Are there any specific rules for the mounting of the battery within the robot? We are assuming it just needs to be held securly so it doesn’t fall off etc during the competition?
jalmos
rookie team #4166
There are no actual Rules that I can find, but there are plenty of guidelines and lots of good advice.
You’re right, you don’t want it falling out during a match. Mount it securely.
Batteries are dense and heavy. Mount them low if you want to keep your robot’s center of gravity low.
Make it easily accessible and easy to pull out without tugging on the wires, because you’ll be changing it often.
Keep sharp corners and bolt ends away from it. You don’t want something poking a hole in it.
Mount it in whatever orientation makes the most sense for you, but try not to put it upside down. Although it will function okay in any direction, if it overheats and starts venting you really shouldn’t have the vents at the bottom.
Make sure you mount your battery securely - it should remain in place even if your robot tips on its side, front, or back (especially with the bridges and bumps this year). If it falls out, your robot WILL be disabled on the field.
To Be Safe you should use the new battery holder that came in this years KOP. It actually goes inside where you grab it and wont let it move in any direction after you put the battery strap that came with it around the battery and what ever you are mounting it on
There are many ways to mount the battery safely and securely without using that battery holder. For example, 4 pieces of angled aluminum with 1+ Velcro straps going over the top of the battery works fairly well. Building a fairly deep plywood box with some form of holder on the top (say, Velcro) is another option.
I’m trying to remember what exactly my team used in 2005–IIRC, the battery was sandwiched between a frame member and a couple pieces of aluminum, strapped in with Velcro, and then locked in when we closed the hatch that allowed for access to the electronics. That battery wasn’t going anywhere!
Clarification on usage of Velcro. Don’t be cheap on the velcro. Last year we used a 2" wide velcro strap, with an overlap velcro joint across the entire width of the front face of the battery (which was facing up). Of course, make sure the velcro strap itself is securely fastened to the rest of the robot.