motorized robot carts

[pwnageNick]

Playing music from the cart in your pit is one thing, but playing your music while on your way to field is another. Besides, by the field they have music going pretty loud, so why do you need to have music playing from your cart too? It'll just annoy the volunteers and other teams around you. Now if you're going to be playing music in your pit anyway then I would say it is ok to have it coming from your cart as long as you don't play it while going to and from the field. Having some kind of stero system on the cart would also benefit a team for something like a demo where you would be playing music.

I don't see a reason why you would need to drive the robot. You're going to be walking right next to it anyways, so why not jsut push it.

I don't really see what problems lights would cause on a robot cart.

[IndySam]

Ed stole my GOM thunder.

Please keep in mind the queuing and field personnel when making your cart. I have seen motorized and non-motorized carts become a nightmare for these hard working volunteers. They must be able to easily and quickly move the cart without power. It's can easily become a safety problem.

It's a great project to do to exercise some creative juices or have when you are doing demo's but please when it come's to competition time leave it at home.

[Koko Ed]

Originally Posted by IndySam

Ed stole my GOM thunder.

Please keep in mind the queuing and field personnel when making your cart. I have seen motorized and non-motorized carts become a nightmare for these hard working volunteers. They must be able to easily and quickly move the cart without power. It's can easily become a safety problem.

It's a great project to do to exercise some creative juices or have when you are doing demo's but please when it come's to competition time leave it at home.

To be blunt: how many motorized carts do you see parked on the side of Einstein?

[zachmartin1806]

The overall dimensions are 71" x 32", and the platform/table top is 48" x 32". When the table is in the transport position, down, it sits 11" off the ground, when the table is in the pits, the working position, it sits about 34" off of the ground. I hope this helps.

Our chart is quick, easily moved, and is not inconvenient for queuing I've asked the volunteers.

[DUCKIE]

For all of the Queuing and Field crew members I've worked with in my almost 10 years volunteering I must say
PLEASE do not bring motorized and/or poorly-maneuverable carts to competition. They might look cool, but they slow down queuing-flow, load-on, and load-off immensely.

[Brandon Holley]

Ed and Sam-

I usually agree with you guys, but I can't on this issue.

While many of your concerns are valid, it doesn't mean its a guaranteed issue for every single team. I've seen plenty of carts that are a danger because of their size/maneuverability, etc that are nothing more than a modified handtruck. I'm not in favor of motorized carts necessarily, but I feel if you are going through the effort of designing an effective cart, you ARE spending time wisely.


If you are going motorized you can go through a drivetrain cycle thats outside the typical scope for FRC drives.

I guess my point is a motorized cart doesn't necessarily mean a big obstruction that will do nothing but get in the way.


As for the music issue on carts, I realize it tends to be very polarizing. For me, I'm totally for it and here's why: It's by far the most effective method of clearing a path through a crowd of people I've seen. People hear music and assume its just extra noise a team is creating. However, I find people and teams who walk through the pits screaming "ROBOT!" to be far more intrusive. Obviously there needs to be a certain level of maturity and respect level for other teams for a team who has music on their cart. Again, I feel its just a few bad apples that have ruined the perception for many.

-Brando

[Karibou]

Man, I never thought I'd have to cite a rule during the offseason.

Originally Posted by 2011 Game Manual

4.3.2 Robot Carts
To protect team members from muscle strains and other injuries as they transport the robot between the pits and the competition area, we strongly recommend that team members use a cart. Please keep the following in mind:

• Carts must remain in the team pit area when not in use for robot transportation;
• All carts should fit through a standard 30-inch door;
• Wheels on the cart must not damage site flooring; andFIRST
• Do not add music or other sound devices to the cart.

(emphasis mine)

[Koko Ed]

Originally Posted by dag0620

I think the point Brandon is making, and where I agree, is that if the rule didn't exist, having music on carts could actually be a benefit.

No it isn't
Going to the field and blasting your music to compete with the loud music already playing is annoying and if I must say so disrespectful.

[pwnageNick]

No it isn't
Going to the field and blasting your music to compete with the loud music already playing is annoying and if I must say so disrespectful.

Agreed. Like I said before, if you want to have music capability on your cart for in the pit purposes and separate demo events, then that's fine. But don't create unnecessary noise that no one wants to hear by the field.

As far as motorized carts: again, you're already walking next to it anyways. Just put some caster's on there and push the darn thing. That way it's safe and you can get out of the way of something quickly as opposed to accidentally running the cat into someone.

-Nick

[Chris is me]

Originally Posted by zachmartin1806

I completely agree, that is why this is an OFF SEASON project only. Its a great way to get your brain thinking before kickoff. We built ours in between regionals in 2008 as a present from our mentors for winning our first regional.

It's certainly an interesting engineering exercise. You don't have the very same size and weight constraints you always have, and your results have long term benefit. I think it could be a very rewarding project if done correctly and if the designer makes for queueing friendly features (a neutral gear for wheeling around, small size to make it less noticeable)

Sound shouldn't be played on the field.

[turtlesteve2]

to the guys who are against it i can understand your concern but this cart is being made either way me and my friends who are working on it will make it modest we won't make this a "look how much better than you, we are" project it will be as little as possible easy to manuever and not playload music while flashing lights. If the job is given to another kid on our team who we were told would be given that he will try for the most showoffish design he can make.
otherwise thanks for the concern.

[Brandon Holley]

Originally Posted by Koko Ed

No it isn't
Going to the field and blasting your music to compete with the loud music already playing is annoying and if I must say so disrespectful.

There's a right way to do it and a wrong way to do it. I'm sure everyone's familiar with the "wrong way". I however have seen teams be very respectful with their music and actually make for a more pleasant competition experience.

What's the difference though? It's against the rules...

Brando

[PAR_WIG1350]

When I was a Freshman someone on my team half jokingly said it would be cool to have a noise canceling system on a robot cart.

But back to the issue at hand, If a sound system is desired for demonstration purposes, It could be designed as part of a modular system. At competitions the sound system could simply be lifted out and replaced with a box to hold some basic tools, A battery holder, and/or an off-board compressor, just to name a few possible options. That way you won't have to push around the dead weight of a sound system that you can't even use at competitions, and you will have a place to put things that you might actually need.

[1502]

Our team has had this wheelchair based cart for 7 years now. Any questions just ask me.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/66721945@N04/

[davidthefat]

Originally Posted by 1502

Our team has had this wheelchair based cart for 7 years now. Any questions just ask me.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/66721945@N04/

Is it safe? It looks like the robot can roll off anytime