Dry Ice on Robot?

[fb39ca4]

Would this be allowed or would it violate R08?

[coalhot]

I think the answer you're looking for is

[Abhishek R]

Of course, I'm sure it would speed up processor and drivetrain speeds.

I really hope you're kidding...

[z_beeblebrox]

I doubt it, but WHY???

[MrForbes]

I think that if it is insulated so it cannot come in contact with a human, it could be legal. There is no specific prohibition, and the only hazard I can think of with it is frostbite.

One that we have discussed quite a bit but never had the nerve to try, is a hydraulic system using water as the fluid. It's not hazardous, it won't damage very many things, and we've been building underwater robots for years so we're quite familiar with dealing with water and electronics and mechanicals at the same time.

[nicholsjj]

Originally Posted by MrForbes

I think that if it is insulated so it cannot come in contact with a human, it could be legal. There is no specific prohibition, and the only hazard I can think of with it is frostbite.

One that we have discussed quite a bit but never had the nerve to try, is a hydraulic system using water as the fluid. It's not hazardous, it won't damage very many things, and we've been building underwater robots for years so we're quite familiar with dealing with water and electronics and mechanicals at the same time.

I agree that if done properly then dry ice shouldn't be a problem, but why?

As for the hydraulic system using water; it would be hard to convince some people that is doesn't violate R37.

[MrForbes]

Originally Posted by nicholsjj

As for the hydraulic system using water; it would be hard to convince some people that is doesn't violate R37.

The power for it would come from the robot battery, which powers a legal robot motor, which turns the pump.

[fb39ca4]

Originally Posted by MrForbes

I think that if it is insulated so it cannot come in contact with a human, it could be legal. There is no specific prohibition, and the only hazard I can think of with it is frostbite.

One that we have discussed quite a bit but never had the nerve to try, is a hydraulic system using water as the fluid. It's not hazardous, it won't damage very many things, and we've been building underwater robots for years so we're quite familiar with dealing with water and electronics and mechanicals at the same time.

It would of course be protected so a human could not accidentally touch it.

Also, wouldn't the water be then considered a hydraulic fluid?

[MrForbes]

Originally Posted by fb39ca4

It would of course be protected so a human could not accidentally touch it.

Even when you are adding more dry ice? I think that might be the sticky point....

Also, wouldn't the water be then considered a hydraulic fluid?

I'll get my lawyer working on that one.

[orangemoore]

It would look cool

[Jeff Pahl]

What are you using it for?

My opinion would be that if it is doing anything useful (providing cooling) then it is an illegal energy source, as the energy for creating the dry ice did not come from any of the allowed sources of energy that may be used on a robot, and the dry ice effectively becomes a stored energy device.

If it's a "non-functional decoration" then there would be a very long discussion and evaluation regarding the safety aspects. After which it most likely would be deemed to be illegal.

[Woolly]

Originally Posted by Jeff Pahl

What are you using it for?

My opinion would be that if it is doing anything useful (providing cooling) then it is an illegal energy source, as the energy for creating the dry ice did not come from any of the allowed sources of energy that may be used on a robot, and the dry ice effectively becomes a stored energy device.

If it's a "non-functional decoration" then there would be a very long discussion and evaluation regarding the safety aspects. After which it most likely would be deemed to be illegal.

But what about using it between back-to-back elimination matches to cool off motors?

[jspatz1]

Originally Posted by Jeff Pahl

My opinion would be that if it is doing anything useful (providing cooling) then it is an illegal energy source, as the energy for creating the dry ice did not come from any of the allowed sources of energy that may be used on a robot, and the dry ice effectively becomes a stored energy device.

Every material on the robot took energy to create, that does not mean they are contributing energy to the function of the robot. Wouldn't the sublimation of the dry ice be a net negative (consumer) process in terms of energy? How could it contribute stored energy to the robot?

[Tom Line]

Originally Posted by Woolly

But what about using it between back-to-back elimination matches to cool off motors?

We played with that for fun - we put a bunch of crushed up dry ice in the bottom of a shop vac and checked the output temperature. The sublimation rate is not nearly fast enough to affect the temperature.

You'd have a fun argument on your hands if you tried to hold it on the motors yourself. Just used a compressed air can and turn it upside down. Same thing, safer, and probably faster too.

[RyanCahoon]

Originally Posted by jspatz1

Every material on the robot took energy to create, that does not mean they are contributing energy to the function of the robot. Wouldn't the sublimation of the dry ice be a net negative (consumer) process in terms of energy? How could it contribute stored energy to the robot?

Hmm would that classified as stored energy by deformation of a robot part (where in this case the deformation would be freezing)? IMO you also have a valid point about it not being stored energy; it seems like it would be "stored entropy."

As to how you could use dry ice to provide power to a robot... YouTube: Stirling Engine Running On Dry Ice. Maybe you could use the Stirling engine to power a fan to cool your motors? The energy for this would, as you point out, not be coming from the dry ice but from the ambient temperature, and under those terms could be ruled illegal.