pic: Two bot side balance

[cptopher]

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[CalTran]

It's pictures like these that make me question Newtonian physics...the one that makes me question it even more is the Robotnauts "illegal" but ingenius bridge device.

[Madison]

How is this legit but 118's machine was not? There appears to be a mechanical device under that robot that straddles the bridge angle.

[PAR_WIG1350]

Originally Posted by Madison

How is this legit but 118's machine was not? There appears to be a mechanical device under that robot that straddles the bridge angle.

It straddles the angle, but it will likely only react against one side at a time. The part on the outside of the angle appears to just act as a stabilizer since they can't balance on a row of wheels alone. They are just resting on the bridge while occupying the smallest footprint possible as a result of a cleverly placed center of gravity; making it much more like Swampthing than 118's robot, Endeavor.

[PAR_WIG1350]

Originally Posted by PAR_WIG1350

It straddles the angle, but it will likely only react against one side at a time. The part on the outside of the angle appears to just act as a stabilizer since they can't balance on a row of wheels alone. They are just resting on the bridge while occupying the smallest footprint possible as a result of a cleverly placed center of gravity; making it much more like Swampthing than 118's robot, Endeavor.

Upon closer inspection of the other photos, I no longer believe that the part outside of the angle does anything but help with alignment. All of the force is directed through the inside alignment rail and the wheels directly to the bridges surface.

Edit: and now VB3 gives me the option to modify my previous post, how convenient

[Cory]

This is clearly illegal. Physics does not support a scenario in which that robot can remain on the bridge without applying force to both sides of the angle, unless the CG remains over the bridge surface, which is highly improbable.

Cannot believe this was allowed to compete after 118 was denied.

[AdamHeard]

Originally Posted by Cory

This is clearly illegal. Physics does not support a scenario in which that robot can remain on the bridge without applying force to both sides of the angle, unless the CG remains over the bridge surface, which it clearly does not.

Cannot believe this was allowed to compete after 118 was denied.

Agreed.

[Brandon Holley]

Wow. 2 things:

1. Creative design 3534. Many teams thought of devices like this to aid in balancing either with 1 or 2 other robots, but....

2. If this device is not just a CG tweak it would be clearly illegal. 118 amongst other teams (ourselves included) would be utilizing a side hanging device that accomplishes the same effect had it not been ruled illegal before the first qualification day of the week 1 regionals.



-Brando

[smistthegreat]

Originally Posted by Cory

This is clearly illegal. Physics does not support a scenario in which that robot can remain on the bridge without applying force to both sides of the angle, unless the CG remains over the bridge surface, which is highly improbable.

Cannot believe this was allowed to compete after 118 was denied.

It's not probable, but it is possible that their CoG is indeed over the bridge surface. Just from looking at this picture, it seems like they have a relatively small superstructure, which could free up weight to use as ballast towards the bridge side. However, I have no idea if this is actually the case. If someone from this team or someone who is familiar with this robot could clear this up, that would be wonderful.

EDIT: From this image, it appears that the side over the bridge is considerably more dense than the other side, including solid aluminum (steel?) blocks being used as ballast, so the possibility of an extremely biased CoG is possible. However, it also appears that there is a metal piece under the robot touching the side of the bridge. I can't tell if it's just used for allignment or if it reacts against the bridge.

[AdamHeard]

Originally Posted by smistthegreat

It's not probable, but it is possible that their CoG is indeed over the bridge surface. Just from looking at this picture, it seems like they have a relatively small superstructure, which could free up weight to use as ballast towards the bridge side. However, I have no idea if this is actually the case. If someone from this team or someone who is familiar with this robot could clear this up, that would be wonderful.

EDIT: From this image, it appears that the side over the bridge is considerably more dense than the other side, so the possibility of an extremely biased CoG is possible. However, it also appears that there is a metal piece under the robot touching the side of the bridge. I can't tell if it's just used for allignment or if it reacts against the bridge.

it still looks to be leaning to the right, if the inner edge of the monorail was removed the robot would fall (my guess). If this is the case, it's illegal.

[JABot67]

What I heard and observed from being at the competition is that 3534's center of gravity is indeed over the bridge when it does its side hang.

Originally Posted by Cory

This is clearly illegal. Physics does not support a scenario in which that robot can remain on the bridge without applying force to both sides of the angle, unless the CG remains over the bridge surface, which is highly improbable.

Cannot believe this was allowed to compete after 118 was denied.

You can clearly see from the picture that this team tried to put as much weight on one side of their robot as possible. Why would they have designed it to ALMOST have its CG above the bridge but not quite?

[jblay]

People need to relax a bit before coming to conclusions on this and ask questions.

Hey cptopher, can you explain how this works because it's legality might be questionable? If it is legal though that is some clever work and I commend you for pulling this off.

[PAR_WIG1350]

I'm glad that this worked for you; it is really cool. In 2010, My team, 1350, built a robot that functioned identically when completely inverted (it didn't have a top, just two bottoms joined at their bumper zones). It worked, but not particularly well, especially after the frame started to bend.

[Thad House]

Originally Posted by smistthegreat

It's not probable, but it is possible that their CoG is indeed over the bridge surface. Just from looking at this picture, it seems like they have a relatively small superstructure, which could free up weight to use as ballast towards the bridge side. However, I have no idea if this is actually the case. If someone from this team or someone who is familiar with this robot could clear this up, that would be wonderful.

EDIT: From this image, it appears that the side over the bridge is considerably more dense than the other side, so the possibility of an extremely biased CoG is possible. However, it also appears that there is a metal piece under the robot touching the side of the bridge. I can't tell if it's just used for allignment or if it reacts against the bridge.

Over on the left side of that picture you can see stacks of weight attached to the frame. In addition the battery is also located on that side.

[pfreivald]

If that's nothing more than a CG trick, that's just awesome.