26-03-2004 01:54

mzitz2k

Finally... Beatty 2004

Alrighty guys... we've finally got the treat of the year (at 1:20 AM)... Beatty reveals their bot! Can anyone say "crazy amount of actuation" three times fast?

I am not at the Midwest Regional, but here are my observations from the three pictures currently released. I see a drivetrain, 30" ball grabber, goal grabber, arm mechanism for grabbing the bar, stair climber, and a funnel for the ball release system.

It looks as though they have a double pneumatic system with cams, notice the right hand wheels with the little "guards" over them, to lift themselves up and onto the platform. The arm that latches onto the bar is mighty high too. I cannot figure, yet, what the two cylinders do that are mounted (somewhat) horizontally in the picture. I'm guessing the chiaphua motors are being hidden behind the wheel guards because I do not see them anywhere else. The Van door motor is being used to rotate the 30" ball grabbing arm and it appears that a pneumatic cylinder is used to actually open/close the ball grabber. This mechanism is identical to 2001's except for the flattened "paddles" at the end of the ball grabbing arm. The globe is used to rotate the bar grabbing arm. It looks like there is a spectra line or some sort of cable that runs vertically from a spool in the base to the bar grabbing arm.

I'm not sure how the whole funnel system works yet. You can see the "71" sticker pointing to the right, which implies that it is on some plastic. So, some how those balls roll out of the funnel and into that holding tank with the plastic. Is it possible the funnel arms are not actuated? I do not see any motors for this process.

More info... I see a fisher price motor and tranny feeding into that spool system for the extending bar grabber. I believe the two cylinders in the back are to help them for getting up the platform.

Recap:

(1) Drive train: Drill motors, with two cylinders mounted vertically to lift the front wheels. Two cylinders mounted horizontally to lift the back end (?). Chiaphua's are not being used or they are hidden.

(2) Goal Grabber

(3) 30" Ball grabber: Van door rotates the arm and a pneumatic opens/closes the arm

(4) Funnel system: Appears to have no actuation. Plastic guides balls down.

(5) Bar grabbing arm: Globe motor powers the rotation and a fisher price w/ tranny extends the arm.

My biggest question right now: How fast can they position under the ball release system? If they cannot complete this fast, then the balls will fall before they can get under it. Look at the way the funnel is - perpendicular to the direction of their wheels. This means they need a few seconds to position under the ball release. This is just speculation and I shouldn't even speculate like this with Beatty, but this is just a thought!

Okay, good luck guys tomorrow. It looks like we have a Beast of robot on our hands. Good night.

26-03-2004 01:56

JVN

Re: pic: Team Hammond 2

Okay... *phew* here we go.
My analysis of the 3 71 pictures.

Drivetrain:
4WD. 4 independant gearboxes. (Shocking.) 2 look like Drills. I'm guessing the other 2 are Chiaphuas.

Goal Capper:
No surprises here. 2 PVC arms with what looks like sorbothane on the tips for grabbing the big ball. This mechanism looks familiar.

Hanging Arm:
A long extending PVC arm with a hook on the end. Powered down by what looks like a cable running into the base. Some sort of winch?

Step Climbers:
The "Rear" wheels are pneumatically actuated up and down. Pretty slick looking.

Ball Catcher:
Note the teflon on the side of the robot facing us?
I assume that means... the robot starts sideways, with this against the wall, and drives to the center of the ball drop (sliding the side along the wall). Then, the hanging arm, and the capping arm both flip out, along with those other 2 flaps... The arms must have some netting or something which isn't on there right now. From there the balls are funnelled into a lexan tube which runs through the center of the robot. (only parts of it are visible in the picture? This one baffled me for a little while). Then, once the balls are in it, it drives back along the wall to the HP and deposits them.

JVN Stumpers:
Those 2 suspicious looking pneumatic cylinders in the center of the robot base. (On the left side of the picture). What do you suppose those do? I think they will keep me up at night. Possibly powering the winch somehow? Hmmm....

Overall, I'm very impressed. This is just my interpretation of these pictures, and I suppose we'll have to wait until tomorrow to know for sure. I will certainly be watching....

Kudos to 71... another great season in the making.

I'm Inspired,
JVN

26-03-2004 02:32

Amanda Morrison

Re: pic: Team Hammond 2

I knew we couldn't expect anything less. Here's to looking at another successful season.

But I can claim that kid in on the right hand side of the picture with the duct tape shoes (unfortunately...) Meet Andrew Morrison.

26-03-2004 09:41

Craig

Re: pic: Team Hammond 2

Wow, that robot brings new meaning to word multi-tasking! Nice Job!

I'm thinking the two more or less horizontal cylinders actuate a gate to release the balls to the ball corall. Its difficult to see but all that plastic is like a big funnel that ends right at those cylinders. Anyone have any idea how they telescope the hanging arm??? I'm fascinated with telescoping mechanisms but I cant even guess at how they do it.

Good luck in comp today

26-03-2004 23:42

Ryan Foley

Re: pic: Team Hammond 2

27-03-2004 00:16

mzitz2k

Re: pic: Team Hammond 2

Two cylinders that size would be over kill for just grabbing the mobile goal. And, the same goes for opening and closing their ball collector. The telescopic arm uses spectra cable with a fisher price motor. I am not sure exactly how they pulled off the telescopic arm, but I am sure it is very similar to last year's arm.

302 wishes everyone good luck at the Midwest Regional.

27-03-2004 00:19

Kyle Fenton

Re: pic: Team Hammond 2

I like the part how they can cap like 782. If you saw the web-stream they can deploy the hook and capping the goal from the back of it at the same time. Very slick looking machine.

27-03-2004 11:02

Stephen Kowski

Re: pic: Team Hammond 2

interesting the built their frame so low to the ground to be able to drive around with the ball so quickly....the next question would be how are they getting up on the platform so quickly? if someone from team hammond, or someone @ chicago could tell me I would be very appreciative...

28-03-2004 00:55

Jeremiah Johnson

Re: pic: Team Hammond 2

alright guys. just back from midwest regional. beatty was a decent robot even though we beat them in the semis. they never did position under the ball release. they did pick up the 2x ball very well. they can hang well too. also, they can cap while hanging. not a very good control of the robot. easy to stop from hanging. hang from 1st platform. that's about all i have.