pic: The Bobcats 2001 & 2003 & Admirers

[EvanG]

First of all, John, I hope you know I meant my post all in good fun for the comments you made in the redemption thread. Bob-kittens ;D I seriously like your arm and am actually glad that someone keeps the legacy of extruded aluminum arms alive so well. The bobcats felt that this year extending, extruded arms weren't the way to go, so it cool too see someone else think it was. Every idea is a good idea... except forgetting to leave some Mt. Dew for me when I need to stay at a meeting, wiring till early into the morning.

Secondly, I'm well aware that arms aren't a "Bobcat" thing. I just felt that Clarkson obviously had some 'Bobcat arm design' in there, seeing as you know, you stole our alumni! Jeez, stealing EO and Joel... Call it pride, but its just a deep found love for that arm. 2001 was a great year. Most people are probably traumatized by their freshman year, but I loved it because of that arm and how well we did.

Thirdly, I look forward to seeing every arm design. Even our own... seeing as we have not even had a chance to try it out ourselves really. I suppose we'll have to find out who can win an arm wrestling match on the bar in competition.

Fourthly, you must be thinking of a different robot Jon K. We used aluminum knurled rollers. As someone said... Wood is evil. I never knew how R.A.G.E could stand the wood frame, but I give them lots of credit for making it win. Also, no fancy green tubing on our robot. The only color tubing i'd allow on our robot without crying foul are Gold, Maroon, and black. =D

Fifth, good luck to all the robots this season. Whether armed or unarmed, inspired by previous design, inspired by experience or inspired by a moment of clarity in constant insanity, that can only be labeled as an epiphany.

P.S. to Clarkson - I'll try to get word to our folks who are going up to NH to bring you a container of mothers polish. No arm is complete without it ;D I know what the bobcats will be doing practice day.

[Eric O]

The missing link: http://www.chiefdelphi.com/forums/pi...gle&picid=6553

As a former member of Team 177 Bobcat Robotics, and the current team leader of team 229, of course when the team decided they wanted to do big balls, and wanted to use an arm to do it, there was some bobcat influence. I was proud to be able to share some of my knowledge that I gained from being a member of such a great team as 177. You guys truely inspire the FIRST community with your robots, and your students are always very involved all at the same time. I know when i went to visit them in the fall there were 3 machines running and they were all being run by students, even the CNC machine. (under supervision of course) Well done guys.

As far as 229 goes, we are a melting pot of vertran FIRSTers. Our officers (college leadership) include students formally from great teams including: 20, 166, 151, 173, 177, 263, 191. We utilize all of our knowledge to design and build the best robot possible, just like every team does.

The designs of all 4 of the robots you posted are different in their own manner. The onlything that is the same between Bobcat 2001 and Redemption 2 (229s bot) is that it is an extruded arm that extends. Other than that the devices that drive both the shoulder and the extendo are completely different. (I spent pleanty of time with both bots) Likewise, the Rage robot pictured is also very different.

Its obvious that variations from the 97 bobcat arm have done well in competition, and they keep inproving.

Eric O'Brien
Proud member of Team 229 and Alum of Team 177

PS: Do you think we could borrow on of those bots to give our arm driver more training? I know there are some extras lying around

[David Bridge]

Originally Posted by Eric O

PS: Do you think we could borrow on of those bots to give our arm driver more training? I know there are some extras lying around

Haha, actually EO, if your drivers want to come down to utcfc I'm sure we would be more than happy to let them scrimmage against us once we have our second bot done (crosses fingers) unfortunately I think the best robot for them would be 2001 since 03 still experiences some tripping of the breakers for the drill motors on the drive train (unless it is in very low gear, I guess it depends how fast you designed your robot this year) Anyway, I think it would be really cool if your guys wanted to come practice with us even though its a long ride to south windsor Actually, since it is a pretty good distance down here, maybe if you wanted to take the trip with saaaaay John, you could prove if you still have the magic touch with the old machine and give us some practice at the same time, that would also be cool

[Tom Schindler]

Originally Posted by David Bridge

you could prove if you still have the magic touch with the old machine and give us some practice at the same time, that would also be cool

oh we didn't lose our 2001 magic -- that will never be lost...

T

[David Bridge]

Originally Posted by Tom Schindler

oh we didn't lose our 2001 magic -- that will never be lost...

T

Hehehe I don't doubt it... I would extend the invitation to help us practice to you also, except with you its more like you're gonna get beat up if you DON'T help us practice I know you're always there for us though, GO TOMMY!