Recently Team 1502 has been working on a demo bot. The demo bot is being built by an eccentric team of members, all whom are working towards an exciting robot to display their skills in engineering and teamwork to the Chelsea Robotics Community.
The demo bot will be armed with pneumatic cannon that will shoot projectiles through utilizing air pressure inside a cylinder tank. Keeping audience and presenter safety close in mind, the pneumatic technology has proved to be a difficult challenge to tackle.
Working on the pneumatic cannon designed for entertainment
Pneumatics are similar to Hydraulics as they both depend on built up pressure. However, pneumatic technology relies on air pressure, whereas hydraulics relies on water pressure. The team has chosen to use pneumatics to prevent unfortunate circumstances whereas the technology could break and become a hazard to surrounding persons.
The cannon will serve purely entertainment value to the intended audience of Elementary School Children. The demo bot will help share Team 1502’s mission and diverse range of talents with the Chelsea community.
“To demonstrate engineering abilities and mount a pneumatic cannon that will entertain children.”
Meanwhile, the cannon will be mounted on a sturdy base which will drive forwards and backwards, as well as adjust the cannon through the use of a mechanical arm. By using pillow blocks to create movement as well as a 90 degree pivot in the arm, the pneumatic cannon should become an outstanding display of teamwork and robotic talent.
Planning the functions of the arm
The team has salvaged parts from retired robots to construct a successful and spectacular presentation of pneumatic power, and currently is working on the movement of the arm, and the pneumatic technology which will power the cannon.
Team 1502 hopes to inspire the Chelsea Robotics Community by presenting the demo bot and other amazing creations which represent the work ethic and teamwork which was invested.