Does the battery have to maintain a statically mounted position on the frame of the robot? For example, bolted securely to the main frame. Or can we have it securely mounted to a moving part?
I suspect this is a question for FIRST and that there isn’t a rule specifying this, however, I can’t find the Q&A forum this year… all i can find on usfirst.org is last year’s Q&A.
Thanks,
Duane J.
To answer this question to the best of my knowledge I would have to say that the battery would be mounted to an unmovable peice of your robot. Not because it says this anywhere in the rules but because if the battery holder moves then you run a chance of it falling out or wires being hit or disconnected. If the platform that it is mounted to does a complete 360 then you must make sure that the wires can handle the spinning so that you do not rip them from the plug. This is just my input on this situation. Also you may want the battery closest to the ground and opposite of your arm mechanism to maintain stablility of the robot. not a constand changing of weight.
It would be mounted in such a way that travel is minimal, and there would be no risk of dropping the battery, wire entanglement, etc.
From what I see go for it, there isnt anything that I have read about it.
I wouldn’t mount the battery onto anything that’s not directly connected to the chassis and secure. Remember the impulse these heavy batteries would undergo and imagine the force they’re under. Putting these batteries onto anything inside your robot that’s movable or sliding would be a grave mistake. Just my opinion…
Here is a link to the Q&A Forumsince you couldn’t find it
Back in 2005 we put our battery and air compressor in a box. It was unsecured, all it did was sit in it. Then we used a cyclinder to shoot it out the back to be a counterweight system. It worked great for us. We never tipped.
As long as it does not pose a safety hazard, I’d say you’re ok to mount it on a moving part.
I’m pretty sure you can do whatever you want with your battery. I once wanted to use it as a counter weight for an arm, my team didn’t like the idea. 