Mechanisms
[click on the images for a larger version]

There are two main mechanisms in this year’s robot:

• The platform winch system
• Scissor Jack

Both are of equal importance when allowing an alliance member to drive on top of us.

Platform System / Platform System Assembly

Platform System
This system is what allows two alliance robots to be on our robot at one time. This is also what allows a robot to get on top of us at all. We use a cable system to pull the platforms out of their starting position.  We used the channels of the Frame World (extrusion aluminum) to run the cable from the front to the back of the robot. The back platform pulls out and two spring action legs fold out to support the far end of the platform, not supported by the robot. The front platform pulls out and falls to the ground creating the ramp.
            Motor Specifications: Globe Motor (x2)

Scissor Jack / Scissor Jack Assembly

Scissor Jack
One of the major design elements that we wanted to have integrated into this year’s robot was having it extremely easy for another alliance member to climb on top of us. The easiest way to do this was to make the angle of the ramp much more gradual. By decreasing the incline there is less of a likelihood that a robot will flip and/or a robot with low ground clearance will not be able to get up. By using the scissor jack design the angle was decreased from 20° to 9.8° a dramatically different angle.
            Motor Specifications: Power Wheels Motor with 42mm BaneBots Gearbox