How to get the ball over the overpass!?

[robogeek753]

I don't know how a previous poster got a pneumatic to launch a ball, but generally speaking any kind of projectile with a huge ball like that is going to be hard to do. I can almost gurantee that a pneumatic in any configuration won't work (to make the ball act like a projectile). Gas shocks may well be too slow. The only options I see are inertia (as mentioned) or a really big Aim High style cannon (good luck with that though )

[=Martin=Taylor=]

Originally Posted by robogeek753

I don't know how a previous poster got a pneumatic to launch a ball, but generally speaking any kind of projectile with a huge ball like that is going to be hard to do. I can almost gurantee that a pneumatic in any configuration won't work (to make the ball act like a projectile). Gas shocks may well be too slow. The only options I see are inertia (as mentioned) or a really big Aim High style cannon (good luck with that though )

Perhaps I should qualify my previous statement by saying that the ball was launched off of our ramp and landed 4' away. Such a design could be used to hoist the ball up the desired height and then shoot it over the overpass. But shooting from the ground... Well... With pneumatics I'm gonna say thats imposible

[robogeek753]

Still pretty impressive (must of been one heck of a piston and/or ramp) but it makes more sense now.

See you at the Oregon Regional (can't wait to see that giant ramp w/ piston launcher!)

[DonRotolo]

Originally Posted by Hachiban VIII

With pneumatics I'm gonna say thats imposible

Nothing is impossible...but I sure would hate to be the guy who had to make that work...

[BigWhiteYeti]

I think the best way to make use of a piston would be in combination with a forklift, using the lift to raise the ball to five or six feet, then jabbing at it with pneumatics to push it over. I think this would be the most efficient way to hurdle the trackballs. Unfortunately (in my opinion) our team is bent on trying to create an arm with a three-point pneumatic grabber. If anyone manages to create an efficient grabber that won't tip the robot when it tries to hurdle the ball, I'd like to see it.

[robogeek753]

Our idea (suprisingly enough, we haven't had enough time to build it) is to build two concave claws that support the ball (much like the overpass), lift it up to 6'3" and then use two small but long pistons to roll it over or into the overpass (if into then we just move forward a pit and push it out). Due to the small force the pistons are exerting, the robot won't tip.

[silicon_ghoti]

Originally Posted by Hachiban VIII

Perhaps I should qualify my previous statement by saying that the ball was launched off of our ramp and landed 4' away. Such a design could be used to hoist the ball up the desired height and then shoot it over the overpass. But shooting from the ground... Well... With pneumatics I'm gonna say thats imposible

Hmmm... I was thinking the same until Monday afternoon. Now as I throw this out there I get the feeling that I may recieve some flak about not reading the manual, but I would like to ask, "Is this legal?"

What we did was take a 2" bore, 2' (about ish) stroke cylinder and cover up the air port nearest the piston, then we pressurized the other side to 60 psi. The piston extended out about 16" and stopped. We then removed the cover (thumb) from piston side port and the piston shot out with a resounding CLANG!!!! (In otherwords a GREAT deal of force.)

But the reason why our mentors questioned the legality is the little FIRST rule that states that, you cannot compress air in "non-Clippard" containers. I have asked an alum, and have yet to hear back. Now I'm curious as to what the FIRST community has to say.