Did anyone go for the Platform?

[Rizner]

Hello,

I was wondering -- did any teams build a robot that would elevate by getting on top of the platform? My team had considered it but couldn't figure out a way to do this, and I was wondering if any others did.

Thanks.

[BrendanB]

No one at GSR attempted too.

[293spike]

219 did. It was very neat actually. They had two arms that grabbed on to the side off the tower, and then they had an airbag that they would inflate. the arms rested them on the platform with the airbag still inflated, and when they deflated they would be on the platform, completely upside-down

[sgreco]

Originally Posted by 293spike

219 did. It was very neat actually. They had two arms that grabbed on to the side off the tower, and then they had an airbag that they would inflate. the arms rested them on the platform with the airbag still inflated, and when they deflated they would be on the platform, completely upside-down

I'm not sure I understand how this works...but it sounds really cool. Any videos?

[Bongle]

I saw a robot (I think it was on the webcast, but don't know which one) which had a 2007-style ramp that another team could drive up onto the upper platform. Unfortunately, their partner that match had slick wheels and couldn't drive on their metal ramp.

[gorrilla]

Our robot drives from the bump to the platform

[Rizner]

Originally Posted by 293spike

219 did. It was very neat actually. They had two arms that grabbed on to the side off the tower, and then they had an airbag that they would inflate. the arms rested them on the platform with the airbag still inflated, and when they deflated they would be on the platform, completely upside-down

interesting... do you know what matches or even regional they played in? Or even if there's any videos you know of...

Originally Posted by gorrilla

Our robot drives from the bump to the platform

May I ask how? Do you have larger or raised wheels in the front made to catch the platform?

[gorrilla]

Originally Posted by Rizner

May I ask how? Do you have larger or raised wheels in the front made to catch the platform?

no, we have two pneumatic cylinders that raise the front and the back.

we drive up the bump, turn sideways and get the the edge, deploy the front lifter, drive forward until the center wheels are on the edge, retract the front cylinder, fire the back and drive forward until the back wheels are on the platform then retract the back.

[Rizner]

Originally Posted by gorrilla

no, we have two pneumatic cylinders that raise the front and the back.

we drive up the bump, turn sideways and get the the edge, deploy the front lifter, drive forward until the center wheels are on the edge, retract the front cylinder, fire the back and drive forward until the back wheels are on the platform then retract the back.

Very interesting. Are the cylinders attached to wheels or something that lets them slide when you drive and they're deployed?

[gorrilla]

they have a 3/8' bearing bolted to each shaft.

we've found its quite difficult to do, but I can come at the bump at an angle and kind of Dukes-of-Hazard the front wheels onto the platform and make it a lot easier.

[DonRotolo]

Originally Posted by Rizner

interesting... do you know what matches or even regional they played in? Or even if there's any videos you know of...

219 competed at the NJ Regional. It was webcast, but I have no idea if anyone recorded it. I sure hope someone did, I'd like to see some of those matches over again...

[Rizner]

Originally Posted by Don Rotolo

219 competed at the NJ Regional. It was webcast, but I have no idea if anyone recorded it. I sure hope someone did, I'd like to see some of those matches over again...

ok, thank you. I'll be sure to look into it.

Originally Posted by gorrilla

they have a 3/8' bearing bolted to each shaft.

we've found its quite difficult to do, but I can come at the bump at an angle and kind of Dukes-of-Hazard the front wheels onto the platform and make it a lot easier.

thank you very much for the explanation.

[Taylor]

1111 the PowerHawks had a ramp that could be deployed. I only saw one team attempt to use the ramp; it was misaligned and fell off the side. Anybody else watching the DC regional - was this ever successful?

[Dad1279]

Originally Posted by 293spike

219 did. It was very neat actually. They had two arms that grabbed on to the side off the tower, and then they had an airbag that they would inflate. the arms rested them on the platform with the airbag still inflated, and when they deflated they would be on the platform, completely upside-down

I was at NJ, heard about it, but did not see it in operation. However we abandoned such ideas for lifting and setting a hanging device, based on Q&A responses such as this:

http://forums.usfirst.org/showthread.php?t=13703

[Hadi379]

Team 379 will have a ramp at the Cleveland regional. We're hoping to be able to score 4 points in the finale. We will assist one team onto the platform, and then elevate another team above the platform as they make contact with the tower. Does this seem feasible compared to what was seen this weekend? With not alot of teams hanging so far this year, I think this may be a valuable option. Good Luck everyone!