Think About Protecting Your Battery!

[Al Skierkiewicz]

This is a good time to start thinking about the battery on robots going over the bump. Batteries have a lot of mass and are full of heavy parts like the lead plates inside each cell. Although other threads have stated that the Crio can take a lot of abuse, the battery may need some crash protection. Please check the manufacturer's specification for drop force and plan accordingly.
While you are at it, make sure that you follow the electrical rules for securing the battery in the robot. Even if you have the best robot on the field, they are not going to let you play with your battery dragging on the floor.

[fsgond]

well said

[Peter Matteson]

Originally Posted by Al Skierkiewicz

While you are at it, make sure that you follow the electrical rules for securing the battery in the robot. Even if you have the best robot on the field, they are not going to let you play with your battery dragging on the floor.

If I had a nickel for everytime I saw a team dragging a battery in my 8 years as a mentor...

One of the most deflating experiences a team can have is to be sitting there unable to move in the elims from an un-plugged battery, so please make a simple strap to keep it in place as a bare minimum. All you need to do is take some velcro and rivet it to your frame sandwitched between a couple thin sheets of Al. And for those of you that want a Martha Stewart tip for dressing it up, take the scraps of fabric from making your bumpers and put them on the adhesive section on the velcro.

[kgzak]

Just a suggestion http://andymark.biz/am-0477.html The simplest things can change the whole game

[Jon Stratis]

Another concept you can do to hold it in place (we did it last year and it worked perfectly) - build a little "seat belt" for it. Simply buy a buckle like this:
, work in two short nylon straps, and you're set! We found that a simple pop-rivet was plenty to hold the ends of the belt in place, and with the buckle right on top of the battery it was extremely easy to undo when a battery needed to be replaced.

[MrForbes]

We've used the plastic buckle for the past 3 seasons, it works great. Velcro is also a great idea. And the strap and block kit that AndyMark sells also looks very good.

I wonder about the shock loading thing....has anyone experimented with foam or other resilient materials? I wonder if the foam used in pool noodles would be good for this? It seems to be similar to one type of race car roll bar padding.

[Travis Hoffman]

Originally Posted by Peter Matteson

All you need to do is take some velcro and rivet it to your frame sandwitched between a couple thin sheets of Al.

That sounds rather painful for Al.

Add another vote for the quick release plastic buckle. Search "48 Flips" on Youtube - yeah....we were using one of those buckle straps during that. No issues or damage at all.

Finally - please don't ever use your battery as the counterbalance of your arm. Yes, I've seen this on a FIRST robot. Yes, it was deemed legal. Why? I have no clue!

[hipsterjr]

Originally Posted by Travis Hoffman

That sounds rather painful for Al.

Search "48 Flips" on Youtube

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CjHMb55EXmY
I don't know if that is considered EPIC WIN or FAIL

[Ian Curtis]

Originally Posted by Travis Hoffman

That sounds rather painful for Al.

Add another vote for the quick release plastic buckle. Search "48 Flips" on Youtube - yeah....we were using one of those buckle straps during that. No issues or damage at all.

Finally - please don't ever use your battery as the counterbalance of your arm. Yes, I've seen this on a FIRST robot. Yes, it was deemed legal. Why? I have no clue!

If memory serves, one year 116 asked if they could use additional batteries as counterweight. Although, knowing those jokesters, it might well have been in jest.

On topic, we used a zip tie. Every match we'd ziptie the connectors together and cut it loose at the end of the match. We tried a velcro strap, but it was always getting in the way, so we found zipties to be a less obnoxious solution.

[yoshibrock]

Thanks for the advice. We usually make a little cradle for our battery out of aluminum L brackets. The cradle is riveted together and then bolted to the frame. On the shafts of the four bolts we put rubbers spacers to help absorb the shock. Then we fasten the battery in with velcro. It works great, and we've never had any problems with it.

[Al Skierkiewicz]

Guys,
I think you were missing the point. I am suspecting that robots coming off the bump this year will produce some serious g forces on the battery. In addition to the secure attachment, we may also need to consider some shock protection for the battery.

[BrendanB]

Originally Posted by Travis Hoffman

Finally - please don't ever use your battery as the counterbalance of your arm. Yes, I've seen this on a FIRST robot. Yes, it was deemed legal. Why? I have no clue!

Haven't people heard of a big old hunk of iron?

I remember in 2003 when a team at GSR was backing up and knocking over bins at the top of the ramp in autonomous at a very high rate of speed, their battery went FLYING out of the robot several times and landed by the driver station. Funny as a spectator, bad for the team!

Thanks Al! It's only helping yourself and your team if you ensure that your battery is attached safely. It's not cool to have a lose battery in FIRST.

[BJT]

I think we will be putting the battery in the middle of the robot rather than in the back as it usually has been. Should cut down on the bangs and bumps.

[MrForbes]

Originally Posted by Al Skierkiewicz

Guys,
I think you were missing the point. I am suspecting that robots coming off the bump this year will produce some serious g forces on the battery. In addition to the secure attachment, we may also need to consider some shock protection for the battery.

Originally Posted by squirrel

I wonder about the shock loading thing....has anyone experimented with foam or other resilient materials? I wonder if the foam used in pool noodles would be good for this? It seems to be similar to one type of race car roll bar padding.

I got it, I don't know if anyone else did....but thanks for the reminder again.

[BrendanB]

If teams have any of the memory foam left over from the goals, that might be a wise material to help cushion the battery from g forces.

Al, I had an impression of both g force protection and securing the battery from your post. I have seen too many robots which are not secured down, and I am sure that you have more of the same in your years as an inspector.

Thanks for the insight Al!