Fisher Price Gearbox Q...

[Bill Beatty]

Joe

I am so far into left field that my ideal robot tournament would be a single robot, doing a complex task against the clock. I loved the "Beat The Clock" matches at Rumble in 1999. I know I am totally alone out here, and I agree that it would be very boring for most spectators.

Traveling back from left field outer space, I thought that last year's game was the best FIRST game ever, and I congratulated FIRST within a few days after kickoff, before we even knew how we were going to go at it. I feel that last year's game contained so very many facets (some quite subtle and way too long of subject for this posting)

Joe, in our discussions over the past seven years (has it really been that long)? We agree on many points, but I don't totally agree with your points involving making the FIRST game attractive for the general viewing public and hence on prime time TV. I don't think the game itself or simple scoring really matters that much. If FIRST wants to compete with the popularity of the "Battlebots", Woodie should grow a beard, give him a blonde helper dressed in shiny leather paints and a tight T shirt and coach the crowd to jump up and clap their hands over their heads whenever the camera pans by. Adding some flames here and there would also be helpful. This large dose of hype and also the combat and violence is what I believe is what is attracting most viewers to these programs.

As for this years game, obviously, the further it moves from my left field, warm fuzzy harbor, the less attractive I find the game. I think the qualifying rounds will be exciting as well as frustrating and somewhat unpredictable, but I fear that the elimination's will be a tangled mess of pushing, shoving, hooking, and bordering on "Battlebots." I hope I am wrong, but we shall see. Whatever the game, be assured we will give it our best shot.

Looking forward to seeing all you folks again in the approaching weeks.

Regards.

[EZRider]

I opened up the Fisher Price units we got this year, and guess what- they've changed! Our units run at about 180 rpm no load (as compared to the published values of 100 from past years and in First Update #3). The bare motor now turns at 20,000 rpm (vs 15,000 previously), and has a 21T gear on it as opposed to the 16 tooth- the net effect of the higher speed and the larger drive pinion is the higher output speed.

The last 2 stages of gearing have been changed as well- the final stage gear has larger teeth and is black (and I assume is made of a different plastic). But all the ratios (save the first- from motor to the first stage plastic gear) appear to be the same.

Anybody tested these to see what the stall torque and currents have changed to?

Is it only me who has noticed the final stage of the Chipua drive 'copper' gear will fit perfectly into the FP gear box? I am not suggesting anyone do this, But using the design of the FP - perhaps using the plastic gears as templates or casts for aluminum? (Nothing in the rules about manufacturing your own gears.)

All that said we probably, will make our Chipua transmissions real simple, out of a worm gear reduction.

Also on the final stage teeth stripping on FP - this will happen in head to head pushing and shoving matches. Also the motors can get HOT in this situation - I suggest if you plan to use the FP as drive motors to take the plastic housing off, and direct some air on to them. Also don't drive the wheel directly off the plastic axle - use some sort of belt or chain drive to the final stage to avoid sharp sudden shocks to the gearbox.