| Can-Crushing Robots -- Design and Construction, Part 1 |
From "Robot Rivals"
episode DROB-110 |
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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 an exercise treadmill.
Activity Log: Southern Utah University (Hours 1 - 2)
- Southern Utah draws up a rough sketch of a robot in which cans are fed into a segment of PVC pipe, through a series of counter-rotating tires, and finally into the recycling bin
- David maps out their robot on the design board. A magazine of PVC pipe will hold multiple cans and feed them separately into the main body of the robot. There, two stages of counter-rotating tires, the second spaced more narrowly that the first, will crush the cans and pass them along to a shoot and into the recycling bin.
- Tracy begins adding treaded wheels to the motors with 1-1/2 inch bolts.
- Jared attaches angle connectors to pieces of extruded aluminum. These connectors will allow him to bolt the separate tire assemblies to the chassis of the robot.
Activity Log: University of Kentucky (Hours 1 - 2)
- Kentucky considers using a series of rollers but decides to build a robot with a conveyor belt feeding cans underneath a pneumatic can crusher.
- Casey draws up the initial plans for their can crusher. A makeshift conveyor belt will be constructed from two gears and a chain looped between. This belt will move cans underneath a pneumatic piston fitted with a heavy metal plate. As the plate crushes passing cans, the belt will continue to draw the cans towards a shoot and into the recycling bin.
- Kentucky immediately realizes that their robot will blend perfectly with the surprise household item: an exercise treadmill.
- Darren and Rick cannot use the AC motor from the treadmill. So, they extract it and plan to replace it with a DC motor from the lab.
Expert corner: Brian Nave discusses batteries and some of the specific types of batteries and battery-chargers used in robotics. Batteries provide power for toys, power tools, cars -- and robots. But the batteries themselves too need to be powered, and battery chargers do just that. A charger generates a voltage that is minimally higher than that of the battery, causing the current to flow back into the battery. Though they are often simple devices, the types of chargers used in robotics (figure A) provide detailed information about the charging process. They display the current, the voltage, and the total amp-hours consumed (figure B).
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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