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Finally... Beatty 2004
Alrighty guys... we've finally got the treat of the year (at 1:20 AM)... Beatty reveals their bot! Can anyone say "crazy amount of actuation" three times fast?
I am not at the Midwest Regional, but here are my observations from the three pictures currently released. I see a drivetrain, 30" ball grabber, goal grabber, arm mechanism for grabbing the bar, stair climber, and a funnel for the ball release system.
It looks as though they have a double pneumatic system with cams, notice the right hand wheels with the little "guards" over them, to lift themselves up and onto the platform. The arm that latches onto the bar is mighty high too. I cannot figure, yet, what the two cylinders do that are mounted (somewhat) horizontally in the picture. I'm guessing the chiaphua motors are being hidden behind the wheel guards because I do not see them anywhere else. The Van door motor is being used to rotate the 30" ball grabbing arm and it appears that a pneumatic cylinder is used to actually open/close the ball grabber. This mechanism is identical to 2001's except for the flattened "paddles" at the end of the ball grabbing arm. The globe is used to rotate the bar grabbing arm. It looks like there is a spectra line or some sort of cable that runs vertically from a spool in the base to the bar grabbing arm.
I'm not sure how the whole funnel system works yet. You can see the "71" sticker pointing to the right, which implies that it is on some plastic. So, some how those balls roll out of the funnel and into that holding tank with the plastic. Is it possible the funnel arms are not actuated? I do not see any motors for this process.
More info... I see a fisher price motor and tranny feeding into that spool system for the extending bar grabber. I believe the two cylinders in the back are to help them for getting up the platform.
Recap:
(1) Drive train: Drill motors, with two cylinders mounted vertically to lift the front wheels. Two cylinders mounted horizontally to lift the back end (?). Chiaphua's are not being used or they are hidden.
(2) Goal Grabber
(3) 30" Ball grabber: Van door rotates the arm and a pneumatic opens/closes the arm
(4) Funnel system: Appears to have no actuation. Plastic guides balls down.
(5) Bar grabbing arm: Globe motor powers the rotation and a fisher price w/ tranny extends the arm.
My biggest question right now: How fast can they position under the ball release system? If they cannot complete this fast, then the balls will fall before they can get under it. Look at the way the funnel is - perpendicular to the direction of their wheels. This means they need a few seconds to position under the ball release. This is just speculation and I shouldn't even speculate like this with Beatty, but this is just a thought!
Okay, good luck guys tomorrow. It looks like we have a Beast of robot on our hands. Good night.
__________________
Matt
Team 302 - "The Mechanical Dragons"
Engineering Inspiration Award - Western Michigan Regional (2004)
Division Champions - Newton Division (2003)
Regional Champions - Great Lakes Regional (2003)
General Motors Industrial Design Award - Great Lakes Regional (2002)
Motorola Quality Award - Buckeye Regional (2002)
Regional Finalists - Buckeye Regional (2002)
Division Finalists - Newton Division (2001)
Regional Finalists - West Michigan Regional (2001)
Last edited by mzitz2k : 26-03-2004 at 01:57.
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