pic: Suitcase Bot

[Nemo]

I don't know... articulating frames weren't legal last year.

[Tom Ore]

Originally Posted by Nemo

I don't know... articulating frames weren't legal last year.

We're going to recommend that they build the kit bot. We'll make special T-shirts for the workshop and we joked about having "Build the kit bot" translated to Chinese and put on the back of the shirts. (We will spend some time going over the robot manual from last year - I'll be sure to point out R02.)

The two halves will be useful - since the frames were welded there will be a bit of distortion. We can oversize one set of holes to get the two sides aligned nicely when we bolt them together.

We'll point out other stuff that is unique to the suitcase bot and wouldn't be done in competition - like the bumpers are only 1" off the ground and the bumper corners aren't ideal.

[Nemo]

c'mon, Tom, you know I was joking.

Seriously, though, this is a sweet project. Packaging everything into that small of a box is a significant challenge, and hopefully you won't run into any snags building it in a short time frame.

Just remember not to put anything in there that makes a ticking sound.

[BBray_T1296]

Originally Posted by Nemo

Just remember not to put anything in there that makes a ticking sound.

Or a sloshing sound.

[Tom Ore]

Originally Posted by Nemo

c'mon, Tom, you know I was joking.

Yes,of course. However, I actually thought about it a few days ago. The frame is rather stiff and the robot is light so it may not twist to make up for small waves in the floor. If that happens we would loosen the bolts a bit and use jam nuts to hold them. In that case, it would be an articulated frame and we'd need to explain that it isn't competition legal.

[BBray_T1296]

You should send the robot over in those crates we used to have to use when FedEx shipped the robots

[Alan Anderson]

Originally Posted by BBray_T1296

You should send the robot over in those crates we used to have to use when FedEx shipped the robots

Every team potentially needs one of those crates. They are still required for shipment to and from the Championship event. But they're a whole lot bigger than necessary for a training/demo 'bot like this one.

[protoserge]

You might be able to squeeze that into a Pelican 1620 case and put it as checked baggage. I can get you the exact interior dimensions if you'd like.

On a TSA side note, I went to Costa Rica this summer with my Pelican 1510 camera case (covered with a few robot stickers) and was asked if I had a camera or a robot inside I don't want to know if the robot would have been a bad thing!

[Tom Ore]

Here are some videos of the suitcase bot.

Arcade Mode
Tank Mode
Mecanum Wheels
Using gyro and pot to hold direction

[Caleb Sykes]

This is awesome.

I was wondering if you were going to use gyro correction with the mecanum wheels, and you certainly did. That drive code is probably better than ours was last year

Have you made bumpers for this guy yet? I see you have the potential for them on the frame.

[yash101]

I love how you guys use a mecanum drivetrain! How ingenious!!!

[Starke]

Originally Posted by Tom Ore

Here are some videos of the suitcase bot.

Arcade Mode
Tank Mode
Mecanum Wheels
Using gyro and pot to hold direction

The Suitcase Bot has also been added to the FRC Designs database! Check out the Behind the Design article and Offseason Page.

Suitcase Bot Behind the Design: http://frcdesigns.com/2013/12/06/beh...-suitcase-bot/

Offseason Page: http://frcdesigns.com/designs-offseason/