Rack 'n' Roll Manipulators

[AcesJames]

Originally Posted by Tyler Hicks

You have to remember, manipulators have to start inside the bumper zone, and 07 robots didn't need that.

Great point!

Our 2007 robot had an arm that actually did start within the bumper zone. Here's a picture

http://aceshigh176.org/gallery2/main...serialNumber=1

As you can see, the wrist and elbow joints of the arm folded allowing the manipulator to fold into the frame perimeter.

Our manipulator was made of delrin. The bottom piece ran parallel to the floor and slid under the inner tubes. The top pieces was rounded to clamp around the tube, and had rug stop material on it to grip. The whole mechanism closed with the stroke of a pneumatic cylinder.

[hat_ios]

I think that one of the big differences between 07 and this year is the room that the robots had to place the tubes in 07. The grippers were able to extend back to chains. This year the wall will restrict how far the manipulator will be able to reach back.