering and pushing or pulling. Ropes are not so good, but better than nothing if you have a low-to-the-floor cart.

I've seen some teams with scissor lifts or pneumatic jacks. Sometimes I'm jealous, sometimes I'm glad we have a simple, solid, flat, dependable, safe surface.

Shelves and drawers are nice for carrying the operator console, bumpers or covers, some tools, spare battery, etc.

If you're using pneumatics and an offboard compressor, the cart is a good place to keep them (with a battery for the compreesor). Even if your compressor is onboard, you're allowed to pre-charge your tanks.

No matter what, it should be a fun project to work on, now that the pressure of build season if off.
__________________
Cal
R3: Red Raider Robotics (FRC Team 578)
Fairport, NY, USA
www.FairportRobotics.org
2016 Finger Lakes Regional: Semifinalist on Alliance 7 (1128, 2010, 578)
2016 NYC Regional: Finalist on Alliance 3 (3419, 578, 3017), 4th seed team, Team Spirit Award
2015 Finger Lakes Regional: 8-3-0 in qualification, 7th seed, Quarterfinalist
2014 NY Tech Valley Regional: 8-4-0 in qualification, 13th seed, Semifinalist
2013 Finger Lakes Regional: 4-5-0 in qualification, 26th seed, Alliance 6, 1-2 in tournament
2012 Buckeye Regional: Gracious Professionalism Award, 7-3-0, 14th seed
2011 Finger Lakes Regional: Engineering Inspiration Award
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