Antenna design

[ROULT]

We have seen many robots having antennas like team SCREAM:



and 3005 RoboChargers:



Can you elaborate on the materials and design used?

Also if your team has a different antenna design, or have further ideas, can you share them with the FRC community?

CHEESECAKING

Thanks and good luck to all teams in regionals!!!

[RaMoore]

On FRC3005, we used black 1/8" polycarb for our antennae. There is also different colored tape on the front and back of each one so the driver can tell the orientation of the robot.

You can vary the width of the antenna to change how "floppy" they are while driving around and still making sure they are compliant enough to bend down under the low bar. Be sure to pack a few extras, we lose 1-2 per competition.

[CalTran]

They're generally some sort of flexible material supplemented by a springy base. You could try something like these if you're pressed for weight.

[I_AM_Clayton]

Team 945 (Team banana) used something similar, they were flimsy enough to swing around but held on to the robot well.

[Ari423]

Team 423 also used "antennas", but we accidentally made them too heavy by adding signage at the top. This caused them to constantly sag and get in the way of everything. Also, they generally cannot go up to max height because when they fold down they cannot stick out more than 15" past the bumpers. We ended up taking them off and making static PVC poles at the height limit for matches where we think there may be a vision issue. It means we lose low goal capability, but we gain vision behind tall defenses, which is much more important in our opinion.

[z_beeblebrox]

We used painted 3/16" fiberglass rod epoxied into a stiff spring with a machined aluminum coupler. The bottom of the spring was attached to the robot frame I can try to find a photo of the mount if there's interest;

[Kevin Sevcik]

We're using something like these fiberglass reflector rods cut down a bit. They go into some aluminum clamps at the bottom that are all pivoted on the same screw. The outside poles have surgical tubing to keep everything centered.

I think it's important to go with something pivoted front/back or that can't bend sideways like those lexan strips, other wise you risk them bending sideways out of the 15". Also having 2 colors front/back or side to side so the driver will know the orientation of the robot.

[FarmerJohn]

What are these for?

[ROULT]

Originally Posted by RaMoore

On FRC3005, we used black 1/8" polycarb for our antennae. There is also different colored tape on the front and back of each one so the driver can tell the orientation of the robot.

You can vary the width of the antenna to change how "floppy" they are while driving around and still making sure they are compliant enough to bend down under the low bar. Be sure to pack a few extras, we lose 1-2 per competition.

Thanks!! We will take this in account... We really like the idea of having antennas...

See you at champs...

[ROULT]

Originally Posted by FarmerJohn

What are these for?

They are basically to aid the driver in locating the robot position and direction because of the visual blocking by defenses and other robots.

[CalTran]

Originally Posted by FarmerJohn

What are these for?

Helps you to pick out where your robot is past defenses like the Sally Port.

[ROULT]

Thanks to all!! Basically it all narrows to rods with springs and polycarb sheets... Thanks!!!

[The other Gabe]

I saw a team that used old halves of pool noodles - they bent when going under the low bar, and then popped straight back up. they were bright green too, easy to see

[lorykzarr]

You could try getting a pack of really long zipties. That or try finding something like those flexible thin plastic driveway/road markers.

[kevin.li.rit]

I suggested we get a bunch of fans and hook it up to a speed controller and get a inflatable tube man. Unfortunately my idea was shot down

https://youtu.be/cvaRGiMWRaE