pic: 103's electrical system

[Al Skierkiewicz]

Originally Posted by petek

I'm trying to get J to do a constraint-driven animation of the electrons in the wires, but he seems to be ignoring me...

We use electrostatic attraction between the battery case and the lexan electronics panel to keep it planted. However, since we are firm believers in the belt-and-suspenders philosophy, we back that up with a nylon strap to the robot frame. Ya never know when someone might try to break Coulomb's law!

Pete,
I was wondering how you modify the surface of the battery and the plate to reduce to a minimum the inverse square law between electrons and account for production variances in the battery. I would have thought you would lay the battery down to increase the surface area, exposing more electrons to each other for the electrostatic force to increase. It would seem that just when you need it the most, a fingerprint on the battery upsets the force and the battery is launched out of the robot. This is just an aside as I know it is against the rules to modify the battery.

[petek]

Originally Posted by Al Skierkiewicz

I was wondering how you modify the surface of the battery and the plate to reduce to a minimum the inverse square law between electrons and account for production variances in the battery. I would have thought you would lay the battery down to increase the surface area, exposing more electrons to each other for the electrostatic force to increase.

Al-
Just between you and me (you've got to promise not to let anyone in on our secret) we have a method of amplifying the surface charge on the battery that is completely within FIRST rules. We discovered this quite by accident during build season when we asked one of our freshmen, Fluffy, to wipe the fingerprints off the battery. Fluffy's picture is attached. Once she was done with it, that battery stuck to the lexan like glue!

The biggest problem we had was getting Fluffy away from Miss Daisy's pit to take care of the batteries. She has this strange thing about Daisies... She doesn't talk much, either...

[Al Skierkiewicz]

Originally Posted by petek

Al-
Just between you and me (you've got to promise not to let anyone in on our secret) we have a method of amplifying the surface charge on the battery that is completely within FIRST rules. We discovered this quite by accident during build season when we asked one of our freshmen, Fluffy, to wipe the fingerprints off the battery. Fluffy's picture is attached. Once she was done with it, that battery stuck to the lexan like glue!

The biggest problem we had was getting Fluffy away from Miss Daisy's pit to take care of the batteries. She has this strange thing about Daisies... She doesn't talk much, either...

It would seem that Fluffy has a pretty electric personality then. Although looking at the picture, keeping Fluffy on the team shouldn't be a problem, it would seem that you need to come up with some way to corral her (him?) to be available when needed.

[petek]

Originally Posted by Al Skierkiewicz

It would seem that Fluffy has a pretty electric personality then.

You might say we get a charge out of her.

[JasJ002]

Pete I already had the fans spinning on the speed controllers. I don't think that making the electrons go through the wires could be too hard .