pic: Team 116 Modular Control System

[i_am_Doug]

Dane are electrical persons gotta see this.

its neat double kudos!

[elknise]

True, don't they need to be visible at all times? We were thinking about doing a tetra shaped box for our electronics but we realized that we would have a space issue and it would be hard to see and access the robot controller.

[ttedrow]

Also covered in this thread:

http://www.chiefdelphi.com/forums/sh...370#post337370

<R57> The Robot Controller must be positioned within the robot so that its indicator lights may be seen during inspection and during operation in a match. This will greatly facilitate analysis in case of problems.


As an Inspector, the LEDs on the RC must be visible without opening/removing anything during the match. This is due to the time sensitive nature of the competition. The IFI rep checks each robot before each match.

[Tristan Lall]

Originally Posted by SlimBoJones

For some reason it reminds me of Bonsai Kittens.

I still think the bonsai kitten is a better non-functional decoration.

[Conor Ryan]

exquisite, just beautiful. beats all the others I've seen by far, I wonder if anyone can beat it.

[Erin Rapacki]

Originally Posted by Tristan Lall

I still think the bonsai kitten is a better non-functional decoration.

I know it's not real... but the concept is still disgusting!

I hope that cool fold-up electronics box passes inspection. It'll be funny if Dave didn't know the rules well enough to prevent such a re-design Well, as I've said before, if it hasn't been done yet there's probably a reason why.

[Alaina]

That is simply the most ingenious thing I've ever seen. Good job....Great job!

[dlavery]

Yes, the LEDs on the RC, Victors and Spikes are visible through the clear cover and sides of the box when it is folded up. So it will pass inspection (or they better give us a REALLY good reason why it shouldn't! ).

And Kris, no, Lucien's brother had nothing to do with this. Two students on our team built up the basic prototype for the design in my shop over the summer, and tested it in the fall on our demo robot. We then turned them loose on the version for the competition robot in January, and this is what resulted!

Our whole approach this year has been to make the robot as modular as possible, and built for quick access to the subsystems. As noted in the caption, the entire control system pops right out with two cabinet latches after disconnedting the cables. The drive assemblies come off with just two bolts and two wire disconnects. The complete pneumatics system comes off in under two minutes with four bolts, and disconnecting the air hoses. The superstructure comes off with six bolts and two wire disconnects. We can build up from a bare frame and the modules sitting on the floor to a complete robot in under 20 minutes, and tear the entire thing back apart in less than 15. Of course, we are REALLY hoping that we don't have to do that too many times!

-dave

[TLonghorns0593]

We did a box "board" last year and we are doing one this year. We called our box last year the Brain. Judges didn't like it to much said they like to see all of the electronics. But we like it so we go with it.

[Spaztik Duck]

Originally Posted by dlavery

Two students on our team built up the basic prototype for the design in my shop over the summer, and tested it the fall on our demo robot.
-dave

That's not entirely true Dave, we built a lot of it at Kyle's .

Oh, and wouldn't it be "tested it this fall" not "tested it the fall"?

[dlavery]

Originally Posted by Spaztik Duck

That's not entirely true Dave, we built a lot of it at Kyle's .

But only with a lot of expert guidance and help. Like "hey what does this wire do... <ffzznapp!> dang! Was it supposed to go all sparkly and smokey like that?"

[Lil' Lavery]

And dont forget the ridicule the rest of us gave you guys every time you messed up over the summer!
"What!?! You builit it backwards 3 times!?! KYLE!!!!!"

Anyway, good job Kyle and Audrey(and Ted for the 2005 one).

[pakrat]

It's hot. I like that it folds up all the way. OUrs just wenyt into a compartment on our robot last year.

[Fixen]

This is so darn awesome. Can we use that design next year? XD

[tkwetzel]

Originally Posted by Fixen

This is so darn awesome. Can we use that design next year? XD

I don't mean to take words out of other people's mouths....or wait....maybe I do? I think Dave has been known to say something along the lines of "Take from the best and design the rest". Meaning, use what you see other teams doing (including this control box) and add it to your own deigns. Dave has pushed for sharing of designs a lot, much like Andy Baker has, because it betters the competition and raises the level of other teams in FIRST.