I saw this picture
http://www.firstroboticscanada.org/site/files/active/1/322_small.jpg
I am assuming those are just delrin skids and I was wondering how well these work on carpet. anyone know?
I’m not sure how well that one worked, but I’ve seen others like that and they didn’t really have any glaring problems. Could be pretty unstable and would easily get caught to the point of no return on the game field.
really. I am not worried about the actuating part on that robot just the skids. it would make our design much simpler to use skids instead of casters or omni wheels (we are considering the 2-wheel drive with casters set up)
If you are asking if they serve as a good skid plate than yeah it works, but you wil not have much traction at all. You will be pushed around very easily, especially if it gets pushed from the side towards the front. Also, if you are planing on going up a ramp the odds wil be against you.
I am not familar with that particular robot but I believe it must have been from 2004 and designed to retract those front legs to get up on the platforms. The biggest problem I see would be if the air cylinder rams got bent you would be screwed because you couldn’t retract the legs. I would be very careful about just a simple rod like that with a skid on the end for this reason. As far as a slick Delrin, etc. skid I think many teams have used them successfully over the years on the carpet.
Why are you looking at casters or skids?
it shouldnt be any harder to push one with skid plates and a two wheel drive setup than one with a two wheel drive with omnis or casters correct?
No I would think they were all in the same general category when it comes to resistance when being pushed, but why are you avoiding wheels?
If it has to go up a ramp, just make sure the skid pads have a large enough radius that they will go over the edge of most ramps without getting stuck.
It would just be lighter weight and easier to implement (i could put it in a tighter ground clearence) than casters or omnis. I’m not avoiding wheels but if there is a better solution then I am going to take it .
im not worried about ramps…
yeah, I suppose if you’re building the ramp, you don’t need to worry about getting up on other ramps 
tisk tisk squirrel.
that my friend is thinking inside the box
Well I have seen these skid plates in action and they serve their purpose the only downside is that they have no traction. But are you going to be strictly a offensive robot?
“im not allowed to say” says matt as he nods his head up and down
atleast that is the plan right now
Ok:D , Well, I would come up with something that is going to give you a little traction whether it be something you can activate or something that is permanent because if you are going to be an offensive bot this year I think you are going to be messed with a lot by defensive bots during the matches. Well good luck!! What events are you guys attending?
well usually if you have enough torque (and enough motors) on your two wheel drive coupled to a gyro you can program it in a way to compensate for any outside forces. we have used the two wheel drive platform many times before and what it lacks in stability it makes up for in simplicity and weight.
Lonestar regional
If you increase the torque to your wheels as you say, you will quickly hit the point where you are traction limited. Assume that we are all working with the same coeficient (sp) of friction on the carpet and that all the bots are at the same weight, a robot that has all of it’s weight on driven wheels will out-push a robot that has caster/skids.
well of course this is going to be true but isnt it also true (correct me if i am wrong, i might be) that when trying to turn with a four wheel drive robot it is not as smooth and quick as when turning as a 2 wheel drive robot. therefore you lose time and it is really hard to get accurate position measurements from your encoders
I like the glides. it is likely just UHMW(PE). On carpet it will wear approximately 1/4" per hour of drive time. it may also get metal shavings imbedded and such imbedded in it from being moved around in the pit – this will cause friction issues. I’ve considered the same but have not implemented to date. One nice thing about a static glide is that it will not get wrapped up in a deflated tube on the field like a caser will.
Matt,
The rules that come into play here are 1) will there be any chance that this would allow metal to come into contact with the floor? 2) will it cause any damage to the carpet.
I think you will find that driving will cause this setup to heat considerably from the friction with the carpet. If the answer to either of the questions above is yes, it will not be allowed. The first is an inspection issue reguiring a close up look at construction and implementation. The second is to be determined by field people. If they think any damage is possible, they may disable your robot and disqualification for repeated offenses is a real consideration for your team. Without close inspection, only you can make a determination at this point.