DEWBOT VIII Ball Collection and Storage

Ball collection and storage requirements for Rebound Rumble are:

• Quickly and reliably pick balls off the playing field
• Ability to top load at the Inbound Station
• Able to possess three balls
• Able to prevent possession of more than three balls
• Fast transport of balls to the shooter

Ulitmately, this system took the form of:

1. A 19" wide beater bar on the wide front side of the robot; pulling balls in and keeping them there;
2. An alternative top hopper feed; mechanism still works but hopper has degraded over time due to non-use;
3. A funnel to guide balls from the 19" beater bar to the narrow lift entrance;
4. A lift entrance, comprising: a) a driven Lift Wheel; b) a static pinch bar; and c) a flexible scoop; and
5. An angled lift, having a posterior lift belt and two anterior lift rails; (4) IR sensors register ball positions within the lift assembly; the lift is capable of storing (3) balls and tracking the number of balls stored; the lift top communicates directly with the shooter.

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