Future FRC Technologies?

[pilleya]

Originally Posted by NWChen

Modern batteries

Sealed lead-acid batteries are heavy, have poor energy density, and have a shorter lifespan than lithium batteries. For the high-amperage, high discharge rate application that FRC usually presents, I hope the standard SLAs can be phased out in favor of newer battery technologies.

But here’s the thing, I really don’t see weight being much of an issue. Yes, they do have a shorter lifespan than lithium batteries, but they are also cheaper than Lithium batteries of comparable capacity.

The FRC battery is capable of high-amperage( much higher than the 120amp breaker allows), but do we really need it, as I see it the SLA can give out enough power to run the robot just fine. Higher discharge rate simply means more potential for danger.

Higher energy density means that batteries are capable of causing more damage and injury.

At one regional event I attended I saw two or three batteries swell up, because they had been shorted out by teams. The fact that the batteries swell when shorted and then pop, is great compared to Lithium-ion and Lipo batteries that just get hot and create a big fireball.

This is a competition for students, and students make mistakes, as do parents and mentors. What do we want the outcome of someone making a mistake with a battery to be, having the battery destroyed and need to purchase a new one. Or have the battery destroyed, and have it create a big flame/fire that can really badly injure people.