Be afraid... Be VERY Afraid

[CalTran]

Originally Posted by MentorPrice

It looks like it can either be a duel powered wheel assembly either used for stabilization or for use as a shooter to regulate the distance the projectile will travel?

Again, read the thread. It was officially announced, complete with full CAD of what it actually is.

[toastnbacon]

That is beautiful! You'll have to let us know how well it works. And tell your programmers I'm praying for them...

[Connor1868]

Is this wheel device for driving over a Frisbee? One wheel up off the ground to get over the Frisbee and a second wheel to stay on the ground.

[Siri]

Originally Posted by Connor1868

Is this wheel device for driving over a Frisbee? One wheel up off the ground to get over the Frisbee and a second wheel to stay on the ground.

This was published before kickoff and was revealed here.

Might a mod change the thread title or close it? This seems to be happening a lot...

[MyNameIsPaul]

I think it's a bluff

[EricH]

980 in 2003 used something very similar, using smaller wheels for speed and larger wheels for climbing a ramp (at least, that's what I recall them doing--it might have been the other way around). I think some other teams have done something similar. We've also seen swapping mecanums and traction wheels, as well as omnis and traction wheels. I designed one once, but it didn't get past the team brainstorming stage.


This is one quarter of a wheel-shifting drivetrain, where two different types of wheel can be changed at will, or used for climbing. Again, I don't think this is exactly revolutionary for FRC--similar things have been done on several occasions.


Now, the real question is: have you locked into using this for next year? If so, I highly suggest reconsidering. Quite simply, you don't know what the game will involve. (Hey, wheel-less robots are always an option for the GDC...) So, the thing that I'm more afraid of is: http://www.andymark.com/product-p/am-superoptions.htm

[CalTran]

I don't think it flips 180, as that CIM will have a hard time going through the mounting material. I think it's just aesthetically pleasing.

[DanielDTech]

Originally Posted by CalTran

I don't think it flips 180, as that CIM will have a hard time going through the mounting material. I think it's just aesthetically pleasing.

Indeed, it is aesthetically pleasing and it does not flip. But don't totally throw away the pivoting idea

[DominickC]

Well, it's obvious you're itching to tell us more...so out with it!

[Ankit S.]

The wheels seem cantilevered. I think thats different from the usual octanum setup.

[Starke]

In 2004, HOT (67) had a very similar system where they had two wheels on each side of the robot that were powered by the same motor. Each wheel was actuated downward to touch the ground. This allowed them to change speed/torque ratios.

Notice the two different size black treaded wheels on the right side of the robot in the picture below.

[ehfeinberg]

Well, it looks like by changing which wheel touches the ground, you can also change the clearance under the chassis. The hard stop looks like the vertical mounting touching the cim (The piece of metal which looks like a bell curve in the back). It looks like you could add 3, 4, maybe even 5 inches in your floor to chassis clearance.

(The big wheel looks like it can rotate clockwise all the way to where the little wheel starts)

Still want a top/bottom view

[DanielDTech]

Originally Posted by EricH

980 in 2003 used something very similar, using smaller wheels for speed and larger wheels for climbing a ramp (at least, that's what I recall them doing--it might have been the other way around). I think some other teams have done something similar. We've also seen swapping mecanums and traction wheels, as well as omnis and traction wheels. I designed one once, but it didn't get past the team brainstorming stage.


This is one quarter of a wheel-shifting drivetrain, where two different types of wheel can be changed at will, or used for climbing. Again, I don't think this is exactly revolutionary for FRC--similar things have been done on several occasions.


Now, the real question is: have you locked into using this for next year? If so, I highly suggest reconsidering. Quite simply, you don't know what the game will involve. (Hey, wheel-less robots are always an option for the GDC...) So, the thing that I'm more afraid of is: http://www.andymark.com/product-p/am-superoptions.htm

No, we're not 100% sure that we'll use it this season, for that reason exactly. As for your guess, you are on track, but still very wrong. This is certainly revolutionary, keep in mind that there is a HUGE concept that you're not seeing here.

[EricH]

Originally Posted by DanielDTech

This is certainly revolutionary, keep in mind that there is a HUGE concept that you're not seeing here.

Allow me to point out that if we can't see the concept (a third of it is missing), there is no way that we can tell if it's revolutionary or not. It may be that several teams have already done something--in that case it's NOT revolutionary unless there is something completely new.

What it is is it's a pivoting drivetrain section. If there is something else that is part of the drivetrain, that makes it different from any other pivoting drivetrain like an octocanum or the pivot-shifters of yesteryear, then it's either not put in or very well camouflaged.

Unless those two bolts at the near visibility side indicate modularity, that is, the ability to swap it out for another module in drivetrain, I think you need to raise the stakes significantly--say, pay $100 and hire whoever guesses correctly to decipher the game hint for you. (Incidentally, the modularity concept could run you into some trouble if you don't do it right--all modules go through inspection at the same time.)

[DanielDTech]

Originally Posted by EricH

Allow me to point out that if we can't see the concept (a third of it is missing), there is no way that we can tell if it's revolutionary or not. It may be that several teams have already done something--in that case it's NOT revolutionary unless there is something completely new.

What it is is it's a pivoting drivetrain section. If there is something else that is part of the drivetrain, that makes it different from any other pivoting drivetrain like an octocanum or the pivot-shifters of yesteryear, then it's either not put in or very well camouflaged.

Unless those two bolts at the near visibility side indicate modularity, that is, the ability to swap it out for another module in drivetrain, I think you need to raise the stakes significantly--say, pay $100 and hire whoever guesses correctly to decipher the game hint for you. (Incidentally, the modularity concept could run you into some trouble if you don't do it right--all modules go through inspection at the same time.)

What I said was two thirds of it is missing. No modularity here. And I purposely took out the distinguishing part of the mechanism so that it wouldn't be completely obvious. There is definitely something completely new here, no doubt about it