| Robotic Driving-Range Golfers -- Design and Construction, Part 1 |
From "Robot Rivals"
episode DROB-109 |
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The "Surprise Item" The teams are given a "surprise" household mechanical-item from which they may make use of any of the functional parts by incorporating those parts into their robot. The team that makes use of the most functional parts receives a 10-second head-start in the competition that takes place at the end of the design and construction period. The surprise item for today's competition is a golf bag and set of golf clubs.
Activity Log: University of California at Berkeley (Hours 1 - 2)
- Berkeley considers an air cannon but decides that a baseball pitching design with two counter-rotating wheels will offer more control.
- Eric further develops this idea. An assembly of two wheels and a barrel will be placed on a second stage, where a motor will provide the horizontal movement for aiming.
- Daniel assembles the frame for the vertical alignment that will angle the cannon. He uses oillite bearings that will lubricate that axis and allow for smooth, accurate motion.
Activity Log: Southern Illinois University (Hours 1 - 2)
- SIU sketches a robot with a spinning agitator that will feed balls into a long barrel one at a time and a pneumatic piston that will propel them towards their targets.
- Mike puts the design in ink. They will construct a main launching tube attached to a ball feeder and a two-wheeled chassis. When air is released, a pneumatic piston in the back of the tube will thrust the golf ball through the barrel.
- Matt and Buzz test the piston and find that it will not produce enough velocity to propel a golf ball fifteen feet.
- Jeff cuts and drills pieces of extruded aluminum for Mike, who is assembling the two main drive wheels.
RESOURCES :
Robot Builder's Bonanza
Model: 0071362967
Author: Gordon McComb
Build Your Own Robot!
Model: 1568811020
Author: Karl Lunt
Robots, Androids and Animatrons : 12 Incredible Projects You Can Build
Model: 0070328048
Author: John Iovine
Personal Robotics : Real Robots to Construct, Program, and Explore the World
Model: 156881089X
Author: Richard Raucci
Mobile Robots : Inspiration to Implementation
Model: 1568810970
Author: Joseph L. Jones, et al
Special Thanks for Robot Rivals 100 series
The Robot Store
provided various robotic components for Robot Rivals.
www.robotstore.com
IFI Robotics
makers of the "Isaac 32" control system.
www.ifirobotics.com
NPC Robotics
provided wheels and motors for Robot Rivals.
www.npcrobotics.com
Robotic Power Solutions
provided battery packs.
www.battlepack.com
Parallax Inc.
Provided microprocessors, on-board robotic cameras, autonoumous programming.
www.parallaxinc.com
Hobbico
provided Futaba control system.
www.hobbico.com
Alloy Frame Systems
provided extruded-aluminum frame materials.
www.alloyframesystems.com
SMC Corporation of America
provided pneumatic systems.
www.smcusa.com
Team Delta
provided wiring kits and electrical wiring.
www.teamdelta.com
Radio Shack
provided component cabinets.
www.radioshack.com
Campbell Hausfeld Tools
provided pneumatic tools and compressor used on Robot Rivals.
www.campbellhausfeld.com
Delta Machinery
provided tools used on Robot Rivals.
www.deltawoodworking.com
Porter Cable
provided tools used on Robot Rivals.
www.porter-cable.com
Waterloo Industries
provided tool chests used on Robot Rivals.
www.waterlooindustries.com
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