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Courtesy of FRC Team 4613: Barker Redbacks
Robot Design Concept
Robot Design Concept
FRC Team 4613 is one of if not the best FRC teams in Australia.
Team 4613 took a unique approach for the 2024 FRC Game. Instead of making sure their robot was full featured, they opted for a robot that was really good at 1 thing: shooting Notes into the Amp. This is a very focused strategy that when executed well makes for a strong regional robot.
In order to shoot as many Notes as possible into the Amp, this robot had to be fast. Given the structure of the Amp, Notes should be shot in at a relatively close distance. Therefore, the greatest barrier to a fast cycle per shot was moving back and forth across the field, collecting Notes from the Source and then shooting them into the Amp.
Diag. R15.1: Match Cycle Strategy, 2024 Game, Team 4613
To make a faster robot, the design needed to be as small as possible. A smaller robot is harder to get pinned by opponents. While the maximum drivebase frame perimeter for the 2024 game was a 30" x 30" drivebase, Team 4613 opted for a 600mm x 600mm (~23.6" x 23.6") drivebase. To achieve maximum maneuverability, the team wanted to have a Swerve drivebase. Given the smaller frame perimeter, the robot utilized a modified MK4i with a gear ratio of 6.12:1 from Swerve Drive Specialities. The MK4i modules had to be modified in order to fit a wide enough intake that could bring in the Notes. With such a fast robot, the drivebase also needed to be durable enough to take high impact collisions. To address this issue, the chassis was a single milled plate made from a single block of 7071 Aluminium. This made the drivebase extremely tough.
Diag. R15.2: Single Sheet Aluminium Chassis
With the combination of an extremely durable frame and fast swerve modules, this robot could zip around the field care free of crashing into opposing robots or the game field.
Between those modified swerve modules was an under bumper intake. Guiding plates and wheels helped to funnel Notes smoothly into the intake.
Diag. R15.3: Under Bumper Intake
The under bumper intake then passed the Notes to a linear indexer which brought the Notes to the double vertical flywheel.
Diag. R15.3: Double Vertical Flywheel
This double vertical flywheel then launches Notes into the Amp.
While the main focus of this robot is to cycle Note shots into the Amp as fast as possible, Team 4613 would greatly limit the number of Ranking Points they could score if they had no climbing ability.
To have a simple solution to the climbing challenge, Team 4613 opted for utilizing a single stage lift with a claw to ensure the robot could achieve Onstage status for the end game.
Crecendo Robot Comparisons
Crecendo Robot Comparisons
To see a simpler robot for the Crescendo Game, refer to Ref 14. To see another full featured solution, albeit with a more limited budget, refer to Ref 8.
Game Manual: 2024 FRC Game CrecendoPrimary Game Piece: 14" ø Orange Notes (Toroid Rings)Secondary Game Piece: N/ARobot Reveal Video: 4613 Competition DesignMechanisms in Bot: Swerve Drivebase; Under Bumper Intake, Filtering; Linear Indexer; Double Vertical Flywheel; Single Stage Lift; Static ClawCompare & Contrast: Ref 8 & Ref 14
* Further explanation of the various mechanisms in FRC Handbook Volume 1.
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