Who is using the kitbot?

[M. Hicken]

Our mentors are stuck on the idea of using the kitbot, entirely, for the compteition. Now i know that the kb is really easy to make, but who is using it for their final design, it seems like a real frame would be easier, lighter, and easier for each team to configure.

[dez250]

Please Search before posting, it answers some previously answered questions and is very easy to do...

With that being said check out the following thread

http://www.chiefdelphi.com/forums/sh...ad.php?t=32499

[Roland]

We're probably going to use the gearbox because we don't really have much to use to fabricate more parts for that. We'll probably end up doing four or six wheel drive though. I think we might use the kit chassis with some modifications.

[Billfred]

Having gotten a feel for the kitbot, I'm pretty sure that the kitbot is a real frame. And it's much lighter than 1293's robot last year. (Boy, we built that thing like a brick--and loved it!)

Yes, 1293 is using the kitbot as the base. We do have plans to change the wheels on the robot--Dean's 2WD version was just a bit too squirrelly for us.

(there I go again with the squirrelly thing )

[M. Hicken]

sorry guys, i wasnt paying attention, i just wanted to quickly find the consensus of the other teams

[JVN]

Something that hasn't really been talked about much...

One of my favorite features of the kitbot is the "Stackable" nature of the transmissions. That is, you can combine both transmissions to form a "double reduction" gearbox.

All involved in the design agreed that in the interest of providing a versatile kit item that all teams can use, we should make the transmissions useable in other applications.

These transmissions can be used to provide a high efficiency, robust gearbox with high reduction to drive an arm or other mechanism.

[Joel Glidden]

I don't have time to search for the thread this should go in, but I just have to say it...

Best. Kit. Ever!

/Take that, English teachers.

[Winged Wonder]

the kit bot is great... but if you wanna be unique and creative.. the sky (and the budget) is the limit! oh and rules too... can't forget the rules....

[Ssbfalcon]

Ah yes, the rules... Hmm... (*Scratches off kinetic orb cannon...*)

We're using the kit for the base, with some modifications, maybe. Depends on the arm...

I'm glad our nightmare of limited mobility died.

[Chriszuma]

We're just going to use the kitbot to test our autonomous and things of that sort. Speaking as one of the team's coders, this makes it a LOT easier to do our jobs.

[squeeks548]

I think that this is a great kit bot. Our team is not going to use the kit bot because some think that it is too flimsey. Me and a few others built the whole thing in a couple hours after the kickoff, the whole thing we even drove it around with the new controls. It seems like it could be easily modified especially if you just wanted to put wider wheels in it.

[galewind]

honestly, how strong do you think the kit chassis material is? We're considering using it due to apparent strength and the fact that it's free. It seems fairly high quality, so I'm actually considering it. We spent over $700 on extruded aluminum last year and felt that we kind of got ripped off, so we're trying to be a bit more careful when it comes to materials selection.

[Adam Richards]

Originally Posted by galewind

honestly, how strong do you think the kit chassis material is? We're considering using it due to apparent strength and the fact that it's free. It seems fairly high quality, so I'm actually considering it. We spent over $700 on extruded aluminum last year and felt that we kind of got ripped off, so we're trying to be a bit more careful when it comes to materials selection.

Kit chassis material isn't very durable. Some of the bars may, and probably will bend/warp during a match. I mean, I'm not trying to say that this stuff isn't very strong, but if your regional is having your bot rammed into constantly, you may run into some problems with the kit chassis.

Here's the best way of testing durability:

Secure your new chassis to something strong that won't move (just the chassis, no wheels, no cpu, nothing but the metal). Take your bot from last year. Ram your bot at full speed head on, at an angle, and sideswiping the secured frame. If it survives (with minor damage), it's worth using. If it doesn't, well, you need a better chassis material.

[Cory]

Guys, really, how many times does John have to come in these threads and say "Hey guys you're all wrong, I personally ran this thing into walls at high speed and it came out fine"

Cuz you know what? If he thought it was good enough for FIRST to use and gave it the ok, then it's good enough for us.

[Psychomikers]

We really haven't decided yet ourselves. Alot of us think we should use the kitbot. But then questions(like at tonights meeting) have come up of "being the same" problems and someone asked about the durability of it. And mainly we just talked about advantages and disadvantages of it, haven't quite gotten anywhere with it. I guess mainly we're trying to determine if we can do better or not. One of our worries is will it hold up long enough. Eh, the joys of planning oh well