2024 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition

In this paper, we explore the applications of mathematics and physics to design efficient and effective robots, where “efficient” means the robot is able to complete the desired tasks while consuming as little battery as possible, and “effective” means the robot is able to complete as many tasks as desired within a short amount of time. We demonstrate the usefulness of these ideas in the practice of our FTC robotics team. Specifically, we apply them to determine the exact physical properties that are needed for the robot to perform its intended tasks. This requires us to answer the following 3 research questions: What is the horizontal distance from the base of our robot’s delivery system to the tip of its (virtual) four-bar (Q1)? What is the minimum amount of torque required to extend each of its delivery and intake systems (Q2)? What is the minimum torque required to hold up its four-bar claw with a cone (Q3)? To answer Q1, we look at the robot from a horizontal viewpoint and apply advanced trigonometric functions to calculate the exact distance between the robot and the junction. To answer Q2, we use Newton’s 2nd Law of Acceleration to calculate the minimum amount of torque needed to extend each of the delivery and intake slides. To answer Q3, we also apply Newton’s 2nd Law of Acceleration to determine the minimum amount of torque required to hold the four-bar and cone in place. We then end by summarizing the lessons we have learned throughout our robotics season.