Additions to the Kit of Parts

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Posted by Ryan Shanley.   [PICTURE: SAME | NEW | HELP]


Student on team #191, The X-Cats, from Joseph C. Wilson Magnet High School and Xerox.

Posted on 5/14/2000 11:10 AM MST



I was disappointed this year that there weren't many new surprises in the kit of parts. I don't know about you, but I enjoy when FIRST pops something new in there for us to find uses for.

I remember a few years ago when they added the Yaw Rate (Giro) Sensor, and students from many teams (including my brother and I) were inspired to explore its many applications. A student from GRT, team #192, wrote a great paper on how to use the sensor with applications in stabilization, angular measurement, and angular acceleration; he also explained how he helped his team apply these to their robot to control its arm and keep it from tipping. I've used the paper countless times in the past few years in designing our electronic subsystem.

well, I look forward in hope that next year FIRST can give us something new (besides a huge pneumatic tank) to further inspire us and give us more engineering aspects to work with. Good luck to those still competing (I am in serious 'Rumble at the Rock' withdrawal)!

ryan

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Posted by Mike McIntyre.   [PICTURE: SAME | NEW | HELP]


Coach on team #1, Juggernaut, from Oakland Technical Center Northeast and 3 Dimensional Services.

Posted on 5/15/2000 12:20 AM MST


In Reply to: Additions to the Kit of Parts posted by Ryan Shanley on 5/14/2000 11:10 AM MST:



We had an incredibly generous donation to the kits by SMC and yet few teams used the pneumatics because they couldn't afford the weight. We couldn't afford it (when you've already invested a huge portion of your weight on the source of electric power, it's hard to accomodate another power source). I think that a nice twist next year would be to write in the rules that each robot is limited to 6 electric motors, but there would be no limit to pneumatic accuators; this would definitely 'inspire' teams to take a serious look at using pneumatics and thereby opening up the topic of fluid power to the masses.


: I was disappointed this year that there weren't many new surprises in the kit of parts. I don't know about you, but I enjoy when FIRST pops something new in there for us to find uses for.

: I remember a few years ago when they added the Yaw Rate (Giro) Sensor, and students from many teams (including my brother and I) were inspired to explore its many applications. A student from GRT, team #192, wrote a great paper on how to use the sensor with applications in stabilization, angular measurement, and angular acceleration; he also explained how he helped his team apply these to their robot to control its arm and keep it from tipping. I've used the paper countless times in the past few years in designing our electronic subsystem.

: well, I look forward in hope that next year FIRST can give us something new (besides a huge pneumatic tank) to further inspire us and give us more engineering aspects to work with. Good luck to those still competing (I am in serious 'Rumble at the Rock' withdrawal)!

: ryan

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Posted by Samuel Lindhorst.

Engineer on team #240, Mach Vee, from Jefferson High School and Visteon.

Posted on 5/19/2000 4:32 AM MST


In Reply to: Re: Additions to the Kit of Parts posted by Mike McIntyre on 5/15/2000 12:20 AM MST:



: We had an incredibly generous donation to the kits by SMC and yet few teams used the pneumatics because they couldn't afford the weight. We couldn't afford it (when you've already invested a huge portion of your weight on the source of electric power, it's hard to accomodate another power source). I think that a nice twist next year would be to write in the rules that each robot is limited to 6 electric motors, but there would be no limit to pneumatic accuators; this would definitely 'inspire' teams to take a serious look at using pneumatics and thereby opening up the topic of fluid power to the masses.

We didn't have the pneumatics kit until 4 weeks into the build, and that meant all design decisions had been forced to be made long before. Although we wanted to try it, and waited for the kit to arrive while delaying a few things that hurt us in the end, we won't make that mistake again next year. If it's not there when we get ready to design, it's not a factor. Half the teams received theirs late, and I think this more than anything prevented their use.

And really, I think your statement is telling, Mike. Our power systems are heavy because we use accumulators for our power, and reasonably priced accumulators are heavy. Putting two power systems on a robot doesn't leave a lot of weight for much else. Although there were a few uses that looked pretty clever, and there are 'just right' uses for pneumatics, like gripper operation, few of us had a weight budget that allowed another 30lb. subsystem.

Sam

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Posted by Michael Ciavaglia.

Engineer on team #47, Chief Delphi, from Pontiac Central High School and Delphi Interior Systems.

Posted on 5/23/2000 5:27 AM MST


In Reply to: Re: Additions to the Kit of Parts posted by Mike McIntyre on 5/15/2000 12:20 AM MST:



You are giving me nightmares already. Did I read this right, only 6 motors? I can't even fathom the idea. CD 5 used 11 motors. We didn't use one of the Fisher Price motors although we did have it in originally.

How about this: Teams that want to use pnuematics would be given an allowance of 10 lbs. to paritally offset the weight of the tank. So instead of weighing in at 130 lbs. they could weigh in upto 140 lbs.

What do you think?

Mike C.