[FTC]: 2014-2015 Game Manual Part 1 Now Online

[Neutrinos6433]

Originally Posted by atucker4072

Say the game calls for speed like Block Party did. That's great you realize it and you build a fast robot that can zip around the field. Okay someone plays defense on you. Would you rather have to try and make a move around them and possibly have to around to the other side of the field or would you rather shift and be able to just push them out of your way?

Are we sure a shifting gear box is legal? I would think it is a COTS with more than one degree of freedom. Only COTS with one degree of freedom are allowed. In a shifting gearbox, one degree of freedom is rotational and the other degree of freedom is translation (for shifting).

In fact a non shifting gearbox could be considered having more than one degree of freedom as each gear has its own axis and different rotational direction. All this will have to be clarified in the official forums, but your comments at this time will be appreciated.

[atucker4072]

Andy Mark is updating the information on the link to the motor to say that all the gears are metal! No more plastic gears!

[atucker4072]

Originally Posted by Neutrinos6433

Are we sure a shifting gear box is legal? I would think it is a COTS with more than one degree of freedom. Only COTS with one degree of freedom are allowed. In a shifting gearbox, one degree of freedom is rotational and the other degree of freedom is translation

When I talked with the person that had been working with it, it was specifically designed for FTC. The goal of it was to make smaller of the shifter that 4251 had built this year. That's all I know.

[jcarr]

I think that the shifter has two degrees of freedom and don't think that it would be legal under the rules as written unless the forum specifically allows it. However, the ability to use COTS gear housings may make it easier to build your own.

[atucker4072]

Originally Posted by jcarr

I think that the shifter has two degrees of freedom and don't think that it would be legal under the rules as written unless the forum specifically allows it. However, the ability to use COTS gear housings may make it easier to build your own.

They did have a single speed gear box actually. It was about as half as thick as the shifter. Other than that it was the same size. Basically a smaller FRC single speed gear box.

[aklego]

Originally Posted by atucker4072

Andy Mark is updating the information on the link to the motor to say that all the gears are metal! No more plastic gears!

This is an outstanding development. Does anybody from the FRC world know if AM usually supplies repair parts for their motors?

[safiq10]

Originally Posted by aklego

This is an outstanding development. Does anybody from the FRC world know if AM usually supplies repair parts for their motors?

Generally in FRC the motors don't have replacement parts but the gearboxes do, I asked andymark and they said there are currently no plans on the motor having replacement parts.

[JohnFogarty]

Originally Posted by safiq10

Generally in FRC the motors don't have replacement parts but the gearboxes do, I asked andymark and they said there are currently no plans on the motor having replacement parts.

I've never in my days ever thought I would want to replace parts of a motor. Now a motor-gearbox combo like the Tetrix motors are, that's a different story.

[ftcTeam6389]

Originally Posted by aklego

Details about the new Andy Mark motor are here:

http://www.andymark.com/product-p/AM-2964.htm

I'm excited about the built-in encoder but a bit apprehensive about the plastic gear.

what plastic gear? the specs say "Gear Material: Steel"

confused.

[orangemoore]

Originally Posted by ftcTeam6389

what plastic gear? the specs say "Gear Material: Steel"

confused.

When the product was first released it had a single plastic gear and then they changed them all to steel.

Smart Move Andymark!

[Snakebyte 4546]

So I was wondering what ya'll thought about the rules regarding the SuperPro board and accessories. The rules aren't incredibly specific regarding this but it seems like it IS legal to have two 9V batteries, one for the SuperPro and one for visible LEDs (if they aren't robot controlled). But, if they are being controlled by an Arduino Micro (Which seems to also be legal, <R11>.D.ii) Can they technically be considered "Non ROBOT controlled, thus allowing for an independent 9V battery? This is what we interpreted. Any thoughts?

-Snakebyte 4546

[Robo Hamsters]

Originally Posted by Neutrinos6433

Are we sure a shifting gear box is legal? I would think it is a COTS with more than one degree of freedom. Only COTS with one degree of freedom are allowed. In a shifting gearbox, one degree of freedom is rotational and the other degree of freedom is translation (for shifting).

I think it would be legal per R04c

COTS parts and assemblies may only have a maximum of a single degree of freedom. It is the intent of FIRST that teams design and build their devices to achieve the game challenge. Assemblies of COTS components, such as linear slides, and gearboxes are allowed while a pre-fabricated gripper assembly designed to grab the game elements is not. Holonomic wheels (omni or mechanum) are exempt from the one degree of freedom limitation.

Examples of single degree of freedom COTS components are:

• Hinges
• Sprockets
• Gears of any type, including Rack and Pinion gears
• Simple and compound gear trains
• Planetary gear trains
• Lazy Susan

Just my thought, but as always it should be asked in the FTC Q&A.

[JesseK]

Originally Posted by Robo Hamsters

I think it would be legal per R04c



Just my thought, but as always it should be asked in the FTC Q&A.

Compound in the context of gearboxes could also mean a single speed, multi-reduction gearbox, such as an am toughbox. It is with Q&A before a purchase is made, IMO.

[Robo Hamsters]

Originally Posted by JesseK

Compound in the context of gearboxes could also mean a single speed, multi-reduction gearbox, such as an am toughbox. It is with Q&A before a purchase is made, IMO.

Very true. Definitely a Q&A issue.

[skatefriday]

Originally Posted by Snakebyte 4546

So I was wondering what ya'll thought about the rules regarding the SuperPro board and accessories. The rules aren't incredibly specific regarding this but it seems like it IS legal to have two 9V batteries, one for the SuperPro and one for visible LEDs (if they aren't robot controlled). But, if they are being controlled by an Arduino Micro (Which seems to also be legal, <R11>.D.ii) Can they technically be considered "Non ROBOT controlled, thus allowing for an independent 9V battery? This is what we interpreted. Any thoughts?

-Snakebyte 4546

We powered an led light strip via the main robot battery pack, running
it through a 7805 voltage regulator (with a huge heat sink) last year.

We had a schematic of the voltage regulation circuit and a fully educated
team member for judging should a judge question the setup.

Note that all microcontrollers, which includes an arduino, must be
powered from the superpro protoboard, and it can only supply
something along the lines of 8mA. A stock arduino will draw 20mA,
so we ran a barebones ATmega328 to drive the led strip.

Writeup here:

http://degreesplato.wordpress.com/20...s-need-lights/