pic: HOTBOT 2008

[WEHickok]

loading photo ...

Nice! Can you hurdle forwards or do you have to turn around like 121?

I'm really excited to seeing you/playing with you at FLR!

[Mike Schreiber]

looks good, you guys always have a pretty solid robot. Is that picture a render or a photo? The lighting looks so clean and I don't see any shadows...

Looking forward to playing with you guys at Great Lakes, good look in 2008

[hipsterjr]

I honestly can't tell if that is a picture or a rendering. Either way, that is a great looking machine. And if it is a rendering...

[s_forbes]

I really like that awesome four bar, I've never seen anyone do one like that! (I'm guessing, but it looks like the bottom linkage can compress when the arm is about half way lowered, so the whole thing acts like a normal arm. But above the halfway point, it acts like a four-bar)

Great use of aluminum, too. You guys definitely know what you're doing. Though I was expecting a little bit more orange powdercoating...

[Alex Cormier]

Originally Posted by hipsterjr

I honestly can't tell if that is a picture or a rendering. Either way, that is a great looking machine. And if it is a rendering...

no that's a real photo, just the backdrop is photoshoped out.

[Karthik]

That is one sweet machine. Once again you've dropped my jaw with an arm linkage. The whole machine vaguely reminds me of the 1998 HOTBOT. I can't wait to see what it does in hybrid.

[manny_pantera]

hi hot team we hope that you still remember us nice robot by the way i hope you like ours
http://www.chiefdelphi.com/media/photos/30629

[Devibeast]

Do you guys throw it over lightly or do you pass it over by having your arm extend right over the over pass and release?

[WEHickok]

Here is the scoop. This is an actual photo. It was shot in front of one of the test chambers at the GM Proving Ground. In the original photo, there is a seam just to the right of the GM logo where the doors open...the GM logo is on the left door. The seam made the photo look bad. So, with the magic of the computer, here is the photo with the background removed, except for the logo. Also, the bright blue areas on the front are GM logos that reflect with the flash.

We are able to throw or pass the ball over the bar. When we hurdle we do it facing forward. And, yes, we did go back to the 1998 HOTBOT for inspiration. The orange powdercoating was discussed, but we did it last year to make the arms easier to see when teams needed to climb aboard.

We are really looking forward to competing at FLR for the first time. The team is excited. Also meeting some of our old friends there and making new ones. Another regional with three Hall of Fame teams competing. We are looking forward to seeing 191 and 365.

Then GLR where we are expecting an outstanding competition since it is week 5 this year. As they say in racing, pull your seatbelts a little tighter...this is going to be exciting!

My only hope is that this year the game stays offensive and does not go defensive. I say this because I am an ambassador at GLR and it is not easy to take a VIP to the field and tell them how much work goes into the machines and then have them watch the machines just push each other and not "play" the game. These are people that we are trying to get money from to help pay some expenses and sponsor some teams. So, if you get the urge to play defense, please hold off until the last 15 or 20 seconds so that we get the best demonstration of what robots can do. Again, this comes not from me as a team member, but as an ambassador. Please help us influence more people to become sponsors of FIRST.

Thanks, and good luck to all teams.

[R.C.]

i like the design, but that is a really long chain. Does it hook up to a double globe motor gearbox

[Adam Freeman]

Thanks for the great responses.

Here are the details for this years machine:

Drivetrain:
(2) Center Wheels driven directly by AndyMark Servo Supershifters
(2) Front Wheels chained to center wheels
(2) Rear, non-driven, turreted wheels powered by Keyangs for steering.

Designed for a top speed of 15 fps.

Arm:
- Adjustable 4-bar linkage, sliding bottom link to meet the 80" rule.
- Powered by (2) FP Motors into a custom dual coupled AndyMark ToughBox Gearbox.

We are still working on smoothing out the mechanics of the arm, to make it more graceful. Should be better when we get more gas springs on it to dampen the motion.

The 80" rule really challenged us during the design phase.


Karthik, we are anxiously awating the unveiling of 1114's 'bot. I guess we will have to wait until Thursday.

[Ross340]

Can't wait to see you guys at FLR! Very exciting to have the chance to play with you guys at our hometown regional!

-Ross
(Driver- Team 340)

[Tim Arnold]

How are those servo shifters working out for you? Can you shift while at speed?

[Pat McCarthy]

Looks great guys!
I can't wait to see it in action.
Still working out how I'm going to get to Rochester, NY, though...