QUESTION OF THE WEEK!!!

[archiver]

Posted by Raul.   [PICTURE: SAME | NEW | HELP]


Engineer on team #111, Wildstang, from Rolling Meadows & Wheeling HS and Motorola.

Posted on 10/30/2000 11:08 AM MST


In Reply to: QUESTION OF THE WEEK!!! posted by Andy Grady on 10/29/2000 8:45 AM MST:



The problem with pnuematics is that it is hard to justify the power to weight ratio when making a decision whether or not to use them. If FIRST wants to encourage us to use them, they should make a weight consession to teams that use them.

I suggest they deduct the weight of the major pneumatic components from your final weight. During inspection, each team can show their list of pneumatic components to the inspectors and their (predetermined) weight would be subtracted from your official weight. That means that your robot could weight more than normal if you use pneumatics.

Battlebots does this for walking robots to encourage builders to use that type of technology.

Or, at least they should have an award for the best use of pneumatics.

Without any incentives (or other design restrictions - which I prefer not to have), most engineers would choose to use the more compact (weight efficient) forms of producing, transfering, controling and converting motion/energy/power.

BTW, did anyone ever calculate the power rating of the cylinders (max pressure x max flow rate)?

Raul