Go to Post Inspiration is created by a vision and is reinforced with success. - rourke [more]
Home
Go Back   Chief Delphi > FIRST > General Forum
CD-Media   CD-Spy  
portal register members calendar search Today's Posts Mark Forums Read FAQ rules

 
 
 
Thread Tools Rating: Thread Rating: 10 votes, 5.00 average. Display Modes
Prev Previous Post   Next Post Next
  #43   Spotlight this post!  
Unread 25-08-2004, 17:09
Unsung FIRST Hero
Mike Betts Mike Betts is offline
Electrical Engineer
no team
Team Role: Engineer
 
Join Date: Dec 2001
Rookie Year: 1995
Location: Homosassa, FL
Posts: 1,442
Mike Betts has a reputation beyond reputeMike Betts has a reputation beyond reputeMike Betts has a reputation beyond reputeMike Betts has a reputation beyond reputeMike Betts has a reputation beyond reputeMike Betts has a reputation beyond reputeMike Betts has a reputation beyond reputeMike Betts has a reputation beyond reputeMike Betts has a reputation beyond reputeMike Betts has a reputation beyond reputeMike Betts has a reputation beyond repute
Re: Weight

In my first year (associated with FIRST), the weight was 85 pounds, the current limit was 40 amps (total) and the base constraint was a 30" diameter circle. These constraints (and others) varied from year to year until recently.

We truly anticipated the kickoff because it defined not only the game but the design constraints as well.

This is real world. Being handed "impossible" constraints forces the engineering/”sales”/manufacturing team to consider trade offs.

A few years ago, I had posted on a few threads here where the issue was the size of the main battery current limit (Then a 60 amp fuse… If it blew, you were dead.). I had stated that the Bobcat had never blown a fuse and the teams that had done so had not paid attention to their power budget.

Anyways, the total power was raised (which caused a slew of new problems) and, in retrospect, I’m still not sure that FIRST did themselves or us a favor…

Tackling “impossible” design challenges led to an amazing and unprecedented era of technological developments in the late 20th century. We put men on the moon, telescopes in orbit and robotic rovers on distant planets. The outcome of which can be symbolically represented by the enabling technologies inside the laptops most of you are using to read this message.

Another benefit of fluctuating constraints is that it levels the playing field. Designing a robot (or robot subassemblies) in pre-season becomes less profitable to veteran teams in terms of something which will be used this year. Pre-season activities become slanted more toward educating the workforce (mentor and student alike) to be able to respond to whatever twisted and devious challenges Messrs. Flowers, Lavery and Kamen (et al) might throw at us.

Also, fluctuating constraints in a very tight timetable forces a discipline on the team which is beneficial to everyone involved. We learn (or relearn) the importance of a structured timeline, (sub)system requirements and intelligent trade off analysis. Moreover, it forces the entire team to actually read the rules and approach the design as a team exercise!

Therefore, a proposal for varying constraints:

Weight: 80 to 140 lbs.
Base size: 20 to 30 inches by 30 to 48 inches.
Height: 20 to 60 inches.
Geometry: Approximately every other year, use cylinders, pyramids, trapezoids, etc.
Power: 80 to 120 amps at 12 VDC.
Cost: Between 3K and 5K (with no subsystem constraints).
Components: More variation (example: Skip using CIM motors for a year or vary the number of Drill motors from 2 to 4 for a year).

Bottom line: Some people will complain no matter what the design constraints are… I say: Let ‘em and bring it on!
__________________
Mike Betts

Alumnus, Team 3518, Panthrobots, 2011
Alumnus, Team 177, Bobcat Robotics, 1995 - 2010
LRI, Connecticut Regional, 2007-2010
LRI, WPI Regional, 2009 - 2010
RI, South Florida Regional, 2012 - 2013

As easy as 355/113...
Reply With Quote
 


Thread Tools
Display Modes Rate This Thread
Rate This Thread:

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

vB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Forum Jump

Similar Threads
Thread Thread Starter Forum Replies Last Post
Aprox. weight of seat motor? Travis Covington Motors 2 03-03-2004 05:46
R06 - weight and configuration jimfortytwo Technical Discussion 6 18-02-2004 08:06
Lots of Wheels and F = u x N archiver 2001 17 23-06-2002 23:37
weight advice SharkBite Technical Discussion 36 15-02-2002 07:30
Robot dimensions & weight restrictions revealed? Mike Soukup Rules/Strategy 4 24-10-2001 20:51


All times are GMT -5. The time now is 23:11.

The Chief Delphi Forums are sponsored by Innovation First International, Inc.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.6.4
Copyright ©2000 - 2017, Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd.
Copyright © Chief Delphi