FRC 2013 "Best Designs" Log

[barn34]

Originally Posted by Gregor

I can't really picture this in my head. Could you share some photos or videos?

Just edited the above post with video. Sorry, just forgot it in the original post.

[NXTGeek]

Kicky roller:
3476 and 696 used this design to acquire frisbees.
As opposed to the spatula (1986) or polycarb/roller (987, 1538), this design doesn't have anything dragging on the ground in order to pickup disks. We have a small belt-driven roller wrapped in silicon tape that "kicks" the frisbee from the ground, while rollers on the other end of the frisbee pull it onto the roller while keeping just the tip of the frisbee pressed against the floor. Here is a video of a prototype I made of this design: http://youtu.be/bhP0oiJWbI8
And a CAD screenshot:

[MichaelBick]

Originally Posted by NXTGeek

Kicky roller:
3476 and 696 used this design to acquire frisbees.
As opposed to the spatula (1986) or polycarb/roller (987, 1538), this design doesn't have anything dragging on the ground in order to pickup disks. We have a small belt-driven roller wrapped in silicon tape that "kicks" the frisbee from the ground, while rollers on the other end of the frisbee pull it onto the roller while keeping just the tip of the frisbee pressed against the floor. Here is a video of a prototype I made of this design: http://youtu.be/bhP0oiJWbI8
And a CAD screenshot:

254 had this too

[Negative 9]

Originally Posted by NXTGeek

Kicky roller:
3476 and 696 used this design to acquire frisbees.
As opposed to the spatula (1986) or polycarb/roller (987, 1538), this design doesn't have anything dragging on the ground in order to pickup disks. We have a small belt-driven roller wrapped in silicon tape that "kicks" the frisbee from the ground, while rollers on the other end of the frisbee pull it onto the roller while keeping just the tip of the frisbee pressed against the floor. Here is a video of a prototype I made of this design: http://youtu.be/bhP0oiJWbI8
And a CAD screenshot:

Is it necessary to have the intake push it into the roller? Wouldn't it also work just by driving into the frisbees?

[NXTGeek]

Originally Posted by Negative 9

Is it necessary to have the intake push it into the roller? Wouldn't it also work just by driving into the frisbees?

See my prototype vid for an overview. Basically, I needed the roller to push the frisbee down, while pulling he opposite end toward the kicky roller. At that point the only place for the frisbee to go is up and into the robot's lifter. We have gotten frisbees with the DDI up, but by driving around trying to get the frisbee to catch. The DDI widens the intake to allow 2 frisbees at once as well as picking up from corners.

[topgun]

Originally Posted by NXTGeek

See my prototype vid for an overview. Basically, I needed the roller to push the frisbee down, while pulling he opposite end toward the kicky roller. At that point the only place for the frisbee to go is up and into the robot's lifter. We have gotten frisbees with the DDI up, but by driving around trying to get the frisbee to catch. The DDI widens the intake to allow 2 frisbees at once as well as picking up from corners.

Was the roller on the DDI powered? What happened with frisbees that were upside down?

[NXTGeek]

Originally Posted by topgun

Was the roller on the DDI powered? What happened with frisbees that were upside down?

Yes, it is powered by a AM-9015 and a VEXPro VersaPlanetary 15-1 Gearbox.
We originally had it design as a modified CD7 intake. It worked great and pickup from 90* corners, but we took the sideways wheels out and replaced it with polycarb to index two frisbees at once (making 7 disk auto possible). (See photo, it had belt connecting the so dart side sets and bevel gears for the primary)
On upside-down frisbees: tell you the truth, our original design had us climbing to 30, shooting full court 3s and pyramid goal, picking up and shooting upside-down disks.
Glad our strategy got streamlined. We lift the DDI if we get an upside-down disk, and drive backwards. I had some designs that would flip disks, and designs that would lift and shoot them, but they got outed. One time we got an upside-down disk through the feeder slot into our hopper, and our trigger pneumatic flipped it right side up!

[Teamcodeorange]

Originally Posted by NXTGeek

Yes, it is powered by a AM-550 and a VEXPro VersaPlanetary 15-1 Gearbox.

Actually the lifter and kicky roller are powered by one CIM motor. The drop-down intake is powered by an AndyMark 9015 motor in a 15:1 VEXPro VersaPlanetary.

[MisterJ]

Two innovative robots from MAR with solid, unique designs were 225's FCS and 869's windsock/fan. Neither one made it too far into eliminations, but both required significant alterations to an alliance's strategy. They were both quality, well-designed machines!

[Sh1ine]

As far as floor pick up is concerned I think that 20 had an excellent design.

[Chris is me]

I think butterfly drive should get a mention. It was extremely well suited to this year's game. Firstly, seven-disc autonomous modes were much easier with one. Secondly, being able to switch to omni for ease of alignment, then traction to hold orientation was very useful, and IMO a big part of how 148 could start accurately FCSing so quickly. Add to that the offensive benefits of a butterfly drive (not vulnerable to t-bones, can push through defensive problems, etc) and 2013 seems like the best year for butterfly since its creation.

[runneals]

Originally Posted by Chris is me

I think butterfly drive should get a mention. It was extremely well suited to this year's game. Firstly, seven-disc autonomous modes were much easier with one. Secondly, being able to switch to omni for ease of alignment, then traction to hold orientation was very useful, and IMO a big part of how 148 could start accurately FCSing so quickly. Add to that the offensive benefits of a butterfly drive (not vulnerable to t-bones, can push through defensive problems, etc) and 2013 seems like the best year for butterfly since its creation.

Neutrino LOVES Butterfly Drive!

Originally Posted by Boe

i know of two without wheels

1503's catupult type fouor discs at once

and there was a fcs that used a belt to shoot the frisbees, it looked very nice, but i cant remember the team number. They were in galileo and had a yellow powder coated robot and thier pit was located very close to the practice field. My team also tried a belt shooter but it didnt pan out towards the ends of the season so we redesigned post build, id love to know more about how they got it to work

Yah, 525 had a "flinger".

[craigboez]

Originally Posted by Chris is me

I think butterfly drive should get a mention. It was extremely well suited to this year's game. Firstly, seven-disc autonomous modes were much easier with one.

Can you explain why 7 disc auton was easier with a butterfly drive?

[Boe]

Originally Posted by craigboez

Can you explain why 7 disc auton was easier with a butterfly drive?

i believe he is reffering to when the traction wheels are down the robot is a four wheel drive with a long drive base causing the robot to barely (if at all) be able to turn which makes driving strait in auton easier

[Chris is me]

Originally Posted by craigboez

Can you explain why 7 disc auton was easier with a butterfly drive?

Originally Posted by Boe

i believe he is reffering to when the traction wheels are down the robot is a four wheel drive with a long drive base causing the robot to barely (if at all) be able to turn which makes driving strait in auton easier

Correct. While skid steers basically require a gyro and closed loop control to drive straight enough to get all seven discs, a butterfly drive just needs to deploy four pistons and drive. The anti-spinning properties of the drive (long high traction wheelbase) will allow the robot to easily go straight.