Technical survey/ How to safley transport robot

[mtaman02]

There is a slight serious health hazard in lifting a robot BUT ONLY IF YOU DO IT INCORRECTLY. The steps mentioned above / below (depending how you got your CD options set up) describe how to use your body properly in lifting 120+ lbs. robot or any kind of heavy weighted object.

My personal belief and I have seen my old team continue to stand by that belief is that 1 person goes for the cart and wheels it as close to the exit as conviently possible (there is 2 desginated exits for leaving the field) W/O getting in the way of other teams or even field resetting crews, so that the people who are lifting the robot don't have a great distance to travel. 2 people ONLY should be on the field to collapse the robot, properly lift and remove the robot safely off. Properly designating 2 - 4 lift points on the robot should take place when building the robot keeping in mind that Hands / Fingers should not be coming within close quarters of Electronics / Wires (A small jolt may make you lose your grip), Chains / Sprokets / Gears (A small risk in which clothing or bodily parts may get snagged by those objects).

Lift points should be created some where around the base of the chassis (preferably in the center of all 4 sides), edges should be filed round (Sharp edges or cutting / drilling burs can cut you after the part has been drilled / cut). If you have weight to spare / or not try incorporating removable handles that will be able to handle the weight of the robot safely making it easier to transport on / off the cart or field. Ummm other then that you should be fine.

[Mark Pierce]

I believe there are hazards in improperly transporting robots around the arena, and even worse in other environments where we transport them such as sponsor and school demos. A design of cart or other device should account for the hazards of navigating through doorways and crowded areas (rounded corners, permit overhang of bumpers or provide bumpers on the cart, etc.). The device must be rugged enough to handle the weight and rough usage over rough parking lots, door thresholds, etc. - losing a wheel on a robot cart can be dangerous as the load shifts and feet can be crushed.

Also, our carts need to be safely stored in the pit area and be light enough to be transported in or as part of the shipping crate. Brakes on the cart might help steady it while loading and unloading. Some guide rails or locating device might help position the robot into it's most secure position. Also we sometimes use our carts to transport tools, parts, and other items. Provision to more safely perform this task might be considered.