Difference between revisions of "DEWBOT VIII"
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:All training is shifted immediatly to the new site. ''This is a fine place to build a robot!'' | :All training is shifted immediatly to the new site. ''This is a fine place to build a robot!'' | ||
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Image:DB8_Training_110817_csm-1.jpg|Siri Maley leading design class | Image:DB8_Training_110817_csm-1.jpg|Siri Maley leading design class | ||
Image:DB8_Training_110817_csm-2.jpg|Clem McKown - Drive Train basics | Image:DB8_Training_110817_csm-2.jpg|Clem McKown - Drive Train basics |
Revision as of 23:24, 4 March 2012
DEWBOT VIII is Team 1640's answer to the challenge of FIRST's 2012 game, Rebound Rumble.No doubt about it, DEWBOT VII will be a very tough act to follow. Still, we've set our sights high and built the most complex robot ever for Team 1640. Let's hope this is reflected in performance.
Like last year, we are building two robots (Prime and Deux again) and have a full-sized practice field. Deux is lagging a bit.DEWBOT VIII Build
Thanks to the gracious generosity of Waterloo Gardens, the Team had a wonderful space in which to build and test DEWBOT VIII.
What can I say about build season? Too short; too long; too intense; too cold; too little sleep; too much work; and a great deal of fun and sense of accomplishment. This is the very heart of the robotics year. The time we both live for and approach with a little dread.
Build season opens with Kickoff, where we learn the details of the new game, and runs for 45 days, at which time the robot is sealed for competition.
Click on the DEWBOT VIII Build link to learn more about the team's build season and to access the Build Season photo galleries.
Design Details
Strategic Objectives
Drive Train
- The key drive-train requirements for Rebound Rumble were:
- Ability to cross the mid-field line via either the Bridge or going over the Barrier (Need)
- The ability to drive in the wide orientation in order to fit three robots on a Bridge (Need)
- The ability to drive in the wide orientation to facilitate ball pick-up from the playing field (Need)
- Avoid blocking robots, especially between Key & Bridge (Desired)
- Ability to lock wheels on the Bridge to avoid rolling off when power is cut (Desired)
- While not a specific strategic requirement, it was perceived that the ability to drive in the narrow orientation would make crossing over the Barrier safer & easier.
- Furthermore, if pivot drive was used, it was decided that the shooter would be aimed my rotating the robot, rather than via a rotating turret (not applicable if tank drive was selected). The logic was that pivot driva enabled the entire robot to become a turret, so we should exploit this and avoid a redundant turret.
- To meet these needs, it was decided to design DEWBOT VIII with a Hybrid drive-train comprising (4) Pivot Modules for general mobility and (2) driven 8" Pneumatic Wheels specifically for crossing over the barrier. While driving on a flat surface, the Pneumatic Wheels are 5/8" off the surface.
- Through value engineering, the Team made significant improvements to the Pivot drive design, reducing mass, cost and eliminating separate left and right modules.
- Specific drive modes were developed for Rebound Rumble. These are:
- Fat Snake - Primary drive mode - snake drive with a wide chassis orientation.
- Skinny Snake - Used primarily for crossing the Barrier - Pneumatic wheels are automatically driven in the direction of travel.
- Aiming mode - Orients wheels on a circle and rotates chassis about center. For shooting and chassis reorientation. Unlike previous DEWBOTS, this mode remains on until specifically turned off.
- Crab mode - Primarily for evasion
Ball Collection & Lift
Shooter
Bridge Manipulation
Control
Field
Design Process
Events
Move into 427 Creamery Way
- On 13-August-2011, Downingtown Area Robotics moved into the warehouse at 427 Creamery Way, Exton. Waterloo Gardens is generously and graciously allowing the team to use this facility. Another great space for robotics, allowing a full-scale practice field. We are very grateful to Waterloo Gardens for the use of this building. Again, no sense of permanence. Our 7th home to-date.
- All training is shifted immediatly to the new site. This is a fine place to build a robot!
Fall Project - Robot design
- Team 1640's Fall Project is the complete design of a robot for an old FRC game (outside the team's memory). We selected the 2003 game, Stack Attack for this exercise.
- The Project started with a well-attended Practice Kickoff on 17-September.
Fall Project - Pivot Drive Value Engineering
- The design of the 2011 Pivot Drive System will be reviewed with the intent of:
- Reducing mass
- Reducing cost
- Reducing mill time
- Improving reliability
- Improving performance
Pancake Breakfast
- Our AppleBee's Pancake Breakfast on 16-October-2011 raised nearly $1,500 for the team.
Boeing Ridley Park Plant Tour - 5-November-2011
The team toured Boeing's Ridley Park helicopter plant, together with teams 341, 365 & 486. The V-22 Osprey and CH-47 Chinook assembly lines were visited, as well as Boeing's Wind Tunnel and Flight Simulation facilities.STEM Academy & DEHS Robot Demonstrations - 18-Nov-2011
- Team Sab-BOT-age and recently retired DEWBOT VII demonstrated the benefits of FRC to Downingtown STEM Academy and East Students in back-to-back demos.
Win at Hatboro-Horsham - 2 & 3-March-2012
- Together with Alliance partners Teams 341 (Miss Daisy, Alliance Captain) and 1218 (Vulcan Robotics), Team 1640 won the Mid-Atlantic Robotics (MAR) qualifier at Hatboro-Horsham Senior High School. Great work by the whole team and a great start to the 2012 competition season!
Teams
- Design Team
- Integration Team
- Control Team
- Drive-train Team
- Scoring Team
- Bridge Team
- Flex Team
- Media Team
People
Team Sab-BOT-age is what it is only due to the efforts of the people involved. DEWBOT VIII's success will be in the hands of the students, mentors and parents engaged. The team's very existence is possible only through the gracious generosity of our sponsors.
See our other robots at FRC Team 1640