14 inch protrusion beyond frame

[AlexD744]

Originally Posted by jvriezen

Since the thread is revived, a clarification on the answer to the original question... As Inspector at 10K Lakes, I worked with a team that built a bridge tipper very simply. It was simply a standard wedge arm on a pivot, that was held just past vertical by gravity. A little movement of the robot, and it fell forward. A gate latch kept it down once it fell. No motor, no pneumatics, just the simplest of simple machines.

I never actually saw it in action, but I heard it worked marvelously well. I hope no one ran into it though....

Gate latches work wonderfully for tipping the bridge. That is unless you wish to retract your manipulator. We had latches, and after the system was broken in, it got to the point where it became nearly impossible to retract the ramp lowerer (costing us a finals match, and possibly a regional win). At our last event we ended up scrapping the latches and the power of the Van Door motor was enough to get the ramp down.

[loyal]

So our team 4055 has an arm that has worked flawlessly. It is legal. If we added a stinger to the arm that was on a pivot and a solenoid released it then it gravity dropped. Is it now two appendages? Like this, we go up the bridge and drive to the edge, the arm comes down and is extended straight out, the solenoid releases the gravity pivot stinger. Would that be legal?

[CalTran]

Originally Posted by loyal

So our team 4055 has an arm that has worked flawlessly. It is legal. If we added a stinger to the arm that was on a pivot and a solenoid released it then it gravity dropped. Is it now two appendages? Like this, we go up the bridge and drive to the edge, the arm comes down and is extended straight out, the solenoid releases the gravity pivot stinger. Would that be legal?

If it forks outside of the bumper perimeter then it is still one appendage. From what I've been able to see on webcasts, that's about the same as most other stingers

[EricH]

I'd be cautious with that gravity drop. Gravity is exceptionally reliable at dropping things, but not too great at pulling them back up. You should make sure that you have a way to pull up the stinger once you're balanced, without grabbing or grasping the bridge. Otherwise, no balance points.

[loyal]

Originally Posted by EricH

I'd be cautious with that gravity drop. Gravity is exceptionally reliable at dropping things, but not too great at pulling them back up. You should make sure that you have a way to pull up the stinger once you're balanced, without grabbing or grasping the bridge. Otherwise, no balance points.

In order to pull up the stinger we will be able to just lift up the arm and the stinger will rise also. As long as it doesn't effect the balance it should work. I think? We are gonna find out before Saint Louis.

[EricH]

Originally Posted by loyal

In order to pull up the stinger we will be able to just lift up the arm and the stinger will rise also. As long as it doesn't effect the balance it should work. I think? We are gonna find out before Saint Louis.

It should work... but how are you going to find out before St. Louis? (If that "finding out" involves unbagging the competition robot, you're going to have some trouble with inspection.)

[loyal]

Originally Posted by EricH

It should work... but how are you going to find out before St. Louis? (If that "finding out" involves unbagging the competition robot, you're going to have some trouble with inspection.)

We will make and fit it to our test bot.(should mention we have a test bot) Completely disassemble it. Bring it with us as our 30 lbs. Unbag the bot. Install stinger on arm. Then have it inspected. Good plan or bad plan?

[rsisk]

Good plan ;>