How could I Improve pt 2

**corsair_lightning** · 20th August 2009, 19:01

I can't help it. I just want some way to have both a flipper and drive boost in the same robot.

**joey_picus** · 20th August 2009, 19:19

Have you given any thought as to why real life robots tend not to have a flipper and drive boost in the same robot?

I would do...before coming up with a design ask yourself how much this idea has been used in real life - and if it hasn't, think why. If something offered a definite advantage half the robots competing today would use it.

**daliad100** · 20th August 2009, 21:10

To make a dog clutch that will handle the forces your looking at will be quite heavy, and may even have issues engaging due to the differences speed differences between your kinetic mass and the drive/weapon.

What about syncromesh? That should work on the drive perfectly well but the weapon would probably be way too slow to respond due to the time taken to match speeds.

**knightrous** · 21st August 2009, 01:42

I can't help it. I just want some way to have both a flipper and drive boost in the same robot.

@Mark: I don't think you'll have enough weight to do both. Infusion is pretty boarder line on the weight limit with just the sprinning rim, KE boost drive and a wedge. I just cannot see where I would get the weight to add 20kg of parts/mechanisms to incorporate a Warrior SKF flipper into it.

If you so keen on having a boost function, why not look at a voltage boost. Run extra batteries that can be switched on for breif periods of time to overvolt your drive motors. IE: Run magmotors on 24v primary battery pack, have a secondary 12v battery pack wired up in series with a switch. When the switch is activated, the motor will now run from the 24v pack + the 12v pack, providing 36v. This will increase the motors powered 2.25 times and if it's used for small bursts, you can minimize the chances of burning the motor out.

@Jordan: Syncromesh don't like being meshed under load. In a car gearbox they are unloaded when you depress the clutch, they then mesh and line up the gears for a smoother change and then you can let the clutch out and transfer the power. 99.9% of cars made from the 80's onwards will have syncromesh in them, go for a drive an try to change gears without the clutch. It can be done by accelerating, lifting off and then trying to engage the gear when the motor revs fall to the revs of the gearbox, but 8/10 times you'll still crunch it.

**daliad100** · 21st August 2009, 17:10

Whoops! I completely forgot about the clutch in the drive train.

I feel silly now :blush:

**joey_picus** · 21st August 2009, 17:48

Don't feel silly Jordan, you're sensible enough to not actually try designing these things

**daliad100** · 21st August 2009, 18:17

How much detail is necessary in a vapour bot description for mechanisms etc. ?

For you see I have some designs for robot weapons like an electric hammer robot and an electric flipper robot which both use snail gears (similar to John Reid's Beta but with gear teeth instead of chain). I was just wondering if I had to design it down to the last gear or if just the general gist of it would suffice.

**kodster** · 21st August 2009, 18:19

As long as people have a general understanding of how it would work, I'm sure it would be fine, Jordan.

If people question it, then you can go into the long-winded description of it, lol

**joey_picus** · 21st August 2009, 18:22

Generally if it gives you an advantage, be it through making something better or nullifying some weak spot in the robot, you describe it in as much detail as possible :P

**kodster** · 21st August 2009, 18:36

Originally Posted by joeychevron

Generally if it gives you an advantage, be it through making something better or nullifying some weak spot in the robot, you describe it in as much detail as possible :P

In this case, many people would scratch their heads and say 'what does that mean'? :P