Poll: What type of launcher mechanism are you using for FS?

[Caleb Sykes]

Have fun trying to launch such a large ball through such a small goal. Launching? No thanks.

[MechEng83]

Results at 100 responses:

Single-sided wheeled launcher				25	25.00%
Double-sided wheeled launcher				35	35.00%
Linear accelerator (pneumatic powered)			2	2.00%
Linear accelerator (elastic spring/surgical tubing)	4	4.00%
Rotating arm (catapult, trebuchet, etc.)		18	18.00%
Another method (please share in comments!)		4	4.00%
Launching? No thanks.					12	12.00%

Looks like we're going to see a lot of wheeled launchers at the competitions this year.

[Knufire]

What if we have more than one boulder scoring mechanism?

[MechEng83]

Originally Posted by Knufire

What if we have more than one boulder scoring mechanism?

Is more than one of them a launcher? If we need to score low, we plan on just reversing our intake, so we technically have multiple scoring mechanisms.

[Rangel(kf7fdb)]

Originally Posted by MechEng83

Is more than one of them a launcher? If we need to score low, we plan on just reversing our intake, so we technically have multiple scoring mechanisms.

I think he may be referring to a modular shooter robot that can be a short robot that scores in the high goal or a tall robot that shoots in the high goal based on alliance partner's robots. It was one of our ideas at one point early on in the season but ultimately gave it up.

[s_forbes]

The catapult/trebuchet design fits the theme better, so clearly it's the best solution. If a team works out how to make a trebuchet launcher with a resetting sling I will be thoroughly impressed! It will be interesting to see how many catapult style launchers are pneumatic vs mechanical spring vs latex powered.

Originally Posted by Caleb Sykes

Have fun trying to launch such a large ball through such a small goal. Launching? No thanks.

That's what I thought for the first few days after kickoff. After we had a field mocked up and tested some prototypes, I changed my mind. It's a tough target, but it's doable.

[Sunshine]

Originally Posted by s_forbes

It will be interesting to see how many catapult style launchers are pneumatic vs mechanical spring vs latex powered.

Our prototype pneumatic catapult. We made 3/4 of our first shots. Quit while we were ahead and went to production.

http://youtu.be/XQA1Bx_qfUM

[Alpha Beta]

Originally Posted by Sunshine

Our prototype pneumatic catapult. We made 3/4 of our first shots. Quit while we were ahead and went to production.

http://youtu.be/XQA1Bx_qfUM

Video is private.

[Sunshine]

Sorry about that. Please try again.

[JohnFogarty]

Surprisingly we tested a pneumatic powered linear punch that looks, but doesn't work like 1114's 2008 ball shooter. It's actually more like 1102's 2008 ball puncher. Made the shot we wanted every time the same way. Simple, easy and effective.

[Knufire]

Originally Posted by MechEng83

Is more than one of them a launcher? If we need to score low, we plan on just reversing our intake, so we technically have multiple scoring mechanisms.

Originally Posted by Rangel(kf7fdb)

I think he may be referring to a modular shooter robot that can be a short robot that scores in the high goal or a tall robot that shoots in the high goal based on alliance partner's robots. It was one of our ideas at one point early on in the season but ultimately gave it up.

Based on our priority list/strategy, we don't feel like we'll need the ability to score in the high goal until later in the season. In order to ensure that we only go to competitions with polished, tuned systems, we're building two seperate scoring mechanisms (one that only scores in the low goal, and one that scores in the low and high goal). Since we build a practice robot and have ample weight allowance/unbag time by going to four two day events, we'll be able to iterate a ton on the high goal mechanism on our practice bot and be able to move it to the competition bot whenever it's ready.

It's also seems that both mechanisms could fit on the robot at the same time, which offers some interesting possibilites in terms of a modular robot.

Anyway, I answered the poll based on our late-season mechanism.