FRC 2013 "Best Designs" Log

[Chris is me]

I think butterfly drive should get a mention. It was extremely well suited to this year's game. Firstly, seven-disc autonomous modes were much easier with one. Secondly, being able to switch to omni for ease of alignment, then traction to hold orientation was very useful, and IMO a big part of how 148 could start accurately FCSing so quickly. Add to that the offensive benefits of a butterfly drive (not vulnerable to t-bones, can push through defensive problems, etc) and 2013 seems like the best year for butterfly since its creation.

[runneals]

Originally Posted by Chris is me

I think butterfly drive should get a mention. It was extremely well suited to this year's game. Firstly, seven-disc autonomous modes were much easier with one. Secondly, being able to switch to omni for ease of alignment, then traction to hold orientation was very useful, and IMO a big part of how 148 could start accurately FCSing so quickly. Add to that the offensive benefits of a butterfly drive (not vulnerable to t-bones, can push through defensive problems, etc) and 2013 seems like the best year for butterfly since its creation.

Neutrino LOVES Butterfly Drive!

Originally Posted by Boe

i know of two without wheels

1503's catupult type fouor discs at once

and there was a fcs that used a belt to shoot the frisbees, it looked very nice, but i cant remember the team number. They were in galileo and had a yellow powder coated robot and thier pit was located very close to the practice field. My team also tried a belt shooter but it didnt pan out towards the ends of the season so we redesigned post build, id love to know more about how they got it to work

Yah, 525 had a "flinger".

[craigboez]

Originally Posted by Chris is me

I think butterfly drive should get a mention. It was extremely well suited to this year's game. Firstly, seven-disc autonomous modes were much easier with one.

Can you explain why 7 disc auton was easier with a butterfly drive?

[Boe]

Originally Posted by craigboez

Can you explain why 7 disc auton was easier with a butterfly drive?

i believe he is reffering to when the traction wheels are down the robot is a four wheel drive with a long drive base causing the robot to barely (if at all) be able to turn which makes driving strait in auton easier

[Chris is me]

Originally Posted by craigboez

Can you explain why 7 disc auton was easier with a butterfly drive?

Originally Posted by Boe

i believe he is reffering to when the traction wheels are down the robot is a four wheel drive with a long drive base causing the robot to barely (if at all) be able to turn which makes driving strait in auton easier

Correct. While skid steers basically require a gyro and closed loop control to drive straight enough to get all seven discs, a butterfly drive just needs to deploy four pistons and drive. The anti-spinning properties of the drive (long high traction wheelbase) will allow the robot to easily go straight.