Quote:
Originally Posted by robert2.0
tere must be a hopper but where>? 
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You can see in this more recent picture that the balls are stored in the conveyor, we run into people, and dump them out into the trailer. We can store 8 balls and dump them all in 1-2 seconds. We can also eat people's bumpers, it's fun. The design is very similar to the design that 1712 posted on here. We just plan on having two separate towers, so instead of running into the problems where the balls get all jumbled and stuck in the conveyors, there is a constant column of them.
There is now dividing lexan to keep the balls separate that isn't shown in that picture. The fan/s is/are going right behind that tower, over the electronics.
We've tried multiple pulley setups/ one versus two CIMs and at this blade size and weight the pulleys actually start becoming inefficient from the vibrations and loss in the pulleys. We have found a way to increase thrust (not windspeed) by 20-30% on only one CIM with no gear ratio. I'll post more pictures and videos on the whole setup near the end of build season.
The idea is to be able to get all 8 balls in, turn on the fan to zip across the field, violently run into someone (with the aid of the fan), dump, repeat. We're hoping the space lost in the manipulator design to the fan will be made up for by the advantage of the fan. If we can use the fan to catch people/ push easier.. we believe we'll have an advantage over hopper dumpers/ power dumpers that may have a harder time of pinning.
We'll see..it'll be an interesting year for us to say the least.
-Greg