Minibot Time Showcase

[jcoinster]

Out of curiosity, as well as friendly competition, I would love to hear from other teams what they have gotten for their minibot.

Currently, we range from 2.9 - 3.1 seconds.

To see an image of the bot as well as a more detailed explanation:
http://jcoinster.blogspot.com/2011/0...ibot-2011.html

[klmx30302]

I had had the idea of starting a thread about this but you beat me to it! Anyway here is a video of our prototype in action, we tried one like yours but it failed too many times...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8IKLSgfXqcM

[jcoinster]

Originally Posted by klmx30302

I had had the idea of starting a thread about this but you beat me to it! Anyway here is a video of our prototype in action, we tried one like yours but it failed too many times...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8IKLSgfXqcM

It probably kept failing because of the center of gravity issues, we actually gave up on it too but then realized the next day that it could be fixed. Good Luck!

[klmx30302]

Originally Posted by jcoinster

It probably kept failing because of the center of gravity issues, we actually gave up on it too but then realized the next day that it could be fixed. Good Luck!

Thats what i keep trying to tell the rest of our minibot subeam, they dont believe me.

[jcoinster]

Originally Posted by klmx30302

Thats what i keep trying to tell the rest of our minibot subeam, they dont believe me.

I can relate.
When you had the similar design, was there a guide bar along the side? Without that bar, it wouldn't work. At one point, we mounted a dummy gear as a counterweight

[klmx30302]

We tried guide bars in 3-4 different spots but the bot went off in one direction or another, we got more tetrix hardware in though and a may give the other, more simple (deployment wise) bot another try again tomorrow.

[Joe Schornak]

Heh. One of our prototypes is of this design. We just got our batteries yesterday, and have yet to complete the wiring, but it's good to know that we're on a good track in terms of ascension time.
The center of gravity issues took some tuning, but we got it so that the minibot can hang on the pole without support or power.
Have you considered a deployment system?

[jcoinster]

The smallest and sometimes accidental mistakes can lead to a big improvement!

Did you use a weight to substitute the battery?

[Joe Schornak]

Originally Posted by jcoinster

Did you use a weight to substitute the battery?

My team tried to do FTC in 2008, so we have a battery. Problem is, the battery doesn't charge. Thus the need to order new ones.

So yes, we did technically use a weight to substitute a battery.

[jcoinster]

Originally Posted by Joe Schornak

My team tried to do FTC in 2008, so we have a battery. Problem is, the battery doesn't charge. Thus the need to order new ones.

So yes, we did technically use a weight to substitute a battery.

Did you check the fuse? We honestly were stumped at how our new battery wouldnt work for a good hour.

[Tom Bottiglieri]

Does this include deployment time? It seems like that will be just as important as how fast it climbs.

[jcoinster]

Originally Posted by Tom Bottiglieri

Does this include deployment time? It seems like that will be just as important as how fast it climbs.

I think it's safe to say that this number is without deployment. It would need a rocket to go up that fast including deployment

[Nick Bouressa]

Originally Posted by Joe Schornak

Have you considered a deployment system?

We have! I was working on a simple pneumatic deplorer today. I don't have any pictures however...

[klmx30302]

Originally Posted by Nick Bouressa

We have! I was working on a simple pneumatic deplorer today. I don't have any pictures however...

I'll get a video of it tomorrow and post it.

[jcoinster]

Originally Posted by klmx30302

I'll get a video of it tomorrow and post it.

Can't wait to see it!