Linear Actuators

[Julian Gabriel]

I have noticed a lot of discussion and I personally have had a number of discussions on other options for pneumatics. Often times it seems to me it would be beneficial to avoid the extra weight with a compressor, air tanks, and other peripherals on a robot when something could be done with a linear actuator.

The largest thing that comes up is that they are slow, but they are accurate. I find them to be an interesting component that FIRST should allow in next years game as an option for teams who want to go without pneumatics, or for other types of systems.

I know there are converters that could turn a regular motor into a linear actuator, and there are other work around solutions, but do you think FIRST should allow a dedicated linear actuator to be used during the 2015 season? Would your team find it useful? What would you use it for?