19-02-2008 19:25

Tim Arnold

Re: pic: Team 1629's robot DONE !

Yikes thats a lot of stored energy! What happens at endgame if it is cocked? Using a latch?

19-02-2008 19:29

Dan Petrovic

Re: pic: Team 1629's robot DONE !

Is it really bad for your robot if you launch without a ball?

I'm not saying that will happen a lot in competition, I'm just wondering.

20-02-2008 01:49

E. Wood

Re: pic: Team 1629's robot DONE !

We do have a latch on the robot and dry firing as we call it does not seem to cause damage to the robot, although we will be checking bolts between match just to make sure. We also have alot of stickers and such that will go on the robot to warn others to be careful when around it.

20-02-2008 09:05

GaryVoshol

Re: pic: Team 1629's robot DONE !

Nice duct tape patch on the trackball. Is it because, perhaps, the ball doesn't like the end of your diamond-plate grabber? That might need a little padding.

Looks like a good design.

20-02-2008 09:13

robotboy11

Re: pic: Team 1629's robot DONE !

Will your team be attending the Pittsburgh Regional again?

20-02-2008 09:30

D_Price

Re: pic: Team 1629's robot DONE !

Nice robot guys very well made and i love it.

20-02-2008 09:34

Sunshine

Re: pic: Team 1629's robot DONE !

I'm not trying to be negative in any way toward your robot. Your picture just raises a concern that I have after looking at lots of finished robots.

I would hate to take a direct hit from your lower grippers/feet going maximum speed. All I can think of is major damage.

Do you think that you will be closely scrutinized as indicated in the rules?

20-02-2008 13:08

PhilBot

Re: pic: Team 1629's robot DONE !

Unfortunately not...

The Pittsburgh and Annapolis competitions are on the same weekend this year (D'oh) and since we are a MD team, we feel that we should at least compete in one MD competition.

We'll be going to Cleveland the following week.

Phil.

20-02-2008 13:33

PhilBot

Re: pic: Team 1629's robot DONE !

We understand your concern... We also don't want to hit the wall, or another robot at full speed. The likelyhood for significant damage to our own robot is also high... The legs are deployed for ball pickup only, and good news is that if robot-robot contact happened it would be in the designated bumper zone of the other robot.

Whenever FIRST decided that we needed to pick up a ball that was wider than the robot, I'm hoping that they realized that many teams would adopt a fork-lift style approach.

Perhaps that's the real reason that they made bumpers manditory.
Not looking to circumvent any rules.

20-02-2008 13:37

Sunshine

Re: pic: Team 1629's robot DONE !

Thanks for the reply Phil!

I'm more at ease knowing that the possible contact will only be in the bumper zone.

Good luck at competitions.

20-02-2008 13:41

PhilBot

Re: pic: Team 1629's robot DONE !

Actually, the springs only provide part of the launch energy. Once ready to fire, the retract cylinders are momentarily charged in the other direction to provide a spring assist. This way the "stored" spring energy is kept to a minimum.

The Latch mechanism is the rod of a another 1 1/2" cylinder. It uses a double acting solenoid which defaults to the "latched" position. Once power/control is lost, any residual pressure in the launch cylinder is lost, and the scoop is held in position (virtually impossible to release). It requires full pressure and active control to release the latch.

We will also have a "dead-man-switch" on the console which requires two-handed operation to actually release the latch (just like dropping the ramps last year).

20-02-2008 14:05

E. Wood

Re: pic: Team 1629's robot DONE !

These are links to videos of the robot in action for anyone who is interested.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QYNAPWFPT-4
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T5d34yZrSH0&NR=1

20-02-2008 14:14

Gabe Salas Jr.

Re: pic: Team 1629's robot DONE !

It looks like you all were having a lot of fun driving that robot around. Definitely a fun bot to watch.