Pulling Cars

[Sean Schuff]

Originally Posted by Protronie

Now thats pulling power!

Where was your robot when I paid $350.00 to have my rig towed less than five miles?

Actually, Eric is a bit mistaken. We pulled a semi tractor without the trailer. We did pull a Ford F350 with our team trailer hooked up behind it. We've got video footage of it on our school's server. I'll put it on our team's website and post a link to it on Monday.

In all honesty, the only issues are having enough weight on the robot and enough traction from the wheels to the ground. As it turns out, just about any rubbery material will grip asphalt very well. Then all you need to do is overcome the resistance of what you are trying to pull and once the vehicle (or whatever you pulling) is moving it is fairly easy for the robot to keep it going.

I like the idea of a tractor pull with robots. Could this be an IRI event in 2008??

Sean

[Cooley744]

We haven't pulled much w/ our robots. On the other hand, it's really fun to stand on our older robots and ride around. Sometimes we chase people too, (but only as a joke). DONT USE ROBOTS FOR EVIL!!!

[Sean Schuff]

As promised...

This is video from 2003 when our robot towed an F350 and our team trailer along with a few other vehicles.

http://www.aasd.k12.wi.us/Tesla/firs...2003Movies.htm

Like I said before, its not as tough as you'd think.

Sean

[Qbranch]

NICE!

-q

[mtaman02]

You guys have way too much time on your hands =). Good to see the 2003 robot still going strong.

[Chris Fultz]

Originally Posted by Sean Schuff

I like the idea of a tractor pull with robots. Could this be an IRI event in 2008?? Sean

I have actually had that on a "would be cool" list for a few years.
They make small sleds for use with 'person powered" tractor pulls.

if we only had a little more time......

[Richard Wallace]

Originally Posted by Chris Fultz

I have actually had that on a "would be cool" list for a few years.
They make small sleds for use with 'person powered" tractor pulls.

if we only had a little more time......

Robot tractor pulls might make good entertainment at IRI.

Congratulations on your 931st post, Chris. (My favorite number!)

[lukevanoort]

Originally Posted by Chris Fultz

I have actually had that on a "would be cool" list for a few years.
They make small sleds for use with 'person powered" tractor pulls.

if we only had a little more time......

Although it's not as exciting or interesting, a bathroom scale on a solid wall and a patch of carpet could be used for the same purpose. If another scale is added for weighing robots, you could then pull coefficient of friction numbers instead of raw pushing force, which would make the 5 & 6 foot weight classes able to compete. The downside being, of course, the pushing power competition is not a spectator sport.