Climbing Mechanism Ideas

[gabrielau23]

Originally Posted by moogboy

One of our mentors came up with a non-wheeled design. a 50 pound, 16x16x16 cube that would do nothing except climb to the third level. Really, you wouldn't even need drivers. Someone could take that idea of a non-wheeled robot and ask really nicely for other robots to give them the alliance colored frisbees and have a really simple dumping mechanism to get another 20 points.

That's true though. However, you'd better wait until after autonomous to do that. Just let your drivers press a button. Ta-da! But your robot is not pre-loaded with colored discs, so you'd have to find a way to put the colored discs inside your robot.

[moogboy]

Originally Posted by gabrielau23

That's true though. However, you'd better wait until after autonomous to do that. Just let your drivers press a button. Ta-da! But your robot is not pre-loaded with colored discs, so you'd have to find a way to put the colored discs inside your robot.

The entire driver's station could just be a huge button, and both drivers could make a show of slamming it in the most epic fashion imaginable. I would select them for an alliance partner if I were a high enough seed.

[pmangels17]

We were considering having an inchworm type climber on the corner pole, with a rack and pinion on a worm drive, with something to kick your robot out and over the knuckles. However, the issue is that you cannot contact anywhere in zone two until you are off the floor, which is zone zero, since you can only contact two zones at a time.

IN regards to the controls, we could have two BIG red buttons (out of arms reach from each other, and with flip covers to prevent accidental activation) with glowing lights, and when the robot begins its climb (which we will automate for the purpose of time, this is an actual plan, since manual operation of the climber will be difficult), we could have a light show on the robot, just for fun.

[moogboy]

Originally Posted by pmangels17

IN regards to the controls, we could have two BIG red buttons (out of arms reach from each other, and with flip covers to prevent accidental activation) with glowing lights, and when the robot begins its climb (which we will automate for the purpose of time, this is an actual plan, since manual operation of the climber will be difficult), we could have a light show on the robot, just for fun.

Better yet, have your drive team press those buttons and (providing the robot shimmies up the pole at a predictable rate) then drop to the floor and stand up with the robot.

[mrnoble]

"Haha I don't think we'll see any like that. The maximum score for the robots if you scored every single frisbee on the field was 400+. If your alliance scored 200 points, you would only have scored 15% of the total score. I know alliances are rarely that balanced when it comes to scoring, but let's say you "only" score 100 points you still don't make up 1/3 of the alliance points."

I wouldn't be shocked to see awesome scores like 200+ in the championship, and in some of the powerhouse regionals, but in run-of-the-mill seeding rounds at your average regional, a reliable 30 just might win matches.

[pmangels17]

Originally Posted by mrnoble

"Haha I don't think we'll see any like that. The maximum score for the robots if you scored every single frisbee on the field was 400+. If your alliance scored 200 points, you would only have scored 15% of the total score. I know alliances are rarely that balanced when it comes to scoring, but let's say you "only" score 100 points you still don't make up 1/3 of the alliance points."

I wouldn't be shocked to see awesome scores like 200+ in the championship, and in some of the powerhouse regionals, but in run-of-the-mill seeding rounds at your average regional, a reliable 30 just might win matches.

Yes, but before we get sidetracked, this thread is, not to be rude, to discuss climbing ideas.

[mrnoble]

In Overdrive, 2008, Denver, one of the top three teams was a minibot that did nothing but drive in a circle, fast, and avoid the traffic.

[MetalJacket]

Originally Posted by mrnoble

In Overdrive, 2008, Denver, one of the top three teams was a minibot that did nothing but drive in a circle, fast, and avoid the traffic.

One of the robots that won championships did just that. Is that an analogy to focusing on climbing alone?

[mrnoble]

I certainly am interested in climbing ideas. Part of my thinking is that, by making a dedicated climber, you would eliminate the weight and awkward size and shape of a wheeled base, allowing more design freedom.

[Chris Fultz]

Originally Posted by tickspe15

Is there any rule against using electromagnets to grip the pyramid.

I believe the pyramid is aluminum.

[MetalJacket]

Nope, powder coated steel

PYRAMID: The Red or Blue steel structure on which ROBOTS CLIMB for points

[$wimmer3138]

Originally Posted by MetalJacket

Nope, powder coated steel

Do you or any one else know what kind of powder coat it is? I have heard that depending on how it's done the powder coat could make the steel either slick or gritty.

[dheerm]

I personally don't agree with having a climbing only robot. It seems that in order to be a top 8 team or be picked by one, a versatile robot is necessary. Now back to climbing ideas: What if your robot is triangular and between 30" and 60" tall. What one could do is plant robot near the pyramid, use pistons to push it back so that the robot lays on the "side" of the pyramid, and then a conveyor belt with hooks on it can pull the robot up the diagonal side of the pyramid without touching the corners and still being legal. I hope whatever I just said makes sense.

[gabrielau23]

I think somebody told me there was a small robot like that in Breakaway as well. Just zip around and block goals. However, Breakaway was a lot more low scoring and I anticipate that this game will be much more high scoring. Especially since we get to play teams like Jester, Vulcan, and Robobees. I don't know if MOE and Miss Daisy will be doing Chesapeake or DC this year, but I know they used to do them. If so........

[pmangels17]

Anyway, we also came up with the idea of approaching the diagonal from the inside, clamping around, and driving up with wheels, similar to the big, slow, Tetrix minibots.