pic: 195 Drive Base

[Tom Bottiglieri]

loading photo ...

[sanddrag]

Absolutely beautiful. Looks like a 4 speed with plastic gearbox plates. What is the frame made out of? How much does it currently weigh in this configuration? What was your reasoning for going with tracks/belts?

[i_am_Doug]

*shivers* Haven't I seen you in my dreams?

Nice placement. I give it a 9/10.
Neatness*unlike the rat home's like in some robots..)*9/10
color....10/10 nice looking blue. was that airbrushed?

And im really loveing the frame design.

I like what you have going on so far. like sanddrag asked; why did you go with the tread design?

[Alex Cormier]

Originally Posted by sanddrag

Absolutely beautiful. Looks like a 4 speed with plastic gearbox plates. What is the frame made out of? How much does it currently weigh in this configuration? What was your reasoning for going with tracks/belts?

The tranny is a 2 speed as said in the description of the photo.

[Tom Bottiglieri]

Originally Posted by sanddrag

Absolutely beautiful. Looks like a 4 speed with plastic gearbox plates. What is the frame made out of? How much does it currently weigh in this configuration? What was your reasoning for going with tracks/belts?

As Alex said, this is a the 2-speed version of the plastic 4-speed blind shifter. The 4-speed worked very well for us last year, so we decided to use the same basic design again, we just didn't need all 4 speeds. High: 10.5 ft/s Low: 4.5 ft/s

The frame is made out of 9 ply Baltic birch plywood. That stuff is amazing. It has a strength:weight ratio that is out of this world. And its cheap, easy to make, and makes electronics mounting a breeze.

With no batteries, this frame weighs 74 pounds.

We have been using belts since before I was even on the team. I suppose I can say we've got it down to somewhat of a science.

[Alex Cormier]

Originally Posted by Tom Bottiglieri

As Alex said, this is a the 2-speed version of the plastic 4-speed blind shifter. The 4-speed worked very well for us last year, so we decided to use the same basic design again, we just didn't need all 4 speeds. High: 10.5 ft/s Low: 4.5 ft/s

The frame is made out of 9 ply Baltic birch plywood. That stuff is amazing. It has a strength:weight ratio that is out of this world. And its cheap, easy to make, and makes electronics mounting a breeze.

With no batteries, this frame weighs 74 pounds.

We have been using belts since before I was even on the team. I suppose I can say we've got it down to somewhat of a science.

Once again, it's impressive. Can't wait to see it all together. Where ya guys headed?

[Tom Bottiglieri]

Originally Posted by Alex Cormier

Once again, it's impressive. Can't wait to see it all together. Where ya guys headed?

Winter Warzone, UTC Regional, Championship Event.

[Kim Masi]

I really like the design...to me, it almost look like an animation...I mean, it an just be my tired eyes....however, its really neat, cant wait to see what the rest looks like...I really like the color, too.

[Rick TYler]

Hey! You better be careful, you know how that plywood bursts into flames!

(Nice robot. Really. It looks great.)

[Dan Petrovic]

Wow, that looks really nice!

Let's hope the chassis doesn't take up all of the weight.

[BoyWithCape195]

Its 74 pounds for what you see in the picture, not just the frame. This gives us a solid 46 pounds for any appendages.

[sanddrag]

Originally Posted by BoyWithCape195

Its 74 pounds for what you see in the picture, not just the frame. This gives us a solid 46 pounds for any appendages.

For me, that's far too much weight for a drive base, but that's me.

[Rick TYler]

Originally Posted by sanddrag

For me, that's far too much weight for a drive base, but that's me.

Really? I see a full set of drive components, pneumatics, electronics, and the chassis with 45 pounds available for the game system. The weight sounds good to me.

[Tom Bottiglieri]

We were able to go up and get some practice at RAGE's facility last night.

Here's the clip...

[Greg Marra]

Originally Posted by Tom Bottiglieri

We were able to go up and get some practice at RAGE's facility last night.

Here's the clip...

Solid.

All we have been able to determine so far is that our 2005 robot does not like going up ramps. Our attempts to push it up using its own arm resulted in it tipping backwards.