Basic Layout

[generalsnipe]

what would a good basic layout be for a robot, im in a rookie team and i am the team leader, but would like to know just some basics so i can bring it forward to my team,
thank you in advance
michael

[sanddrag]

Well, a very popular "layout" is to have the robot oriented so that it is longer than it is wide, and has 6 wheels, with all 6 being powered (through chains and sprockets), set up so each side is separate, and it turns like a tank (one side forward and one side back) and then the middle two wheels lower slightly (1/8-3/16"). This allows the robot to turn more easily. Take a look at some pictures from previous years. 2005 would be a good year to look at. Also, this link may help http://www.firstroboticscanada.org/site/resources

[Al Skierkiewicz]

Generally you would orient the battery near the middle of the robot or centered between the driving wheels to allow the battery to give you some down force on your driving wheels. Don't forget the battery must be securely mounted and the terminals fully insulated. Using that as a center point then you can grow out to the main breaker which must be mounted so that field people can get to it in an emergency. The terminal block and Maxi block should also be centered in the robot so that you can easily feed out to the speed controllers for you main drive. Position the controllers near enough to the main drive so that you can use the motor leads to connect directly to the speed controllers. (Use the #10 wire to connect your speed controllers for the main drive and other large motors.) Consider placing them close enough that you can actually cut some of the excess motor wire length. After that, place the small fuse block(s) as close as you can to the Maxi block and the main distro blocks. Then place the RC where you have room and where it is visible from outside the robot but is accessible for programming and tether connections.
As a rookie team I urge you to build the kit chassis and using the KOP get a robot base built now, today! You should be able to get it driving by tonight and let your drivers get some practice while you work on the rest of the robot. Make sure that the base is at least 1/4" less than maximum dimensions all around. Use 1/4" plywood to mount your parts. You can actually have some students working on the chassis while you have other students working on the plywood mounting your hardware. This system is designed to get a rookie team driving in one day.
All things being equal, a team with experienced drivers and a simple robot will beat a great robot with bad drivers every time.
BTW, get some sleep, you shouldn't be up to 1:30 on a school night.
General, do you need me to come over and talk to you guys? PM me or have one of your mentors PM me and I will give you contact info. Don't wait.