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 Namaste. Maybe we all one day will spend our energy trying to raise our own level to match that of the competition rather than trying to tear others down. - Rich Kressly [more] |
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The Saturday after kickoff, I worked on a design to allow us to hang without having to climb up the 6" platforms. I came up with the VAR - Vertical Adjustment Rover. It was unfortunately ruled today (see FIRST Q&A sect 7.6) that such a device would be illegal. Luckily, this was only a side project of mine and various Cornell students such as Patrick Dingle, Vicki [can't spell her last name after 3 years], and Matt Bays.
The wheels are those of the 2003 Robocup bots. The idea is to run the VAR up the vertical post and then turn it at the top to attach a carabiner (not shown). The pressure to hold onto the bar is created by a spring (not shown). The omniwheels are perfect for this application because it allows for vertical and lateral movement, which is necessary for rotating around the bar. Ah, too bad this isn't allowed :/
Thanks to Patrick for these assemblies in Ideas.
Discussion
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05-02-2004 21:41
Yan Wang
Re: pic: 639 Vertical Adjustment Rover
Well, I really wished this could've been possible. In fact, I think Patrick [Dingle] wished it a lot more since he put off his Robocup work for many hours working on this. Using common sense, I thought such a design would be allowed since it is light and wouldn't damage a steel bar. Ah well. Any comments?
[edit] Lol, just saw that the CD-47 bot has quite a few posts and a more than decent # of rep points. [/edit]
05-02-2004 22:52
Andrew Rudolph
Re: pic: 639 Vertical Adjustment Rover
yeah it would have been awesome, too bad though you cant shimmy up the bar. I think alot of us would have liked to.
but that thing is awesome, you should build one any ways to do somthing else like climb a rope or somthing.
06-02-2004 01:26
WakeZero
Re: pic: 639 Vertical Adjustment Rover
That would just be really cool, the hardest part though would be to get it to actually lift a 130 pounds. My first guess would be that the wheels would slip, any idea on how to keep that from happening? Good job! It's a shame you can't use it though 
06-02-2004 01:52
JVN
Re: pic: 639 Vertical Adjustment Rover
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Originally Posted by WakeZero
That would just be really cool, the hardest part though would be to get it to actually lift a 130 pounds. My first guess would be that the wheels would slip, any idea on how to keep that from happening? Good job! It's a shame you can't use it though
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This thing drops the hook off on the bar... then the robot reels the hook in.
It's very cool... something I didn't think about.
A tether-bot to deliver a hanging hook.
Too bad it's illegal... maybe some other year.
JVN
06-02-2004 07:10
MisterX
Re: pic: 639 Vertical Adjustment Rover
That definatly would have been neat to see though. Plus, it remminds me of one of the robots from the robot competion that the Techno Channel, during the rope climbing part, the winner was a robot similar to that design who just shimmied (VERY FAST) up the rope with a spring tensioner on one side and the whewl on the other to drive it up the rope just thiw one is all wheel. Good stuff though, hope you guys have been able to come up with anohter idea.
06-02-2004 12:02
Yan Wang
Re: pic: 639 Vertical Adjustment Rover
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Originally Posted by WakeZero
That would just be really cool, the hardest part though would be to get it to actually lift a 130 pounds. My first guess would be that the wheels would slip, any idea on how to keep that from happening? Good job! It's a shame you can't use it though
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Yeah, I will see if I can build it anyway with Patrick. Just too cool to pass up
06-02-2004 15:30
WakeZero
Re: pic: 639 Vertical Adjustment Rover
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Originally Posted by monsieurcoffee
No, as John said, the VAR is used to deliver a hook to the chin up bar. It then detaches (hangs from the cable connected to the hook)... then the robot winches itself up from the side of the platform. The only load on the vertical bar during this process would be from that tiny device.
Yeah, I will see if I can build it anyway with Patrick. Just too cool to pass up |
06-02-2004 22:37
Elgin Clock
Re: pic: 639 Vertical Adjustment Rover
It technically is legal, just not in the way you are thinking.
That's all I am saying, think outside the box. 
You'll see what I mean soon enough!
06-02-2004 22:45
Yan Wang
Re: pic: 639 Vertical Adjustment Rover
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Originally Posted by Elgin Clock
It technically is legal, just not in the way you are thinking.
That's all I am saying, think outside the box. You'll see what I mean soon enough! |
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Q: <T04>: Robots can't attach to the vertical bars - this would cause damage with a 130lb bot. However, is it ok to use a rover/tether device 5-10lbs in weight to climb up the pole, attach a hook, and then detach from the pole? A: No. |
06-02-2004 22:51
Elgin Clock
Re: pic: 639 Vertical Adjustment Rover
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Originally Posted by monsieurcoffee
Er... I suggest you run all VAR-like designs through FIRST before construction. I don't think they want anyone remotely messing with the vertical bar.
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It can be done with no rules being broken or even bent, just think about it for a minute or two, and you may be able to see what i am talking about!
V = no
H = yes
06-02-2004 23:06
Aaron Knight
Re: pic: 639 Vertical Adjustment Rover
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Originally Posted by Elgin Clock
And like I said, "Think outside the box."
It can be done with no rules being broken or even bent, just think about it for a minute or two, and you may be able to see what i am talking about! V = no H = yes |
If you're implying attachment to the horizontal bar from the side of it....maybe, but that sounds kinda unlikely to me. You'd have a hard time getting the leverage.
07-02-2004 00:16
ahecht
Re: pic: 639 Vertical Adjustment Rover
What he is talking about is an idea that we passed on during brainstorming. That device would be used on the horizontal bar to allow your robot to move side to side as it is hanging, perhaps to block your opponent from latching onto the bar.
07-02-2004 00:19
Elgin Clock
Re: pic: 639 Vertical Adjustment Rover
Wow you guys are good!! A few people caught my misinterpretation of the wording. Sorry, I didn't realize it was called a VAR - just the concept I was referring to!
Yes, what I am talking about is what ahecht is describing! Thank you for clearing it up for me!
09-02-2004 22:54
patrickrd
Re: pic: 639 Vertical Adjustment Rover
Yan deserves an awful lot of credit for coming up with this idea, it's definately one of the original ideas I've seen in some time. Upon one of my weekly visits to the high school to see the progress of the robot, Yan showed me a sketch of this idea. Some of my original questions were:
"Is that legal?"
"How is that supposed to lift 130 lbs???"
Anyway, after at least a half hour of pressing the idea on me (it took me about this long for me to understand the principle concept involved), he finally convinced me that it would work, and then shortly after that I became convinced it would have been the coolest mechanism I've ever seen on a FIRST robot. So I helped him work on the design, pointed out that you need omniwheels in order to make it work, and another college member of the team pointed out that you can make it work spring-loaded, without need for a third actuator. So we drew up this model... Unfortunately, it is illegal The only problem I can see with it is that there is a slot milled out of the vertical bars allowing the horizontal bar to move up and down in between matches, which may screw up the omniwheels in this device, but I'm sure that they could be optimized to work even given the slot.
I think it would be really sweet to make one of these devices that is battery powered (4 Lithium-Polymer batteries would work well and is the size of a cell phone), and controlled using radio.
Anyway, awesome idea Yan. I'm definately available to help work on it for kicks and giggles it if you'd like to. Not sure where I'll find the time......... But..... Too cool to pass up.
- Patrick
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