Pelican (or other) Case for Flying with Robot

[mrnoble]

AngelBotics is considering flying with our team this year for the first time since 2010. I've seen that some teams have used Pelican cases to travel with their robots. Does anyone have information that will help answer these questions:

1) What type and size of case is recommended? I've been scrolling through their website and have yet to find one that a typical drive base will fit into.

2) Is the cost of two cases offset with their reusability, year after year?

3) Is this really a better option than shipping via FedEx?

Thanks for your input.

[tjf]

1) I've yet to find a pelican case that would fit a regular FRC bot, much less enable you to take it on an airplane. FTC or VEX perhaps, but not FRC. We simply build bigger bots.

2) I'd consider it to not be worth it personally, as you still have the issue of transporting tools, equipment and spares to competition if your robot is flying with you.

3)Not in my mind, and not in general. FIRST works with FedEx to make things easier, and all things considered, it's the easiest and most reliable solution.

For a driverstation, or perhaps toolboxes, I could imagine using pelican cases. But for the sake of your robot itself, it seems infeasible for FRC bots.

[bkahl]

Originally Posted by tjf

1) I've yet to find a pelican case that would fit a regular FRC bot, much less enable you to take it on an airplane. FTC or VEX perhaps, but not FRC. We simply build bigger bots.

Some of you may build bigger bots...

[Chris is me]

I don't think this is the kind of thing you can invest in before you've designed your robot, unfortunately. You'll have to wait until at least a few days after Kickoff to make any purchases for this. Would hate to pick out a Pelican case assuming another short-ish robot and it's the 2015 game again.

[tjf]

Originally Posted by bkahl

Some of you may build bigger bots...

Okay okay, you got me. Some of us build big bots, and some of us build small bots that do a heck of a lot.

[bobbysq]

Where do you want to fly? You could see if you can get a mentor to transport the bot and just fly over students and additional mentors.

[mrnoble]

Originally Posted by bkahl

Some of you may build bigger bots...

Yeah, Nutrons is one of the teams I was thinking of. I saw how well your team pulled off the trip to Arizona last season. Any advice?

[bkahl]

Originally Posted by mrnoble

Yeah, Nutrons is one of the teams I was thinking of. I saw how well your team pulled off the trip to Arizona last season. Any advice?

We built small for strategic reasons, and the logistical benefits were purely coincidental.

Would not recommend doing this with a "normal" sized robot.

[Andrew Schreiber]

Originally Posted by mrnoble

Yeah, Nutrons is one of the teams I was thinking of. I saw how well your team pulled off the trip to Arizona last season. Any advice?

Don't assume that airlines won't leave your stuff in the rain. Pack everything as if it will be left outside on the tarmac for hours.

[ctt956]

Originally Posted by tjf

[snip]
For a driverstation, or perhaps toolboxes, I could imagine using pelican cases. But for the sake of your robot itself, it seems infeasible for FRC bots.

If you do use it for a driver station, I would take the laptop out and carry it on. High altitudes are not good for hard drives.

Originally Posted by Andrew Schreiber

Don't assume that airlines won't leave your stuff in the rain. Pack everything as if it will be left outside on the tarmac for hours.

This. Also, you run a risk of your cargo not getting on the plane.

[pilleya]

Originally Posted by ctt956

If you do use it for a driver station, I would take the laptop out and carry it on. High altitudes are not good for hard drives.

FYI the Cargo holding areas in most large passenger aircraft are the same pressure as the cabin. But it's always a good idea to put something fragile and expensive like a laptop in your Carry on.