What is the most ghetto thing you've seen on a robot?

[dradel]

I'd say use Mickey Mouse but Disney would probably sue.

[FrankJ]

A lot of robots used 5 gal buckets for Frisbee storage for Ultimate Ascent. Successful engineering is all about making the best use of your resources.

[s_forbes]

Originally Posted by Scott England

a literal lead brick from the small parts catalog, 1997, roughly hewn with a hack saw to get the total robot weight to the exact maximum. You can still find the basic item at small parts (since they were purchased by amazon)

That's more high tech than a masonry brick, at least!

I tried really hard to have our defense manipulator be made out of 2x4s this year, but we opted for fancier material in the end. Mechanisms that use cheap materials and ultra-low precision machining are my favorite part of any robot.

[billbo911]

Originally Posted by dradel

I'd say use Mickey Mouse but Disney would probably sue.

I like to use the expression "Disney Engineering, it's either Mikey Mouse, or Goofy ".

Man I hope the PC police don't get all spun up over that. Sadly, I'm sure someone will find it offensive.

[techhelpbb]

Originally Posted by billbo911

I like to use the expression "Disney Engineering, it's either Mikey Mouse, or Goofy ".

Man I hope the PC police don't get all spun up over that. Sadly, I'm sure someone will find it offensive.

I find this offensive.

Disney Engineering is not that bad...
Six Flags engineering that's a whole other story:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fnAawCUTNC4
Let's not even talk about the original Haunted House.

[billbo911]

Originally Posted by techhelpbb

I find this offensive.

Disney Engineering is not that bad...
Six Flags engineering that's a whole other story:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fnAawCUTNC4

Having grown up in So. Cal, I can say without a doubt, I agree.

[techhelpbb]

In response to a post that was deleted...

Six Flags does maintain the rides, or hire the contractors who do so.
Sort of like not everyone on a robot teams necessarily designs the robot.

BTW the video audio does clearly state these facts.

Mind you - I have no problem with innovative use of materials in robots.
I would like to see it rewarded in fact, but I would hope not to the point of creating safety issues.

[DaveL]

Originally Posted by techhelpbb

Dear Craftsman tools,

I am very disappointed in my 1/2" Craftsman ratchet. It doesn't perform nearly as I expect when jury-rigged into an FRC component. I'd like to claim on my lifetime warranty.

...

Dear FRC team,

Although we appreciate your talent and unique use case. We can't provide a replacement for a use we clearly did not intend.

Too Funny!
Maybe vendors will see the value in having an "FRC Robot Tested Tough" sticker on their products.

Like in the days of yore when Timex had funny ads showing how tough their watch was.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?featur...&v=ynSrvluQBy8

[Dibit1010]

For our flywheels this year we hacksawed, drill pressed, and lathed down a bolt so that it would fit onto a motor shaft

[RadonH0926]

Since I've been on Cyber Blue, the most "ghetto" solution we had was in 2013 when we replaced a floor pickup system with a blue bucket for taking frisbees from from the HP station.

[caltemus]

In 2010 we had a ramp assembly that required the addition of a duct tape roll core; being used to prevent the robot from smashing itself and losing comm every time the ramp was closed.

[BetaHelix]

In 2014 we used a drill and a hex bearing(still attached to the chassis) as a lathe

In 2015 we needed HDPE spacers and wheels for our lift so we mangled a milk jug and some casters. Best BOM item ever: Mangled caster x4

Sketchineering at its finest

[Hgree56]

I remember this past winter we were at an FLL competition demoing with 461. They had their 2012 bot and one of their tiny belts broke and they didn't have spares with them. They ended up using a wristband as a belt and it kinda worked for awhile. I personally loved how simple but creative a fix it was!

[Peyton Yeung]

Originally Posted by Hgree56

I remember this past winter we were at an FLL competition demoing with 461. They had their 2012 bot and one of their tiny belts broke and they didn't have spares with them. They ended up using a wristband as a belt and it kinda worked for awhile. I personally loved how simple but creative a fix it was!

Yeah pretty much all of our questionable "fixes" are belt related. We're getting pretty good at finding out how to connect pulleys without belts.

[Eric Scheuing]

We went into our W1 competition with our shooter guides taped on, and our camera mount was entirely made of tape. No need to be elegant if what you have works.

We do plan on making more permanent solutions to these in the future, but we didn't want to make any major last-minute changes to an already functional and practiced component.