I have two questions: In previous years has the weight limit been pretty much the same? Second, what about the motors?
1992:
Motors - seat motor was the biggest
Batteries - no battery - tethers were used
Weight - about 30 lbs.
Size - about 2ft x 2 ft x 2 ft
(FIRST had to actually up the voltage through the tethers at the finals due to the fact that many teams could not operate at the low voltage which was being supplied… something like 6 volts, maybe)
1993-1996:
Motors - drill motors(different types), seat motors, window motors were used
Batteries - cordless drill batteries
Weight - somewhat bigger (not sure on specifics)
Size - increased steadily to current size (not as tall, though)
1997:
Motors - drill, seat, window motors
Batteries - cordless drill batteries
Weight - 120 #
Size - 36"x36"x48" (not sure on height, it could’ve been 60")
… the 36" width was a problem, the robots would not fit through regular sized doors
1998:
Motors - drill, seat, window motors
Battery - same sort of battery as today
Weight - 120 #
Size - 36"x30"x60"
1999:
Motors - drill, seat, window, Van Door, Globe
Battery - same
Weight - 120 #
Size - same
2000:
Motors - drill, seat, window, Van Door, Globe, orange rotary (mainly useless, I forgot the name)
Battery - same
Weight - 130 #
Size - same
… FIRST added the weight to let us use the pneumatics more (the tank was heavy)
2001:
Motors - drill, Fisher-Price, van door, Globe, seat, window, orange rotary, little johnson and johnson
Battery - same
Weight - 130 #
Size - same
2002:
Motors - drill, Chiapua, F-P, Globe, Van Door, Seat
Battery - same
Weight - 130 #
Size - same
2003:
Motors - drill (new), CIM, F-P, Globe, Window
Battery - same
Weight - 130 #
Size - same
There may be some errors in this… it is just from memory.
Andy B.
wow…ah…that’s some memory.
I can’t even remember my breakfast.
*Originally posted by Andy Baker *
**orange rotary (mainly useless, I forgot the name)
**
That was the B-something Torque Motor. It spun at a blazing 1 RPM.
*Originally posted by M. Krass *
**That was the B-something Torque Motor. It spun at a blazing 1 RPM. **
And it was “used” (read: provided in the kit) in 2001-2002, not 2000. I once saw it on a website for $ 500, it’s used in airplanes and stuff like that. They had a demo at the 2001 kickoff where that motor and a servo were used as a writing arm, with a pen on the end. It had a leverage big enough for the motor to appear ultra slow, compared to the normal speed where you couldn’t tell whether it was moving or stopped. 
*Originally posted by M. Krass *
**That was the B-something Torque Motor. It spun at a blazing 1 RPM. **
belimo actuators i believe (we have about 30 thanks to FIRST yardsales)
My memory is slightly different then Andy’s, so I’ll highlight the differences.
The first year of the 130 lb limit was '98 to allow for the heavier battery, which debuted that year also.
The first year of the 60" height was 2000. '97 through '99 where all 48"
The orange rotary motor was in the 2002 game, i’m not so sure it was in the 2000 game…
Tom
Now that I think of these things… you guys are right. We did have that Belimo motor two years, 2001 and 2002.
Speaking of the Belimo motor, here are the two best uses:
-
Wildstang used it to release their spring-loaded ramp wedge in 2001.
-
The Westside Boiler Invasion (the Purdue-sponsored team) used one to open and close a HVAC vent in the basement of the ME building. They give our team a tour every fall and the tour guide always is proud to point that out to fellow FIRSTers.
Thanks, guys… my brain does get fuzzy.
Rich… I am still absent-minded, though. I can remember this sort of stuff (and team numbers/names), but I have a hard time remembering where I left my wallet or keys.
Andy B.
I once saw it on a website for $ 500, it’s used in airplanes and stuff like that.
The Belimo motor is actually designed to control air dampers and valves in HVAC (Heating Ventilation And Cooling) systems.
*Originally posted by Ed Sparks *
**The Belimo motor is actually designed to control air dampers and valves in HVAC (Heating Ventilation And Cooling) systems.Belimo **
Yeah, I was sitting in my cube one day, staring at the ceiling and trying to figure out where all the duct work went (it’s a new building for us) when I spotted a familiar motor. Then at last I understood the low torque and rotational speed.
*Originally posted by Andy Baker *
**2002:
Motors - drill, Chiapua, F-P, Globe, Van Door, Seat
Battery - same
Weight - 130 #
Size - same
**
In addition to the Belimo in 2002, there were also 2 window motors, but there were no van door motors.
Ok thanks for all the replies. There is one thing i forgot though. How has field size been through the years.
*Originally posted by Rickertsen2 *
**Ok thanks for all the replies. There is one thing i forgot though. How has field size been through the years. **
If you are talking about the playing field, the 03 field was 54’ x 24’, and 48’ x 24’ for 00’, 01’ and 02’ I believe.
The belimo motor wasn’t useless. My team used it in 2001 very effectively. We mainly used it because the guy who got them all donated to FIRST was on our team but it still did the job. As for the field before 1999 the shape was not always rectangular. Often it was hexagon shaped.
Slight corrections to Andy’s list from what I remember:
- There were F-P motors in 1999. We used them to raise our ladder lift (w/ floppies 10ft.)
- There were Van door motors in 1998. We used them to raise the ladder lift.
- There were window motors in 2002.
Raul