| Water-Transporting Robot - Design and Construction, Part 1 |
From "Robot Rivals"
episode DROB-113 |
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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 selection of swimming-related items (figure A).
Activity Log: Virginia Tech (Hours 1 - 2)
- Virginia Tech begins to brainstorm. Graham wants to somehow utilize the windshield-washer pumps in the lab. With the help of his team, he draws up a simple plan for a robot with four-wheel drive and a motorized or pneumatic arm with a bucket.
- Chris Chianelli drops in to show Virginia Tech what they will be working with in the competition. The fill line on the transparent water container is marked at five gallons, but it already has 2-1/2 gallons of water inside (figure B). The bucket has a capacity of only one gallon, which means the robot will have to make at least three trips to win the competition.
- Graham drafts a basic blueprint of their robot at the design board. A bank of four pumps will draw water from the end of an actuated arm to the bucket at the back of the robot. The bucket will be fitted with a special projecting fin; backing this fin into the side of the water container will cause the bucket to tip over and spill water into the container. Some humorous graffiti showing a soaked Brian Nave reveals Graham's true motivations for success (figure C).
- VTU scraps the pump design in favor of the simpler, faster bucket approach. Buzz rips a materials container right off the lab shelves (figure D). Once all the holes have been filled with silicon, the container will easily hold one gallon of water and in turn fill the onboard bucket to absolute capacity.
Activity Log: Southern Utah (Hours 1 - 2)
- Beginning with a simplistic sketch of a four-wheel-drive robot with a bucket extending from an actuating arm, Southern Utah considers making a funnel from rolled sheet metal. Jared believes that such a funnel would minimize spillage and increase the robot's efficiency.
- After Southern Utah takes a look at the bucket and the water container, David fills in some details on the design board. An actuating arm will dip the bucket into the pool and then lift the water up and over to the back of the robot. At the end of its arc of motion, the bucket will tip and pour the water into a funnel and through a pipe into the water container.
- Jared and David quickly assemble the base frame using L-brackets, one-inch bolts, and extruded aluminum (figure E). Next, Tracy adds the wheels and motors ( figure F).
- Southern Utah knows that the competition will be tough, so they concentrate on using the surprise household items. Brian mounts the electronics to a pool chair (figure G), which provides a sturdy, even platform.
- David begins work on the lifting arm, making sure to place the pivot point at the best possible height.
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
Sensors for Mobile Robots : Theory and Application
Model: 1568810482
Author: H.R. Everett
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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