Arm Designs

[Cyberguy34000]

I know there is a very similar thread already out there, I just wanted to get some input specifically related to the arm design. What kind of design would work better, fork lift or a bending arm? Ideas? Post away.

[Greg Marra]

Originally Posted by Cyberguy34000

I know there is a very similar thread already out there, I just wanted to get some input specifically related to the arm design. What kind of design would work better, fork lift or a bending arm? Ideas? Post away.

I'm not sure how well a forklift would work given that the maximum height of the robot is 60" and the goals with a couple tetras on them would be too high.

[Cory]

Originally Posted by Greg Marra

I'm not sure how well a forklift would work given that the maximum height of the robot is 60" and the goals with a couple tetras on them would be too high.

If you've ever watched forklifts before, you notice that on some, they dont extend upwards to just the top of the vertical segment. It's like a telescoping pole. the segments in front of the first vertical piece start extending from the top of that point (for our purposes 5') and allow you to reach a much higher height

[Koko Ed]

Originally Posted by Cory

If you've ever watched forklifts before, you notice that on some, they dont extend upwards to just the top of the vertical segment. It's like a telescoping pole. the segments in front of the first vertical piece start extending from the top of that point (for our purposes 5') and allow you to reach a much higher height

I'm a fork truck driver (narrow aisle) and the front end of the truck is heavy and needs to be counter balanced or it'll tip over. I would assume the same would apply to the robot if something similar was made (I think the robot would end up way overweight and also easy to tip over).

[Greg Marra]

Originally Posted by Koko Ed

I'm a fork truck driver (narrow aisle) and the front end of the truck is heavy and needs to be counter balanced or it'll tip over. I would assume the same would apply to the robot if something similar was made (I think the robot would end up way overweight and also easy to tip over).

But our forklift doesn't need to be on the front of the robot. It could be right in the middle: simply drive underneath the large tetra and deposit your small tetra. That's the advantage of just having tetra frames. You can be inside the big tetra while you cap the little one.

This however, only removes the need for a counterweight, and if I hit you with your center of gravity really high you're going to go a-tumbling.

[Peter Matteson]

Forklifting can be worked nicely as can an articulating or telescoping arm. But why would some one on 177 mention that?

The history section of our website should inspire some of you.

http://www.swindsor.k12.ct.us/Highsc...s/clubs/first/

Pete

[Greg Marra]

Originally Posted by Dzdconfusd

Forklifting can be worked nicely as can an articulating or telescoping arm. But why would some one on 177 mention that?
Pete

Because I'm a rookie and don't remember last year

[looneylin]

I think using the arm is better since you can grab the tetras anywhere around the robot; whereas, the forklift requires you to be in a specific position to grab them. However, with an arm, it's harder to control your robots balance n might tip over, but you may be able to use your arm to pick yourself up.

[Cyberguy34000]

What specific arm designs would probibly work best for manipulating the Tetras?

[BaysianLogik]

The teams ive been on have done both an elevator system and a stereotypical arm design. Both have worked to some extent. The standard arm design is easier to design and build, but i feel the elevator design is the easiest for the drivers to handle. The most important factor in the design is ultamately how much thought and detail goes into it.

[Nick Mac]

Originally Posted by BaysianLogik

The teams ive been on have done both an elevator system and a stereotypical arm design. Both have worked to some extent. The standard arm design is easier to design and build, but i feel the elevator design is the easiest for the drivers to handle. The most important factor in the design is ultamately how much thought and detail goes into it.

You're right, an elevator design probably would be easier for the drivers to handle. but depending on which way you make the lift mechanism, you might be limited to coming at the tetra in a specific way. Either design you use is goign to require a lot of practice though. Manipulating those tetras will be no piece of cake.

[Koko Ed]

One thing about being a 14 year team is you get to see alot of previous design that could work with this year's game and I think we found a good one today.

[Phenix]

it depends on the chassie but my preference is a lift because it doesn't move the cg out it just moves it up a little. that is just my opinion.
hope u do well see u at the comp

[Nixterrimus]

For arm design I was tossing around the idea of something similar to a bucket truck arm (that's a bending arm isn't it?). My team hasn't taken much fancy to it but I think that it could give a lot of flexability in motion when the tetra is so high in the air.

Here's an Example of what I was thinking (This isn't a robot picture, just an idea). Just my thoughts though

[Jake177]

After my earlier post I took some time to think and came to my senses: an arm's the way to go. If you've got a forklift then you need to be right next to a goal to score, so a robot could just get between you and the goal. But if you've got an arm you can reach over another robot if it's in your way. The hard part is going to be designing a mechanism for the end of the arm to effectively pick up and score the tetras.