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.