Our robot uses a custom laser-cut frame that is fully adjustable. It holds the drive motors securely, as well as the mecanum wheels that allow the robot to strafe directly to the side. We have a linear slide system with an arm attached to the top so the robot can reach any height it needs to. It is under construction and may change quickly.
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Each year, there is a new field for the robots to compete on. The teams and their robots are given 30 seconds for autonomous mode, 2 minutes for the driver-controlled tele-op, and 30 more seconds for endgame which is similar to tele-op with a few extra options. There are a variety of ways to score, and each is specific to the time segment. This year, the main goal is to stack hexagonal "pixels" on the boards in the back of the feild.
The Drive Train
Our drive train consists of 4 mecanum wheels, each powered by a 20:1 motor and a 1:1 gear ratio. The major advantages come in reliability thanks to the custom laser cut steel plates. They have an adjustable slot for mounting the motor and aligning the gears perfectly. The metal sub frames also support the wheel on both sides so it's stable, and they prevent debris from getting caught in the wheels. Another benefit the plates have is that they enable a variety of mounting options for the wheels, so we can easily adjust the wheelbase and chassis size. The drivetrain is probably the biggest improvement from last year.
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3D Printed Parts
Our robot fully utilizes 3D printed parts, from our finely sculpted grabber intake that is needed to pick up cones, to tiny pulley guides that ensure the string won't fall off.