Arms

[redbarron]

In 2005 we had a robot that was completely pnuematics (except the drive train).We had 4 motions in our manipulator and they were all done with minimal size pistons. The thing I havent noticed anybody mentioning is ratios. Cable & pulley systems paired with a piston can be very effective and in terms of weight compared to a motor with chain beneficial choice. We had an extension, which was moved up and down to get the tetras off the automated loading stations, and then an arm that was fixed on the side of our robot that picked them up off of the extension which was done with a "hooking" action also done with a piston. But unfortunately we overlooked the fact that swinging on a tetra from the side of your robot has disadvantage: lining up on the side of a triangle goal in the center from a distance creates one heck of an optical illusion.

I am not for or against either motors or pnuematics because like its been said you have to look at the advantages and disadvantages toward what you are trying to do in reference to what the capabilities are of each of these, but I just thought that I would point out the option of ratios to overcome the limit of how much extension you get from the piston.