Day 4: Subsystems are being decided

Today was a relatively quite day. Mostly finishing up some of our field elements and doing a lot of thinking about the robot.

Subsystems

We have our subsystems pretty much rounded out for this years robot.

1. Drive Train
2. Elevator
3. Wrist
4. Intake
5. Hook (The elevator system is in charge of actually doing the heavy lifting)
6. Tailgate (where another robot sits while we climb the scale)

Climbing Goals

Climbing is both a small part of this game and of major importance. There will be plenty of matches where no one is successful at climbing (other than levitate). However because of the ranking point associated with "Facing the Boss" (having 3 robots "Climbed") the highest ranking teams will regularly allow for 2 climbs and levitate in their matches. 

Our Priorities

1. Use our elevator to climb our own robot using the rung in under 10 secs.
2. Easily align our robot and hook to the bar. Speed will be important in this game.
3. Use our tailgate to be able to hold a partner and have them climb up with us.
4. Have our tailgate be laid out flat and on top of the platform to avoid any bumper issues, etc.
5. Use only one side of the rung (box tube) and face of the tower to allow a 2nd climbing robot in cases where our tailgate isn't needed or is broken.
6. Be able to climb from both sides of the rung.
7. Be able to climb from the front of the rung if needed.

Current idea has hooks on both sides in the rear of our robot attached to the telescoping (2nd) stage of our elevator and using the hooks to grab onto either box tube of the rung. Then our tailgate would be positioned mostly below the rung. 

We will be attempting some bench tests this weekend to see how this idea works.

Discovery of the day

Cubes can get stuck in the area between the switch plates, near the teeter totter? Is anyone designing their robot to reach in and grab those cubes?

Burning Questions

• How do we build a strong rigid deck that is light weight but lets us easily hold another robot?
• What's the best way to deploy the tailgate?
• What is the best way to have a fast elevator for scoring cubes and a strong elevator for climbing the tower?
• How can you design a hook that helps keep your robot(s) level?
• How much horizontal reach do robots need over the scoring plates?
• Cable vs. Chain driven elevator?

- Spectrum

“Education is the kindling of a flame, not the filling of a vessel.” - Socrates