Linear Actuators

[Jon Stratis]

I think those teams that would most benefit from having a module provided are those who don't have the resources to create it from the individual parts. Lets also keep in mind that a single module won't fit all uses - you have questions of speed, force, and distance to take into consideration... those variables are going to be very specific to the application at hand, and could easily drive those teams with abundant resources to create their own.

So why don't we see more of them? For one, there are design tradeoffs with going with this approach over other options. Which option is best entirely depends on the weight the team gives to the tradeoffs. But perhaps more importantly, there is probably a lack of inspiration towards this mechanism. We are all familiar with springs and motors, wheels and pulleys, grabbers and elevators. But you don't really see or interact with lead screws very often, and it's not something that's already prevalent in FRC... all that combines to make it something that doesn't really come to mind when designing a robot. I know the only times my team has talked about it was many years ago when we prototyped a scissors lift, driven by a lead screw, and when we got a box of them donated (by a wife who wanted them out of her garage, I think... I'm not sure if she even told her husband she was donating his gearboxes!). It's just something that hasn't come up in discussion, and something we don't have much experience with. For that reason, having one in hand in the KoP may provide the inspiration for a team to go in a new direction.