Methods Of Transferring Robot Onto Field?

[KingRandy]

Hey everybody. My Team, 4567, will luckily be attending this years World Championship. In our regional this year (our 1st one!) we just picked up our robot from the metal brackets and carried it onto the playing field. I was just wondering what other FIRST teams do in regards to this issue? I saw some teams used meat hooks while others did the same as us. Thanks for helping us and hopefully we shall see you next week!

[Al Skierkiewicz]

Some teams add attachment points along the robot frame for clip on handles or simply manufacture handles that are a permanent part of the robot frame.

[Calvin Hartley]

This year we lift it by some convenient spots on our cut and folded sheet metal frame. They are there by coincidence but work well.

[faust1706]

Most people just hold it by the frame. That's what we've always done.

[biancs15]

If you want a really comfortable handle, you can loop a big zip tie through a thick piece of surgical tubing and secure it to your drive train. If you make the handle big enough it works like a charm. If you have the room for it, its a great way to carry the robot.

[vhcook]

Since we had to have belay points anyway, we put the required two eye-bolts at the center of our side-rails and added four extras on the robot corners. When carrying the robot, the students clip on handles made from rope, carabiners, and a short small-diameter PVC section for a handgrip.

This year's frame was a bit short on good handholds, so I think it's been a good choice.

[orangemoore]

My team has been looking into some anti-gravity methods with no luck. So right now we just carry the robot by the 8020 base.

Unrelated---I vow to never build a robot 70" with no drive train and has to fit under a 30 inch bar and shoots Frisbees

[KingRandy]

Originally Posted by vhcook

Since we had to have belay points anyway, we put the required two eye-bolts at the center of our side-rails and added four extras on the robot corners. When carrying the robot, the students clip on handles made from rope, carabiners, and a short small-diameter PVC section for a handgrip.

This year's frame was a bit short on good handholds, so I think it's been a good choice.

I think this is what we are going to do. Thanks for the replies everyone!

[vhcook]

Originally Posted by KingRandy

I think this is what we are going to do. Thanks for the replies everyone!

Make sure you get carabiners, eye bolts, and rope that are rated for the weight. The cheap carabiners won't hold up under robot weight.

[KingRandy]

Originally Posted by vhcook

Make sure you get carabiners, eye bolts, and rope that are rated for the weight. The cheap carabiners won't hold up under robot weight.

We have the eye bolts, PVC pipe and rope. Where did you guys get your carabiners?

[vhcook]

Originally Posted by KingRandy

We have the eye bolts, PVC pipe and rope. Where did you guys get your carabiners?

I don't know where we got ours, since I missed that particular shopping run, but I can provide suggestions.

Grainger definitely has some that should suit. Hardware stores or sporting goods stores that cater to climbers may be good sources also. Just check the max load capacity and be sure to allow a safety factor. The unmarked ones you tend to see in the sporting goods aisle at Target/Walmart are typically rated for about 5 lbs, so they're likely to fail spectacularly when you hang a 150 lb (including battery and bumpers) robot from 4-6 of them.

[KingRandy]

Originally Posted by vhcook

I don't know where we got ours, since I missed that particular shopping run, but I can provide suggestions.

Grainger definitely has some that should suit. Hardware stores or sporting goods stores that cater to climbers may be good sources also. Just check the max load capacity and be sure to allow a safety factor. The unmarked ones you tend to see in the sporting goods aisle at Target/Walmart are typically rated for about 5 lbs, so they're likely to fail spectacularly when you hang a 150 lb (including battery and bumpers) robot from 4-6 of them.

I made them today and I am sure they are going to hold our 115lb robot. Thanks for the help!

[Adamc4]

wear gloves too it's what we do, since quarter inch metal is not the best thing on the hands, but we also grab at the upper part of our frame