2023-2024 Design

The Game 2023-2024

Center Stage, an intricate and convoluted game, requires this years students to not only think technically but also creatively to come up with many solutions to this years game. With this said Bots in Black was excited to take part in this season.

ARM HOPPER

Initial season analysis focused on pixel deposition strategies on the backdrop.
Simulation revealed that depositing pixels side by side offered optimal scoring potential.
Designed a hopper system featuring two compliant wheels.
Servos were utilized to actuate the wheels for an active deposit mechanism.

LAUNCHER

Objective: Maintain robot height under 12 inches.
CAD design focused on a new paper airplane launcher.
Incorporation of a standoff in the hood to guide the airplane's trajectory upward.
Goal: Ensure the airplane's launch without compromising the robot's maximum height constraint.

INTAKE

Game strategy: Employ the "touch-it-own-it" principle to secure pixels within the robot.
CAD exploration involved various intake configurations for pixel acquisition.
Final design: Utilized a plate equipped with a bottom roller and a flip-out roller for effective pixel grabbing.
Implemented surgical tubing for specific functionalities.
Experimented with a custom gearbox for optimized performance.

WRIST

Two servos in use:
First servo: Rotates the hopper mechanism.
Second servo: Controls the angle of the wrist.
Purpose of the second servo:
Allows for intake at one angle.
Facilitates depositing at a different angle, enhancing versatility in pixel handling.

SHOULDER

Assessment based on the weight of the hopper and arm assembly.
Determination of required torque for lifting the arm.
Applied physics principles to calculate the necessary servo strength.
Successful implementation of the determined servo based on calculations, meeting the required torque for lifting the arm assembly effectively.

SLIDER

Slider subassembly components:
Two goBilda Belt slides arranged at a 35-degree angle.
Selection of belted slides over stringed slides:
Chosen for increased precision in positioning.
Lower risk of string slipping or breaking compared to stringed slides.
Function of the sliders:
Collaborate to transfer pixels from the robot's interior to the backdrop efficiently.

CLIMBER

Evolution of the climber through four iterations:
Initial design: Two rotating climbers, hinged and spring-loaded on the robot's side.
Progression to dual tape measures, each driven by servos with hooks for rigging deposition.
Adoption of a worm gear winch system with strategically placed paracords for lifting the robot off the ground.
Subsequent modification: Replacing tape measures with servo-driven scissors for hook deposition.
Current approach:
Transitioned to linear sliders suspending the robot.
Utilization of custom 3D-printed hooks for the climbing mechanism.