What to do with old robots?

[Bcahn836]

What does your team do with the old robots? My team has been participating in FIRST for three years now, and we are running out of space in the shop. What does your team do with the old robots?

[Beth Sweet]

We have a huge display section at the GM Proving Grounds. Not only do we get to show off, but we get other workers involved and, because our trophies are there too, we remind GM that there is a very good reason to continue the sponsorship...

[Joshua May]

Right now we've only got two robots and they sit in the shop. So far, we've used them for displays, training, and referencing. We also used last year's robot to test our field at the beginning of this year.

[Lisa Perez]

On 1, we store them in a room with all other random parts that can be used for the next season's robot.

On 573, we take them apart and use the good, unbeaten-to-a-pulp pieces (such as angle aluminum, motor mounts, and PVC tubing) for next year's robot. We do keep the well designed parts of those robots though, parts such as pneumatic powered clamps and ball roller systems, just in case we do not have their designs on CAD and would like to use a similar design later.

[Greg Needel]

i work with team 73 who has needless to say a few robots sitting arround.....and that is what they mostly do, sit arround. we have used them in the past for idea building using old concepts...we have also retro-fitted them with the new control system for driver practice and auto programing....besides it is always good to have more bots on the feild when practicing even if they are only just causeing road blocks

[Alex Pelan]

We have our now 10 robots sitting in a room somewhere in the school, in various levels of construction. For example, we had to take apart one part a couple years back because we used latex and latex isn't allowed in our school. I really think we ought to do something with them, though.

[Madison]

Donate them to science!

I'm in the extremely early stages of trying to develop a program for teams that coordinates FIRST Robotics Competition exhibits at science, history and industry museums throughout the country.

I'll start another thread with more details soon, I think, but it seems like something that has wide appeal and reach, allows teams opportunities for off-season education and projects, and stands a good chance of succeeding because there's very little burden upon the museums to contribute time or resources.

If you're interested in learning more before I finalize the details of what I plan to do with this, my latest zany idea, PM me and I'll fill you a bit more.

[Jay H 237]

Our first robot (1999) was donated to the local community college and they "reversed engineered" it. Last I heard it was still there and being used for thier CAD classes. This robot no longer had any controls since we use to have to return them back to FIRST after the last competition. Due to lack of storage space all the other robots were dismantled and destroyed. We saved the controls, motors, pneumatics and such. The ones that had TIG welded frames were cut up and the ones constructed with profile were unbolted. All the aluminum and steel pieces were sold for scrap.

I will say destroying your robots for scrap value isn't a "fundraiser" I'm proud of.

[Billfred]

Uhm, ours is still in the crate, untouched since Palmetto.

Hopefully, nobody gets any bright ideas over summer.

[Astronouth7303]

We only have 2. This year's we're going to save until we build the other one. Last year's is for tinkering.

My suggestion: Make a drivable cart out of it.

[KenWittlief]

Tie a long rope to it and you can use it for a lobster trap

or a boat anchor

next year you will look at last years robot, about 4 weeks after the kickoff, and think, 'what are we going to do with this old thing now?'

theres nothing quite as sad as an old robot that has no purpose anymore :c(

"Its better to burn out
than to rust away!
My my Hey hey!" -Neil Young

someone should bring one of those giant pumpkin-chunker catapults to the nationals, and after the last matches our bots can go out in a 20 second flame of glory

all the way out
to the far side of the parking lot
would save a lot on shipping that way

[tkwetzel]

Some great ideas indeed:

someone should bring one of those giant pumpkin-chunker catapults to the nationals, and after the last matches our bots can go out in a 20 second flame of glory

A few of us on our team were actually planning on building one of them contraptions this summer. Along with a few other fun things to do. If only there wasn't so much value in the robots.

We have a few robots still around for design review and teaching freshman about the systems. But most of the robots have been disassembled for the use of the parts and lack of storage space.

Me really wants to go robo-throwing with a pumpkin-chunker.

[scottconnery]

well we have as many old bots as any team out there. Our 92 machine is on display, most of the others are used for parts/ideas on new bots and a few are rolling around to let students practice driving skills. Everyone will actully get a chance to see the 92 in action if they make it to Battle Cry. It's one of the few we still have in one piece.

[Jack Jones]

You can make some cash by putting the electronics on eBay.

[the_undefined]

I think old robot's are great for autonmous programing. Our team didn't have any "old" bot's since we were rookies and you guys have just no idea how often I was thinking: "Oh I wish I could test that code on a real bot". I finally ended up putting 20 hours of work into a program that simulates parts of a robot (wheels, buttons, gyroscope, etc.) to compensate for that (and to have a nice monitoring program) but I think I will definitly test some more things with this years bot. I want to play with the camera and also see what kind of sensors we can put on and stuff like that : ) ...