TEAM RAMROD MAE 3 FALL 2006 Chris Bachman Joseph Holmstrom Andrew Lee

How it works!

3 Key Components The Extension and Flipper Mechanism The Robot Platform The Rotating Slide

Extension and Flipper After this component is fully extended by means of springs and a solenoid, the Rotating Flanges remove balls from bin. These flanges ‘push’ the balls onto the Extension part of this mechanism by the power of a geared motor and the balls roll onto the main platform. After this component is fully extended by means of springs and a solenoid, the Rotating Flanges remove balls from bin. These flanges ‘push’ the balls onto the Extension part of this mechanism by the power of a geared motor and the balls roll onto the main platform.

Platform and Slide Robot Platform Robot Slide Due to the combination of the slanted platform and rails on the platform, the balls are channeled onto this slide which rotates out over the 2 point target with a geared motor. After the balls roll off the Extension, they roll onto our slanted platform.

The Final Product This is our completed Robot in it’s Extended Position.

Important Elements Concept Generation Scheduling Concept Generation Scheduling Extremely important to find flaws in design Extremely important to find flaws in design We noticed our early design failed because of our strict concept schedule We noticed our early design failed because of our strict concept schedule We also were able to, through our scheduling, detect ‘bugs’ in our new design and correct those bugs with enough time to build an effective robot. We also were able to, through our scheduling, detect ‘bugs’ in our new design and correct those bugs with enough time to build an effective robot.

Abandoned design This was our original “Ball Shooter” Idea and it failed because not only did it not have enough power to propel the balls up a tunnel but we found that balls would get stuck with great frequency. This further emphasizes the fact that Concept Generation Scheduling was extremely important in the design process in our robot. If we had put this component off until the last minute we would not have realized that we needed to take a new direction.

More Important Elements Risk Reduction Risk Reduction Went through about 16 designs, then used various critiques to narrow our options down. Went through about 16 designs, then used various critiques to narrow our options down. Our major concerns were ease of fabrication and operation, as well as feasibility of contingency. Our major concerns were ease of fabrication and operation, as well as feasibility of contingency. Came to the ball ‘shooter’, then changed to the ‘flipper’ Came to the ball ‘shooter’, then changed to the ‘flipper’

More Important Elements Risk Reduction (continued) Risk Reduction (continued) With our original requirements, we didn’t have to start over from scratch. Instead we just modified the existing material we had. With our original requirements, we didn’t have to start over from scratch. Instead we just modified the existing material we had. Modifying basically ran down to running with two hubs instead of six, attaching metal sheets to the hubs, and running a geared motor instead of two high speed motors. Modifying basically ran down to running with two hubs instead of six, attaching metal sheets to the hubs, and running a geared motor instead of two high speed motors.

Analysis Pays Off! One major question and one that our analysis and Concept Generation Scheduling really payed dividends was in our Flipper. We had a hard time getting it to flip over but through analysis of our working parts that we already had and with good planning, we managed to make ‘something out of nothing’ by adding a few stationary parts to our parts that were designed to move. By creating the ‘disk and tower’ we killed two birds with one stone by using existing machinery to accomplish the task of overcoming this problem. Flipper Arm Before modification Final Flipper Arm

Analysis Pays Off! Analysis of the Flipper Analysis of the Flipper The original ball shooter had major problem in that it was powered by two high speed motors. The original ball shooter had major problem in that it was powered by two high speed motors. The high RPM caused the balls to spin and rattle about, but not shoot up. The high RPM caused the balls to spin and rattle about, but not shoot up. Switched to a geared motor for its slower RPM and greater torque to lift up the flipper. Switched to a geared motor for its slower RPM and greater torque to lift up the flipper.

Analysis Pay Off! Analysis of the Flipper (continued) Analysis of the Flipper (continued) Problems with the flipper getting into position. Problems with the flipper getting into position. Fixes were using a spring loading system tied to a solenoid by fishing string. Fixes were using a spring loading system tied to a solenoid by fishing string. Added an elliptical hub on the end of the shaft of the flipper which sits flush against a block. Added an elliptical hub on the end of the shaft of the flipper which sits flush against a block. When the geared motor was activated, the flipper would flip down. When the geared motor was activated, the flipper would flip down.

Performance

Summary of performance The point potential of the Robot is quite high with our highest scoring run standing at 20 points. The point potential of the Robot is quite high with our highest scoring run standing at 20 points. The Robot is quite easy to control because nothing in the robot needs to be extremely precise. It is very versatile and can ‘fix’ itself. The Robot is quite easy to control because nothing in the robot needs to be extremely precise. It is very versatile and can ‘fix’ itself. Since the robot is actually a platform, it is quite sturdy and doesn’t have a whole lot of risk in breaking. Since the robot is actually a platform, it is quite sturdy and doesn’t have a whole lot of risk in breaking. Any Questions or Comments? Any Questions or Comments?