pic: Battered, but still going strong

[Daniel_LaFleur]

Originally Posted by Qbot2640

This was no robot corner (remember - corners have bumpers) this was from getting shoved into the edge of the low goal. And our decision was that looks were important as well as strength. Hotbot14 never failed, entered every match 100% capable and ready, and turned heads all the while.

The main reason for that section being open (no bumper) was to give the ball a centering place for pushing. The machining came afterward because of the opening. We considered redoing the bumpers solid across the front for next weekend, but decided it was not necessary.

If strength is as important as the looks then you probably should use angle aluminum instead of flat stock. You could still cut out that detail (as that really doesn't weaken the structure compared to not having a ridge for support).

This game is a rough game, but looking at the design of your robot, I would have expected that damage if you ran into the corner of the low goal without being pushed.

Oh, and the only reason bumpers across the front MIGHT have helped is because it would disperse the load across the front of the bot. But I'm not sure that it would have PREVENTED the damage as the wood would have flexed under the load of a robot pushing you.

This should be a lesson to all: Build it robust and expect forces in directions not normal to the robots own movement.