under 2 sec Mini bot

FIRST General Forum
1

I am starting to think is possible to get a mini bot up in under 2 secs.

2

I think it’s been proven that a mini-bot can climb the pole in less than two seconds.

I wonder how many people can figure out how to do it?

3

Today while at work I was doing some math on my phone and I got the theoretical time very nearly below 1 second.

4

How are you getting your minibots to do that?
So far we’ve gotten the bot up in 10 seconds, but we’re running into difficulties for making it go faster with our tetrix wheel (not the best traction), and messing around with the gear ratios, and just finding where to distribute weight.
What kinds of designs are you guys using?

5

Yes.

Proof by example

Q.E.D.

(unless you are including the start of deployment as well?)

6

I won’t tell you exactly how. But, concerning weight distribution ideally your weight is pushing your drive wheel(s) into the pole, concerning gear ratios find the top of the power curve and eliminate extra gearing as each stage adds inefficiency, concerning tetrix wheel traction slit some surgical tubing down the middle and put it around the wheel with PVC glue to secure it (just an idea, haven’t tried it).

Good Luck

7

It’s all in the design.

  1. Minimize weight.
  2. Increase efficiency (eliminate gears)
  3. Maximize power through gear ratio and wheel size choice.
  4. Profit!

There are also some other games you can play to increase the power of the system (legally).

8

Remember that that video is without a battery. Is there any minibot who has actually climbed the 8 ft with a battery in less than 2 seconds?

9

Those of us who can/have done it :wink: aren’t likely to show anything until competition, otherwise everyone will be doing it. Even then keeping them covered in the pit might be common. It’s so easy to reconfigure these tetrix kits.

10

my mini bot goes up in 4-5 seconds and it only has one set of wheels powered and i plan to put it on both sets

11

I agree. Has anyone considered having a 3 second bot for Thursday and Friday, and saving the sub-2 second bot for Saturday as a secret weapon?

12

That is interesting. But even then, if it uses the same tetrix parts, and if another team has the parts needed, I think they could create it over lunch or something. I think it is a good idea to keep your design concealed, but you can keep it concealed even when you are using it in competition.

13

I would say this is a bad plan since you are doing an unnecessary limit. Do not purposely weaken your team’s capability to effectively complete the challenge. Do your best at qualifications so you can use the “secret weapon” during eliminations.

EDIT: after reading Cyperphil’s post, if you want to really hide then cover the minibot with polycarbonate since its allowed.

14

Wait a minute here… So teams have already build (or at least prototyped) their minibots already? Our team only has the CAD and a prototype made with servos. We are behind.

edit: our design is so crazy that I doubt that any team can fabricate the deployment system and the minibot in the 2 day period.

15

My team started prototyping the day we got the FTC kit. We went through I think at least 4-5 different prototypes already. Forgot if our current minibot is going to be final design.

16

So coopertition is not a big thing for you? I mean, you won’t be lending your minibot out to other teams, or will you? Scouting reports will likely tag your team as “keep 'em away from the pole” even if for only a few seconds. We’re considering a tinted polycarbonate box which may or may not have a minibot aboard. How fast? Thaaaaat fast! wanna see it again? :slight_smile:

17

Yes. We have had about 4 prototypes, all along the same lines. No final product has been created, but proof of concept has been shown. We figured that since it is such a huge part of this game, it was necessary to spend a significant amount of time on it.

I agree that the toughest part would be to create the deployment system also. Depending on what teams use to start the minibot, it will be very tough to fabricate something at competition that deploys it, or even modify their current design to allow for the new minibot.

18

Haha, thanks for that joke. But don’t forget to tease people with maybe a wheel.

19

The only problem is you guys don’t have the battery on in that video, that battery is very heavy and will slow you down. Also if you were thinking of leaving the battery on your FRC robot just remember the 12x12x12 rule won’t let you do that.

20

Does anyone have specs on the TETRIX motor with the gearbox removed?