Hello CD!
My rookie team is looking to build a pit cart and I have been wondering if any teams have any good pit cart/Robot Cart designs? We want something that can double as a workstation in our pit so we can work (if necessary) while we are queuing for a match. So something that has drawers for tools, etc.
Thanks everyone!
SIX MORE DAYS!!!
I must catch up on sleep now -_-
I didn’t know you were starting a rookie team! Tech High will loose a good mentor. Can’t wait to see ya’ll at SVR!
As for the pit/robot cart, unless you know of a pre-built good one, I suggest making your own thing. Design it with a toolbox, a nice, low to the ground cart for the robot, and holes to store stuff such as bumper covers, commonly used tools, etc.
If Cardinalbotics needs any help this year, PLEASE feel free to contact 256 for any reason. We will be more than happy to help with anything you need!
Good luck this year, and 6 more days! 
Yeah I’m in college so I said hey there are no FRC teams in San Francisco, so I started one. I still mentor 675, but I’m mainly working with 4159 right now.
We’ll try and come up with a design ourselves but we just want something to really work off of.
I may be contacting you. we do need a bit of help and we have a really small shop, with a few untrained students still. But that will change soon once build season starts!
You, sir, are what FRCers should look up to. Starting a team in SF is a great idea! San Jose is close to SF, and I’ve gone there a ton, so we would be more than happy to provide all of the help possible to you, not only in engineering, but in the business side, also. 
PM me anytime or contact us via our website: www.wghsrobotics.webs.com
Good luck!
Will do! We have the business side of things taken care of I believe. We have a business plan and the entire team structure set up and working. Right now it’s just a matter of getting our students to put the tools in their hands and building things.
Wow. You’re the first rookie team I’ve met who has their business side figured out! Good job! I’m impressed!
About the robot cart, Here is a VERY good design example if you want to make a custom one like you said, and meets all the requirements you stated.
http://www.chiefdelphi.com/media/photos/35516
This cart has
-tool boxes underneath the robot
-storage near the handle in the back (most likely for battery’s)
-a place for the driver station
Now remember you have only 5 days till kick off, I would not attempt to start this right now but wait until build dies down. But instead get you shop and resources ready for Jan. 7th.
Haha, we’re going for Rookie All-star this year so we are trying to be the perfect candidates.
We’re competing at Sacramento this year because it’s week 3 rather than week 5 and that would give us more time to fund raise if we end up going to CHMP, but I’m going down to SVR with 675.
Thank you! We’re going to work on it after build season is over because then we have 3 weeks to build a Pit Cart.
This cart also has a lift for easy access to the bottom of the robot.
Really!? could you give some details on this?
I don’t know exactly how it works. I could ask some of my friends over on 175 for the exact details on it.
Attached is a pic of the lift.
Since you’ve been on an FRC team before im guessing you know what your talking about. However im just wondering why you would want a cart with all that stuff on it. Wont it get bulky? and really heavey?
We have a small cart with a hydraulic lift (i believe from Princess Auto) and we put a stand on it for the robots wheels to stay off the cart, so it wont roll away.
We have a pit made out of Extrusion, and diamond plate. Very expensive but was all donated by MK Extrusion and Centerline (Windsor) Ltd. The have casters on them so all we do is unlock the wheels and roll them away. For playoff’s if the pits are far away, we bring one of three cabinets and the tool chest to the field side. Worked perfect for u s last year 
Here is our cart
http://www.princessauto.com/pal/product/8017549/Carts-%26-Dollies/660-lb-Scissor-Lift-Cart
I’m looking for a picture of our pits right now. We got ALOT of compliments for them last year.
Well 675 has a pit cart that is large and bulky, but very useful. We want something that is like 675’s and 254’s combined. 254’s is very easy to maneuver from what I remember and has a large hole for their bumpers in it, but I’m not sure if they have the drawers for tools. (knowing them, I bet they do!)
You should also have a look at the Autodesk Cart Conundrum. This was a contest this past fall and a number of teams posted possible cart designs. There are full inventor files for these designs and could be a good starting point.
Enjoy and good luck!
http://www.saintsrobotics.com/wp-content/gallery/2011-frc-championships/img_1396.jpg
Our team (1899) started using a powered robot cart last year and we have found it very useful, and have not experienced any of the problems others are describing.
We used an old powered wheelchair base, but removed the chair, and instead added a platform for the robot to sit on with room to place tools and other equipment.
It is controlled by the original Wheelchair controller and is mounted near the back of the cart. The controller allows us to change the speed of the cart, and since it is a wheelchair base, it can turn on a dime and is extremely maneuverable.
If there is a team out there looking into making a robot cart, I would suggest giving serious consideration to modifying a motorized wheelchair.
Here is a picture of the robot cart from the front:
http://www.saintsrobotics.com/wp-content/gallery/2011-frc-championships/img_1509.jpg
So don’t forget to be gracious to the queuing team :yikes: who has to move the cart once you have unloaded your robot on to the field. And don’t forget to take into account the competition venue - at some Regionals the “thoroughfare” space around the playing field and from the pits to the playing field is tight - Very Tight.
MWR Rocks!
http://www.andymark.com/New-Products-s/189.htm
AndyMark has two new robot cart packages, and/or materials for you to design and build your own or customize one of these.
The team should be moving the cart to the parking lot themselves. You have 4 team members - 2 carry the robot, one carries the controls to the driver station, the 4th parks the cart. Simples! That’s how to be gracious.
Thanks for pointing this out 
Hopefully…
