What parts do we need?

VEX Robotics Competition Discussion VRC > Starstruck (16/17)
1

If you want a “premium” class robot that will make it easier on you to compete with other teams, I would suggest purchasing the following:

Omni-wheels
Quadrature Encoders
High-strength gears
More metal (As much metal as you can)

Omni-wheels will make it easier for your robot to turn, and will really smoothen up your robot’s driving.
Quad encoders will make the programming easier for you. Autonomous will be much easier as you can use these encoders to make your wheels travel an exact distance, rather than taking a risk with using hypotheticals like using


wait1Msec();

.
High-strength gears will really help with gearing at competitions. They don’t break as easily, and they mesh with the other gears more fluidly and altogether just make life easier for the team.
More metal will not only help your team but it will help your entire club. It gives you the freedom to cut metal, and cutting metal will let you get everything you need to be just the perfect size.

In actuality, a “premium” class robot is not a necessity. I have seen teams with just bare skin and bone make it to the finals of their competitions. It all comes down to how hard your team works, how much progress you can make in an allotted period of time, and the overall quality of the robot. Be creative, scour the forums for creative solutions, and you should be good to go.

2

If you want a “premium” class robot that will make it easier on you to compete with other teams, I would suggest purchasing the following:

Omni-wheels
Quadrature Encoders
High-strength gears
More metal (As much metal as you can)

Omni-wheels will make it easier for your robot to turn, and will really smoothen up your robot’s driving.
Quad encoders will make the programming easier for you. Autonomous will be much easier as you can use these encoders to make your wheels travel an exact distance, rather than taking a risk with using hypotheticals like using


wait1Msec();

.
High-strength gears will really help with gearing at competitions. They don’t break as easily, and they mesh with the other gears more fluidly and altogether just make life easier for the team.
More metal will not only help your team but it will help your entire club. It gives you the freedom to cut metal, and cutting metal will let you get everything you need to be just the perfect size.

In actuality, a “premium” class robot is not a necessity. I have seen teams with just bare skin and bone make it to the finals of their competitions. It all comes down to how hard your team works, how much progress you can make in an allotted period of time, and the overall quality of the robot. Be creative, scour the forums for creative solutions, and you should be good to go.

3

Personally, the wheels that you said let them drive diagnoally are called omni wheels, and we use them on every drive base we have. Last year, we used almost all steel, and iur bot was heavy. Aluminum parts may cost a bit more but its worth it, however if your really strapped for cash i recommend going around to individual locations and businesses in your area, and asking for donations/sponsorship.

I really recommend not cutting any metal if you can help it. That would save a bunch on bills that are recurring. Like buying new metal and the like. A backup cortex for every 2 or 3 teams, because things do happen. Also a laptop, coding while at the event is very useful. It can be a teachers laptop, or a school one it doesnt matter. As long as it has robot/easy c(whichever you prefer) at least 14 motors, in my opinion skip the pneumatic, most applications can be accomplished using motors. Omni wheels again are a great tool, as traction wheels dont work very well in the corners and omnis have no downsides.

A small cart is very useful for competitions for carrying your robot and spare batteries around. Several backup batteries and chargers are really great.

Sensors, a couple of limit switches(bumpers arnt as useful in my opinion) line sensors arnt really necessary, and optical encoders are used for alot of things. Lcds and speakers arnt needed either. I recommend having at least 2 potentiometers per robot. A couple of leds are pretty cheap, and can be used to select autonomous.

Bearing blocks are GREAT USE THEM EVERYWHERE SOMETHING TURNS. Nylock nuts dont wiggle free as often as keps, and really increase your build quality. But keps do have their uses.

C channel can be used everywhere, and i recommend about 2/5 as much 5 wide c channel and 3/5 2 wide c channel.

You can make a great robot on a limited budget if you put enough effort into it, although it may be harder, as you go to competitions and see what others have done, itll really inspire you. Build quality takes forever, but pays off in dividends.

4