Low Rider Club 2014

[BBray_T1296]

On this year's robot, we had roughly 1/16" ground clearance.

Our ground clearance started just below 1/8", where the bottom of our lexan bellypan was. There were originally pan head bolts and rivets below the bellypan, but as the robot wore in (ie: was pounded in) we began to completely ruin the whole field of tape at Dallas (2 times) as our tubing frame slightly shifted. We moved all of the bolts and busted out the Dremel to ground down some bolt "tails" so the lowest point of the robot was the bellypan itself, which had sunk down to 1/16".

After 2 regionals, we have huge scratch marks (like sandpaper) all along our plastic bellypan where we were still slightly sliding around.

Ground clearance is defined in this club as the height of your bellypan (or similar large, horizontal plate) off of the ground. How low are you?

[AllenGregoryIV]

When we're on our omni-wheels our belly pan is just under a 1/4" from the ground. We have bolts and the 72 tooth gears that come close enough to the ground to collect any loose bits of carpet. We collected a lot of carpet this year. Our pretty white frame isn't so pretty on the inside anymore.

[JesseK]

The bolt heads out the bottom of our frame are just a smidge over 0.25" from the ground. We didn't go lower because we didn't want any issues with running over loose nuts/bolts on the field.

[Canon reeves]

We have about 3/4 of an inch of clearances, at one point we ripped up a piece of loose tape and it cost us a bearing and a belt!

[Chris is me]

At the lowest point, our bellypan is .4375 inches from the ground. The completely flat field let us switch to 4" wheels while still using the 3" drive tubes we are used to. We did not experience any scraping this year.

In the past we've had CIMs as close as 3/8-1/4" from the ground. These CIMs had scrapes on them as well as a collection of metal shavings presumably grabbed off the ground.

[RoboChair]

Originally Posted by Chris is me

At the lowest point, our bellypan is .4375 inches from the ground.

You sir have an amazing drive base if your belly pan can hold a half a thousands tolerance!!!!!!

[Chris is me]

Originally Posted by RoboChair

You sir have an amazing drive base if your belly pan can hold a half a thousands tolerance!!!!!!

It's probably more like .435 factoring in that the plate is probably .063" thick rather than exactly 1/16th. Also forgot to factor in powdercoat, which adds at least 2 thou.

[RoboChair]

Now we just need the field and the field TAPE to live up to these numbers!

[SkittlesCharge]

537 had 1/2" inch ground clearance with our belly pan this year. In our videos from competitions, you can see our belly pan sticking out below the bumpers, but you can't (easily) see the wheels, so it kind of looks like our robot is hovering 1/2" off the ground.

[cadandcookies]

Geez, makes us feel positively sky high with ~3/4" clearance.

[TikiTech]

Add us to the 1/16" low rider club...

Our cross braces and electronics mounting rails are welded under our frame, so everything sits nested inside the frame.

It only became a concern when we had a code issue in auto. Our first practice match of the season we ran into the wall in our torque gear and in those 10 seconds we burned through the carpet and toasted a brand new set of Vex 4" Versa wheels.

In fact, that practice match in teleop we were unable to move since in the time between auto and teleop the carpet and what was left of the tire material cooled and we were GLUED in place. The field techs were so happy with us!! Took a good 10 minutes to pry the robot from the field.

Of course the practice matches were held on the game field and every time we set up our robot throughout the event we could not help but smile. We were concerned that we would trip breakers with our 6 CIM drive. After the wall burnout we felt that was no longer an issue. Plus seeing your "patch" when you went to set up you robot, priceless....

Luckly we had a bunch of spares. This is our first time using a west coast drive and wasn't sure of how badly they could wear tires out during defense.

We have upgraded to Colsons for the championships.. Hope they wear better.

Aloha!

[AllenGregoryIV]

Originally Posted by TikiTech

In fact, that practice match in teleop we were unable to move since in the time between auto and teleop the carpet and what was left of the tire material cooled and we were GLUED in place. The field techs were so happy with us!! Took a good 10 minutes to pry the robot from the field.

Pictures?

[TikiTech]

I will check with the students.

The field crew was not amused so they might not of gotten one. We were kind of busy pealing the robot off the floor.

I will check to see if the worn tires are not in the crate. If they are not I will post a picture of them tonight after our meeting. I was amazed.. We put them on our intake for the rest of practice as a badge of honor. Sadly they did effect the pick up and we replaced them before the qualifications.

[Tyler2517]

When we lost one our wheels we were 1/4 off the ground on that side. (running eliminations like that) other wise we were 1/2-3/4 off the ground. We some how still got lots of carpet in out bevel gears 6 inches off the ground still not sure how that happens.

[mrnoble]

Our practice bot was at 1/2", and we lowered the comp bot once we tried driving over uneven carpet tape and found that it could keep going. 1/4".