3484 Teaser

[Johnny_5]

@SuperNerd256
It works by a motor pulling back a cord system that in turn pulls back the trolley that is attached to the spring arms. On the spring arms there are spring mounts that go to the 2 pieces that stick out in the front of the robot. We can whatever springs we like on there to our specs. On the drive system for the launcher there is an electromagnetic clutch where the cable collects. We engage the clutch and free spin the motor to launch. An encoder on the drive system along with reed switches up and down the launch rail tell us where the trolley is at all times.

The reason we designed it this way is because we noticed how much change there are in the balls. Friction type launchers will just throw balls all over the place, I mean if you look at the baseball, tennis ball, basketball launchers the goal is speed at the end of the launch, not dead on accuracy. With this concept the balls are never collapsed or compacted.

We designed it this way for accuracy and repeatability. Accuracy is the easy part, just getting it to point and shoot. But the problem will be repeating the same results hundreds and hundreds of times, and all teams are facing this.

Competitive advantage (I'm going to let a secret slip here too) is repeatability and accuracy, and for that we were able to lower the requirements for some other systems. For instance we are loading from the feeder slot because we can afford to. The major point with this design is repeatability, and power, we plan to shoot from the half court line. Last year we were one of the most powerful robots out there in terms of drive train.

Our one plan right now is to finish the whole system before we start making changes or improve parts of it. But right now I see a problem with the ball carriage system which isn't on there yet.

@372_lives_on

We are using extruded aluminum on the robot, they are M8 fasteners

@FenixPheonix

It is a sort of crossbow, partly because how many devices for hunting do you see that use a friction launching system. However it isn't surgical tubing, not repeatable enough, so we are using springs.

The framing system is an Item North America product. It is a 40x40 Profile 8 building set. They sell all of the pivot connectors and gussets you see there, they also offer it in 3 different lines. Economy, Light, and standard for different requirements.