progress of robot design

[ChrisH]

Originally posted by FAKrogoth
Well, we THINK we can get it to move. Unfortunately, we ended up being 150 lb. I don't know it that includes the electronics board or battery, so we're screwed, and it might be worse than I hope.

Thus, we are in the swiss cheese stage of robotics, where we reduce as much of the 'bot as possible into small, ubiquitous, pointy, how-did-they-get-in-my-hair metal shavings. When (if) we get it under weight, we can only hope, pray, chant, and hold our collective breath that the arms don't break.

So, is anyone else 30 lbs too heavy?

Our first year we showed up in Florida congratulating ourselves on our light weight robot, only to discover we were actually 29 lbs over. The method we used to weigh the robot at home turned out to be less than accurate.

We were able to get most of the weight out by chucking systems, but that last 1/2 lb was a killer. Ever since then we have one subteam whose whole job is tracking weight. Current estimates put us very close to the limit, so we are planning NOW for what might have to be done later to ensure we meet weight. At least our current facility has a good scale for weighing the robot.

If you are 30 lbs over, you aren't going to get down to weight with speed holes. Use those for the last 1/2 lb or so. Start thinking seriously about scraping entire systems. Also think about material substitutions that will lighten critical sub-systems. Finally remove all steel in any non-wearing application. If there is no metal to metal contact you can probably save weight by switching to aluminium.