Team 2363 ball gathering and lifter prototype

[Borobo]

so I actually have a question as to the legality of such a design. does anyone know whether the yellow polycord whips will be counted as seperate appendages toward the limit of 1 14 inch appendage. I had been supporting a similar (but 1 sided) grabber with surgical tubing whips, but I don't know if it can be done, since we already have another appendage planned to lower the bridge for passage.

[JesseK]

Play with the heights of the intake rollers. Realize that the robot will be driving around while the balls are coming in, so you don't necessarily need a full 8" clearance between the rollers and the ground. You may be able to get rid of the spinning tubes if you do.

We're looking forward to VCU again!

[Siri]

Originally Posted by Borobo

so I actually have a question as to the legality of such a design. does anyone know whether the yellow polycord whips will be counted as seperate appendages toward the limit of 1 14 inch appendage. I had been supporting a similar (but 1 sided) grabber with surgical tubing whips, but I don't know if it can be done, since we already have another appendage planned to lower the bridge for passage.

According to the Q&A:
- "There is no formal definition of appendage; however, a colloquial definition is "a subordinate part attached to something; an auxiliary part; addition" (courtesy of dictionary.com). To elaborate, an appendage is a contiguous assembly that may extend beyond the Frame Perimeter per Rule [G21]."
- "Only one appendage may extend beyond the Frame Perimeter. There are no rules prohibiting appendages that fork once outside the Frame Perimeter."

Interpret and ask further questions as you will. As a possible starting point, I'd interpret that if the frame perimeter splits the bar rather than the tubes, it's a single appendage that splits outside the frame perimeter. Of course, it also counts as your single appendage outside the frame perimeter at a time. Of course, you could also keep the whole thing inside the frame perimeter, or somehow stagger the tubes (though remember the rule applies while in motion, not just static). There may well be other solutions as well.

[ToddF]

Some quick answers. The mentor heading the ball pickup sub-team could probably provide better ones.

- The drill motors were just proof of concept. Motor selection will probably happen this week.
- We plan to pickup on both long sides of the robot.
- The fingers on the finger rollers do not extend past the frame perimeter, so no worries about definition of appendages.
- With the heights shown, the opposing finger rollers lift the ball off the floor and present it to the vertical conveyor.

[Bob Steele]

Looks like a nice design...picking up from both ends will be quite an advantage for you guys!!

We hope to see you again at CMP!! We had a good run last year with you in the quarter finals....

Good luck this year!!

[RB73]

My main question is how will you be storing the balls? Even with picking up on both sides, you can still only hold two at a time and you have to turn around to pick up any large grouping of balls.