Low-Rider Robots

[NoodleKnight]

Originally Posted by SteveO

Anybody have an anti-tip mechanism We are going to try and use the accelerometer to automatically deploy "wheelie bars" if we are tipping a certain angle. We want to use probably pretty big pistons for this though and were heavy as it is

Yeah, our arm. Actually, it really depends on what drivetrain we want to pick (yes, I know its week 4, apparently we're building 3 different drives...). But if it's the kit bot, we have an anti tip mechanism which is essentially a set of outriggers powered by the window and van door motors.

And, about 2" of clearance -- it can be reduced though.

[Kyle]

Originally Posted by SteveO

Anybody have an anti-tip mechanism We are going to try and use the accelerometer to automatically deploy "wheelie bars" if we are tipping a certain angle. We want to use probably pretty big pistons for this though and were heavy as it is

in 2003 our robot had wheelie bars that were spring loaded so when the bot started to move the wheels pulled a string that pulled a pin to release the bars, it was light weight easy to make and replace. And it saved our bot from tipping more times then i can count.

[Cyberguy34000]

Team 662's bot can now be classified as a "low rider". As you can see in the pic, it's barely off of the ground, we're probably going to put larger wheels on, just because the slightest bump in the carpet could beach the thing. But even after we raise it a bit, it'll still be pretty low to the ground.

In a game like this year's tipping is going to be a serious issue, so the lower the center of gravity, the less vulnerable you are.

[Vince lau]

we have enough clearance so we can drive over the base of the goals

[Kyle]

I was just wondering, is there a difference with ground Clarence when using wheels or treads? I have seen some bots that use treads with really low ground Clarence and some with high ground clearance.

[jrocket567]

Originally Posted by Kyle

I was just wondering, is there a difference with ground Clarence when using wheels or treads? I have seen some bots that use treads with really low ground Clarence and some with high ground clearance.

ground clearance is soley determined by the designer... tracks can be high and low, as well as wheels.. jst think of how you can take the same car and either jack it up a foot or so, or drop it down on the ground.. same principle, just that the robot is designed to do that in the beginning, and you dont have to take a torch to the springs..
j

[Alex Cormier]

ours is variable and the lowest i believe is 3/16.

[Gdeaver]

There is a time at the end of the game when a certain clearance is needed. If your paired with 2 other low riders, your aliance is going to have a problem.

[Kyle]

not unless there is a part on the robot to lift the low rider up..

[sanddrag]

I believe our ground clearance is around an inch. We would go either a little lower or a little higher (to drive in goals) but the ground clearance is dictated by our wheel size and frame design which is dictated by our gearbox output speed. We did some real world tests and we feel that on a flat playing field, the CG does not have to be quite as low as we thought to remain stable. So, an inch it is.

[Ianworld]

We have about 1.5" to 2" inches of ground clearance. Just enough to get over the goal bases. We're not sure if we'll need that clearence but i think its better safe than sorry. Of course for pushing you'll be pushing against something with a ground clearence of .25 or higher depending on how hard you push.

[cadman2k5]

yea Team 637 knows what it feels like to flip... NOT FUN. were goin low too.. not a quarter inch... but low.

http://www.njfirst.org/galleries.htm

check out the upside down Marotta logo pic

[Iain McLeod]

358 used to be .25'' but now we're about an inch.

I was really worried about flipping and crushing tetras this year too... everyone tells me that i'm exaggerating the danger, but i still vividly remember riding up onto balls many many times both last year and three years ago.