Blastoff (FW) Build Diary

[Liftoff]

I'll be happier with less Matt

A couple of schematics for the pneumatics:
valve 2.jpg
The first shows the system deployed. This is also the initial condition of the robot before it's powered up. So the flipper will be in the open position, gas is off, power is off.

valve 1.jpg
Next is to turn on the on/off valve which opens the pin-valve on the main tank - gas is supplied to the solenoid valve now, still nothing happens as the robot has no elec power yet. Switch the elec power on (link) and select flipper switch to on - solenoid is energized and valve opens - gas flows through QEV into the ram and piston retracts, compressing the main spring
Select flipper switch off - solenoid is de-energized, gas exhausted from the 3/2 valve, QEV opens and gas exhausts from the ram - Main spring extends flipper goes up. In this position it is also the position to deactivate the robot.
As the rams are empty and the flipper arm is open there is no danger of getting hit, remove the link and the robot is dead.

[Runsler]

Only small problem: if you get a big hit with springs loaded, it could happen the spring stays loaded once gas is released (due to deformation of the flipper or something).
And in that case, i'd be super careful to take the link out afterwards... so try to take that into account when thinking about where to place the link.