Team 25: World's Fastest Battery Cart

[Alexa Stott]

Today, Friday, September 28, 2007, team 25 and 4 other teams (395, 555, 1089, 1626) participated in GadgetOff at the Liberty Science Center. This involved our team of 4 members to take a bus to the science center for the event.

As we loaded up the bus with our supplies, we put our battery cart, driver bag (tethers, zip ties, radio, etc.), toolbox, and robot cart into the bottom storage compartment of the bus. After loading up the rest of our gear, we headed off to the event.

About 30 miles from North Brunswick Township High School, our home base, we heard a strange noise. We originally believed it to be the large trucks driving alongside of us. After the noise persisted, however, we took a look out the window.

To our astonishment, the bottom compartment door had opened and our battery cart was dragging alongside the bus at about 70 MPH (the fastest known speed of a battery cart ever). When the door opened, some of the battery wires had caught onto the door latch. We immediately yelled for the bus driver to pull over, but we were in the middle lane of the New Jersey Turnpike.

As we pulled over, the battery cart broke free from the control of the bus and the back wheel ran over it. Looking out the rear window, we witnessed the cart literally explode before our eyes, scattering chargers, batteries and assorted wires all over the road. The shrapnel flew everywhere and nearly everything was destroyed by oncoming traffic.

Our mentor, Mr. Cokeley, and the bus driver got out of the bus and trekked back down the highway to find any remaining equipment. They returned with one battery and parts of a few chargers. We were able to make a charger out of salvageable parts using wire cutters and electrical tape.

Upon searching the bottom compartment, we realized the driver bag had also been thrown from the bus.

We were able to make it through the event by using batteries loaned to us from team 1089, as well as our one remaining battery. We used a tether for the beginning of the event and then operated for a short time with a radio also loaned to us by team 1089.

EDIT: Here are some pictures of the aftermath. I do not have any of the battery cart actually dragging alongside the bus, as that was not my top priority at the time.

Cokeley and the Bus Driver
Remaining Battery and Charger (we were afraid they would explode, so we put them far away from everyone)
The Compartment in Question
All That Remained
The Remaining Battery (1)
The Remaining Battery (2)
Battery On the Side of the Road

[A_Reed]

Wow!...What a disaster.

[ChuckDickerson]

That really stinks! I home there were no injuries or damage to other motorists vehicles.

On a brighter note: I'm glad to hear the Liberty Science Center has reopened! I travel to the area quire often and the LSC had been closed for renovation for quite some time. Is it worth a "new" visit next time I am up that way? What is "new"?

[IndySam]

That was really unfortunate but on the bright side you have a great story to tell for the rest of your life!

[Alexa Stott]

Originally Posted by DeepWater

That really stinks! I home there were no injuries or damage to other motorists vehicles.

On a brighter note: I'm glad to hear the Liberty Science Center has reopened! I travel to the area quire often and the LSC had been closed for renovation for quite some time. Is it worth a "new" visit next time I am up that way? What is "new"?

After we did our demo, we were able to go to the LSC to see what was new, but we decided it was just best to pack up and head home. We wanted to go, but didn't feel like getting stuck in the rush hour traffic on the way home (though that would've given us a great opportunity to jump out and possibly grab the driver bag! ).

[pufame]

If the batteries broke, did you call the local authorities? I'm not an expert on it but I'd think some of the chemicals in those batteries could be bad to have on a highway.

I'm also not sure I'd keep using that remaining battery, it looks like it has quite the gash in it. But again, I'm no expert.

[JBotAlan]

Congratulations on your new speed record...

I think I'd be interested to see our robot going that fast...but I think the Victors would probably explode, seeing as backdriving the motors that fast would make some serious voltage...

I was hoping for a happy ending--"we pulled over, got the box and continued with our event" or something...oh well. Life goes on.

Fun story. Thanks!

JBot

[Morgan Gillespie]

Originally Posted by JBotAlan

I was hoping for a happy ending--"we pulled over, got the box and continued with our event" or something...oh well. Life goes on.

Sadly no, this story really didn't have much of a happy ending. When we eventually did get to the event, the one timing belt we had been using since build season through 2 regionals, Championships, and 2 offseasons, snaps. We replaced it and played on. Luckily our toolbox containing our extra belts, which was also stowed in the lower storage compartment of the bus, did not fall out. I guess the "happy ending" is that nothing bad happened after that.

Lessons learned, we recover. Yet I must say, we now have one strangely awesome story to tell. Plus when ever we see the busted charger or battery, anyone who was on the trip is going to have a big smile on their face.

[Qbranch]

HOLY COW! I can't believe that happened to you! I'm gald some other teams offrered you their assistance. On that part i can kind of sympathize... when we went to Nationals this year, one of our three ups boxes had gotten there on time... and of all the boxes to get... it was our giveaways! we had no chargers, no tools, no zip ties, nothing, just our control pannel and a few batteries.

The team behind us (i can't remember the number!) was a godsend. We ended up opening the little curtain thingies they put between the rows and had basically a communal pit... after our stuff got there finally on friday we still kept the curtain open... it was a really great experienc afterwards. Always awesome to see gracious professionalism in action.

I'm also amazed that ANY of your batteries or chargers made it through that accident... major props to MK batteries and the CarQuest battery chargers.

-q

[Akash Rastogi]

Yea, that really stinks. =/
Atleast now you can have fun building another one

[galewind]

When we were at the event, the participating teams took a group picture. And right before the shot, Mr. Cokeley said "Everyone say 'BATTERIES!'" or something along those lines. It was a bit amusing, although unfortunate.

[Chief Pride]

a picture of it dragging/exploding would have been cool, but that really sucks about losing everything o.O

[Alexa Stott]

Originally Posted by zinefer

a picture of it dragging/exploding would have been cool, but that really sucks about losing everything o.O

Yeah, we all wished we had pictures of it, but that wasn't really our priority at the time...

These things have the highest crash testing rating in their class, and are, as labeled by Morgan, "highway tested."

[Josh Murphy]

When I was reading this I actually pictured this in my head . It must of really sucked to look out and see that. Thank god you were not on your way to a regional. Good luck on repairing it.

[Al Skierkiewicz]

And everyone laughs when I say be sure to do a good job we you insulate the battery terminals and make sure all connections are tight. It could happen!