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Our Robots

Over the years, with the significant changes in the game, our talented team of students and mentors has had to adapt. Each year, we strive to create a piece of machinery which accomplishes our goal as quickly, reliably, and elegantly as possible. Simbots have come and gone, but we will always remember them with the same joy with which they were built.

2008 Robot - Simbot SS

Robot Overview:

• "Simbot SS - Simplicity In Design" - An overview of the robot's core features. Used as a submission for the GM Industrial Design Award.

Specifications:

• 6WD, 2 Speed Drivetain, using modified AndyMark Gen-1 Shifters and 4"x1" IFI Traction Wheels, geared for approximately 6 and 16 fps.
• Shoulder joint powered by a Fisher-Price motor and a modified FP gearbox
• Roller Claw to pickup trackball, powered by a RS-550 motor and a custom gearbox using gears from FP transmissions

Launcher:

• Powered outwards surgical tubing
• Tubing pulls 3/4" anodized aluminum rod, when the winch is released
• Winch powered by a FP motor through a Dewalt transmission
• Winch pulley is engaged and released by a custom dog gear on a 2"x1" cylinder
• When the dog is disengaged, the winch shifts into neutral, allowing the pulley to spin freely, thereby propelling the ram into the ball for launch

Sensors:

• Drive: Encoders placed on both sides of the drivetrain keep track of the distance travelled. A gyro keeps track of angle. Feedback from both allows us to keep track of our exact coordinates on the field. This allows for dynamic generation of hybrid modes
• Arm: A potentiometer mounted to the shoulder joint measures the rotation of the arm. This allows for the use of pre-programmed buttons to move the arm to pickup and launch positions
• IR: An IR receiver takes input from the Robocoach who can signal our alliance's ball positions on both sides of the overpass via a remote control

2007 Robot - Simbot Prime

Drivebase:

• 6 wheel drive, 2 speed AndyMark Transmission, geared for 6 and 14 fps
• 4" IFI Traction wheels

Arm:

• 2 degrees of freedom, elevator and shoulder joint
• Elevator driven by a Fisher Price motor reduced 64:1
• Shoulder joint powered by a Globe motor, activates a four-bar linkage for lifting the tubes
• Arm has the ability to fall forward to make room for ramp deployment

Gripper:

• Bent aluminum tube, molded to the shape of the tube
• Powered by a window motor

Ramp:

• Made of Aluminum Honeycomb Composite
• When fully deployed 38" wide by 88" long
• Winch powered by a Large CIM to lift ramp to a fully horizontal position, 13" above the ground

2006 Robot - Simbot Beckham

Drivebase:

• High traction Brecoflex tracks
• 2 speed AndyMark transmissions geared for 4 and 11 fps
• PID feedback control used for a "base lock", the robot automatically fights back to hold it's ground when pushed

Ball Intake:

• 2 Window motors power rollers linked with polycord belting to grip balls, and convey them into out basket

Elevator:

• 2 Globe motors power plastic chain which lift balls from the basket to the launcher

Launcher:

• 28" Skyway wheels, powered by individually by a Fisher Price motor and a Dewalt transmission
• The wheels spin in a counter clockwise direction to shoot the ball into the goal
• Effective range of 8 to 26 ft with a fixed angle
• The speed of each wheel can be controlled individually to create side spin, allow the ball to curve. Used to make difficult shots.

2005 Robot - Simbot Kevin

Drivebase:

• 6WD, 2 speed AndyMark transmissions, geared for 4 and 10 fps

Arm:

• Double jointed arm, each joint powered by a CIM motor through a Dewalt transmission
• Gripper mimics the shape of a tetra, for secure manipulation of tetras
• All arm scoring motions are pre-programmed for ease of operator use

Autonomous:

• Wacks hanging tetra, caps preloaded tetra, and drives to the loader to pick up an extra tetra

2004 Robot - Simbot Simon

Drivebase (SimSwerve):

• 2 wheel, 4 motor strafing drive system
• Gearboxes powered by drill and Fisher Price motor, geared for 9 fps
• Each module steered independently by a Globe motor.
• 4 independent pneumatic wheel lifters to climb the 6" steps
• Omni directional sensors on each wheel to detect the deck, and automatically raise and lower each wheel

Arm:

• 3 degrees of freedom, shoulder joint, linear extension and elbow
• Over 13 feet of reach for capping over robots, and easy hanging
• Gripper to manipulate the 2X ball
• Gripper made from carbon fiber to reduce weight

2003 Robot - Simbot Sally

Specifications:

• 4 wheel Quadrasteer, wheels rotate in tandem to allow for better cornering and stack protection, geared for 7 fps
• Stacker: Linear elevator lifts stacks by the height of two bins, to make room for an additional bins to increase stack size
• Paw: A device at the top of the stacker which applies pressure to the stack to keep it secure
• Bin Manipulators: A "flipper" to right bins which have fallen over, and a "whacker" to orient bins such that they fit within the stacker