Shock Absorbance

[arichman1257]

When going over defenses (such as the Cheval de Frise) the robot takes quite the beating when it hits the ground. Any suggestions on how we could protect the robot so we don't experience problems such as connection loss?

[dmaggio744]

What kind of drivetrain are you using? I'm assuming you don't have a fancy suspension on yours if your asking this question... We plan on using the AM14u3 Square configuration and the pneumatic wheel upgrade kit. from what we've seen so far, the pneumatic wheels will provide plenty of shock absorbance.

[Bruceb]

beach tires

[Taylor]

Our current plan is to make a 'floating' electronics board, partially with these pretty parts. Even with our pneumatic tires, the robot's innards still take quite a beating.

[Ryan Caldwell]

http://www.mcmaster.com/#9376k571/=111uxnw

http://www.mcmaster.com/#6008k61/=111uyd0

These are booth viable options to mount an electronics board to.
We've frond the KOP electronics to be surprisingly robust just mounted to 1/8 lexan.

[BMiller2559]

Drive Slower? Although even with this advise we have had our share of Dukes of Hazzard moments.

[Xifilzer]

Is it possible to create something similar to a butterfly drive, but replace the pneumatic cylinders with gokart springs and shocks, ie:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/UNIVERSAL-SH...AOSwu4BVvEp i

or maybe simply a spring?

In this manner, the wheel changes height to cross over the defenses, but the chassis stay more or less at the same height, similar to a car.

[Hitchhiker 42]

I'm pretty sure I saw 195 attach their radio by surgical tubing, so it would absorb any shocks and they wouldn't lose connection.

[trumpthero786]

Our robot did not have pneumatic or beach tires to absorb shock (we used VEX Traction/Tread wheels), so we had A LOT of shock and collision. We did nothing special to hold down our electronics. We just did our normal wiring procedure and had no issues. As a safeguard, electrical tape can be used to tape the power cord of the radio on, or any loose wire for that matter. If the whole robot moves as one unit, without wires flying around, they generally won't come out of the connector they are inserted into. Only ones that are not Weidmuller connectors or ones that click (like ethernet or powerpole) really need to be secured further.

[mrnoble]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kc4gkpMONCE

[trumpthero786]

Originally Posted by mrnoble

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kc4gkpMONCE

Wow. That's really a thing of beauty, except for all of the electronics taking a jump. Yikes. Can you share some specifics? Are you using spring shocks or FRC pistons to do that? Do you have pictures of the workings? I'd love to see it.