60 second set-up / pack-up time?

[MrJohnston]

In the rules, it says that drive teams must set up their robots from transport configuration before each match and pack it back into transport configuration quickly. "60 seconds" is given as a "guideline."

With all the very creative/innovative/complicated robots we are seeing in reveal videos, I am starting to wonder how many of them are going to be able to do that? Do we have any idea how strictly referees are going call the 60-second guideline? I know we made some design decisions with that guideline in mind, but I wonder if some others did not? Or at least hope to abide by the time limit rather loosely?

[Gregor]

We've got a fairly complicated transport configuration that takes some practice to get done on time.

It's part of our driver practice.

[Sohaib]

Ours is a decent job, hooking up Anderson Powerpoles, adding bolts, quick release pins, and connecting pneumatic tubing. We developed a procedure for the drive-team to follow, all 4 drive team members are doing something.

One does the drivestation and selects autonomous, second, attaches the left side of our intake, third does right side. This includes one Powerpole and one pneumatic tube each, in addition to 4 bolts and 4 quick release pins.

The coach runs a quick checklist at the end to make sure everything is done. With a few practice runs, we can do this in 48 seconds.

[Gregor]

Originally Posted by Sohaib

Ours is a decent job, hooking up Anderson Powerpoles, adding bolts, quick release pins, and connecting pneumatic tubing. We developed a procedure for the drive-team to follow, all 4 drive team members are doing something.

One does the drivestation and selects autonomous, second, attaches the left side of our intake, third does right side. This includes one Powerpole and one pneumatic tube each, in addition to 4 bolts and 4 quick release pins.

The coach runs a quick checklist at the end to make sure everything is done. With a few practice runs, we can do this in 48 seconds.

How are you connecting tubing with pressure in the system?

[Joe G.]

Ours is just six pins to install. We managed to keep all powered components inside our main robot body, but we definitely didn't take advantage of the relaxed rules as much as many have.

[Sohaib]

Originally Posted by Gregor

How are you connecting tubing with pressure in the system?

The air to the pistons on the intake is stopped by a butterfly valve. Once the tubing is connected to its connectors, the butterfly valve is opened.

The system is also charged with this valve closed.

We're contemplating just having long enough tubing so that we can put it into the transport configuration without the need of the butterfly valve which likes to leak.

[Gregor]

Originally Posted by Sohaib

The air to the pistons on the intake is stopped by a butterfly valve. Once the tubing is connected to its connectors, the butterfly valve is opened.

The system is also charged with this valve closed.

We're contemplating just having long enough tubing so that we can put it into the transport configuration without the need of the butterfly valve which likes to leak.

It sounds like you're violating R78A

Originally Posted by R78

Any pressure vent plug must be:
A. connected to the pneumatic circuit such that, when manually operated, it will vent to the atmosphere to relieve all stored
pressure in a reasonable amount of time

[Anupam Goli]

I'd imagine the teams that came up with the most creative use of transport configuration took into account setup time.

That being said, for us all we have to do is place two quick release pins in our stacker mechanism once on the field.

[dtengineering]

Originally Posted by Gregor

It sounds like you're violating R78A

Good point... although I wouldn't necessarily take this as a "pressure vent valve", so long as there was a real "pressure vent valve" located elsewhere on the robot. I'd suggest that "pressure vent" describes the function of the valve, and the valve described here is clearly not designed to vent pressure at the end of the match.

So not that I think this setup should be a problem, but the event it is they could simply replace their ball valve with a single-acting solenoid valve and it would be fine.

Jason

P.S. I have no doubt, whatsoever, that teams with the technical ability to generate some of these amazing multi-part designs, will drill, drill and drill to the point where they are quicker at setup than many teams with simpler tasks to perform.

[Christopher149]

For Transport Configuration, it's two bolts and two pins. If we happen to find a door that we're too tall at, it's two bolts and two cables (1 USB, 1 powerpole).

[PayneTrain]

Originally Posted by Anupam Goli

I'd imagine the teams that came up with the most creative use of transport configuration took into account setup time.

That being said, for us all we have to do is place two quick release pins in our stacker mechanism once on the field.

Quick release pins are the bomb.net

Drop in the zone, use the "super-square" I need to make this weekend, drop and lock the back arms, flip the front arms. It can probably be done in 60 seconds. Probably.

[Gregor]

Originally Posted by dtengineering

Good point... although I wouldn't necessarily take this as a "pressure vent valve", so long as there was a real "pressure vent valve" located elsewhere on the robot. I'd suggest that "pressure vent" describes the function of the valve, and the valve described here is clearly not designed to vent pressure at the end of the match.

So not that I think this setup should be a problem, but the event it is they could simply replace their ball valve with a single-acting solenoid valve and it would be fine.

Jason

P.S. I have no doubt, whatsoever, that teams with the technical ability to generate some of these amazing multi-part designs, will drill, drill and drill to the point where they are quicker at setup than many teams with simpler tasks to perform.

Wouldn't that mean that the main pressure vent valve wouldn't always be able to vent all air pressure?

[dtengineering]

Originally Posted by Gregor

Wouldn't that mean that the main pressure vent valve wouldn't always be able to vent all air pressure?

I agree... but with their butterfly valve open (as it would be during the match) it would essentially be transparent to the rest of the system and the main pressure vent valve would be able to vent all the air pressure.

The simple fact that two FRC veterans see this from different views, however, suggests the team would be wise to make a quick Q&A so they'll know if they need a different solution at their regional.

Jason

[Sohaib]

Originally Posted by dtengineering

I agree... but with their butterfly valve open (as it would be during the match) it would essentially be transparent to the rest of the system and the main pressure vent valve would be able to vent all the air pressure.

The simple fact that two FRC veterans see this from different views, however, suggests the team would be wise to make a quick Q&A so they'll know if they need a different solution at their regional.

Jason

We have another option should the current setup be deemed illegal.

[Gregor]

Originally Posted by dtengineering

The simple fact that two FRC veterans see this from different views, however, suggests the team would be wise to make a quick Q&A so they'll know if they need a different solution at their regional.

Certainly. Can someone with Q&A access ask that please?