Picking Up a Robot

FIRST General Forum
#1

I’ve been researching alot of other team’s robots. The vast mojoity of robots are going with the “lower the ramp, drive up, and raise the ramp” idea for the bonus points. The student that I’ve been working with decided to pick up a robot. They designed and built a pneumatic arm that can lift over 100 lbs!

Does anybody know of other teams that are doing the same thing? Picking up a robot with an arm is a bit more difficult, but if it works I think it’ll be awesome. Picking up a 1 lb tube is easy enough but picking up an entire robot too?!?! I will post some pics too if anyone wants to see. :cool:

Anybody making their robot so it can easily be picked up?

#2

We have the option to easily remove our ramp/platform, leaving a mere 80 pounds for that type of alliance combination.

#3

I’m sure you’ve considered the 10-pt penalty for littering. This gives you a net +5 for 4" and +20 for 12".

#4

my team is considering adding a forklift system on the back of our robot yet. The forks would fold down over the bumpers and then be able to lift another robot. Just trying to figure out the c.g. is going to be fun.

#5

it appears that team 2250 is making their robot to be lifted with an arm.

#6

Only if you leave the ramp on the field.

No penalty if you leave it in the pit.:wink:

#7

It’s a neat idea but how are you going to get all the other robots to have the same pick-up point without dropping them :ahh:

#8

Yep, that’s what I meant.

#9

That’s a very smart idea…I wonder how easily ours come off…

#10

Team #39 will pick up one robot to 14". We are not using an arm. The cg was huge.

Ken

#11

I would like to see some pictures of this arm that is picking up robots. Assuming it’s an arm that is going to hold on your to your alliance’s robot and pick them up of the ground… I don’t know how much they will like that. I know I wouldn’t let anyone grab any part of my robot and let them pick it up like that. I would rather drive up on a fork system or a ramp. What I just said may not sound very nice, but it is the truth when it comes to competition.

… just incase you guys decide to not to use an arm to pick up other robots and need help building a ramp really fast (in 3 days) which is under 15 pounds, please don’t hesitate to ask. I am willing to share our design. Good luck.

#12

Actually, I see your point very well. For instance, I know for a fact that lots of teams (including ours) is going for a tower design. Our arm and camera are positioned on that tower, so we risk losing or knocking out something on our tower that could potentially “hurt” us later on during the event. I understand this whole arm-grabbing thing, but it may not work all the time.

Personally, I’m liking this forklift-type thing idea. We never thought about that one.

#13

well as far as ive seen there are no teams other than yours doing that. ive only seen the lifty the robot thingie

#14

yeah but u have to weigh all possible parts at your weigh in and inspection.( i could be reading this or thinking about it wrong but i think thats what u mean)

#15

I think that the team would just be leaving the ramps in the pits so that they would weigh less, making it easier for their alliance partner to lift them.

As far as the idea of lifting another robot up, I would have to agree with Arefin Bari in that I would not allow another team to lift our robot from a single point without having consulted with the majority of our team members first. However, if this is a system that I had seen work many times without a single failure, I would be much more on board with being picked up by an alliance partner. Hope everything works out for you guys. VERY innovative design though.

#16