Evolution of the Drive Modules

For our 2017 robot, we were really happy with our aluminum tube drive modules.  We designed them to connect to the VersaPlanetary gearbox, with a CIM or miniCIM at the top. A pulley and belt system (same size, though you could manipulate that for mechanical advantage) transferred the motion from the top to the bottom, where we had omni or mecanum wheels.  We like this design because we had, until then, been using a direct drive model. Even when we've used belt or tank drive before, the motors were placed at the level of the wheels, constraining under-robot space.  These drive modules enabled us to pull the motors up off the ground, raise our center of gravity if necessary,  and create opportunities for manipulators that operate low to the ground.

2017 Drive Module Rendering

2017 Assembled Drive Module 

This year, we are using a six-wheeled omni holonomic drive system, and we expect some pretty hefty manipulators to compete in FIRST PowerUp, so we revisited our drive module. Completely assembled, the 2017 drive modules were about 6 pounds.  Our first priority was to reduce weight by excavating non-essential aluminum while retaining structural integrity.  With all the designed in cavities, we shaved about 0.8 pounds off the drive module, which totals to 4.8 pounds of savings over a six-wheeled robot.  An added bonus to this modification was a much easier assembly with all the extra holes for tools and fingers, plus, the increased visibility enables us to troubleshoot much  more easily.

2018 Assembled Drive Module

2018 Drive Module Model

The Hug Take 2

      Today we established our beginning structural model of the H. U. G. base, H. U. G. arms, and H. U. G. pivot point. The FIRST Team 585 produced the necessary parts for the HUG by Using a laser cutter and the additional CAD drawing as a guide for the laser cutter. Once we got our parts all together, we started to assemble the parts by using Hex shafts, bearings, and Hex collars. We used a piece of wood (that consisted of a 1in hole to fit the right bearing) and attached it to the center of a piece of C channel. Once that part was assembled the team attached this to the very center of the base. We made sure to have a piece of wood on both sides of the internal part of the C channel; this gave the Hex shaft a more secured and promising rotation. Finally, we added the Pivot point to the back side of the Hex shaft and added the Hex collar at the end of that to keep it tightly in place; thus putting an end to the day.😀

Flywheel Fun

Hey team! The third design being implemented onto this years robot is our flywheel intake. We will be using this to suck in the box from the ground and bring it into a position where the H.U.G. can get a hold of it.
For any of you who dont know what a flywheel is its a rubber wheel, usually paired with another, that spin at a set speed in order to grip and pull in what ever comes between them.
This intake will be placed on the front of the robot to maximize accessibility. The group of members working on it are making great progress and are ready for a full prototype.I personally cant wait to see it up and running.

The H.U.G.

Hey team! The second design being used on our 2018 robot is the H.U.G. system which has been our most modified since Saturday. It began as a simple inner-tube ready to be pumped up by a bike pump to close around the box, but with the ideas and work from a few of our members they have made it into a pneumatic powered clamp that compresses from both sides while only having to use one piston. 

They are currently working on finishing the CAD for this latest version and will be ready to  get a full sized prototype out soon.

The Derp-Arm Design

Hey team! Our week 2 has been quite productive. On this Saturday we were able to decide on the key parts tat we would be using in our over all robot this year. The first one is the "Derp-Arm" this is a crane like are on a pivot. The longer half, used to lift the box to the desired height, will be made of a panto-graph while the shorter section on the other side of the pivot will be made to have adjustable weight to counter balance the load of the box.
It is currently being tested to see if the spacing and weight distribution will be correct. We hope to get a full scale prototype out in the coming days.
  

Week 1 is Done

Hey team, as our first full week of build season is coming to an end we can see we have made some good progress. By today we have had proof-of-concepts of every idea either made in the shop or CAD'ed in our Onshape file. Looking through I'm seeing a lot of good ideas and tomorrow we plan to start hashing out which ones to continue working on in the future weeks while our parents have their meeting with Mrs. McKim. So what comes next you ask? We will be starting to choose the designs to follow and make fully functioning prototypes, but we wont know those until our Saturday meeting tomorrow.

In the mean time get some rest and we will see everyone bright and early tomorrow

Getting to prototype

Hey team! we are making good progress on our Proof-of Concepts and some are even getting to the stages beyond that such at the dimensioned drawing or the prototyping. Compared to last year we are ahead of schedule, but we need to keep this pace and can't start slowing down now. We are gonna do amazing at competitions this year, but in order for that to happen the whole team needs to stay on task and not get lazy. I know that we can do it so lets get our tools and get to it!

Happy prototyping