The intake and toboggan systems
Here is a 3D model of our toboggan (or highway) system! You can check out the 3D model of the full robot to see how the intake and toboggan function together.
The intake system is powered by a single Gobilda motor. It is a roller-type intake, with a row of 5 flex wheels sandwiching the game piece against a ramp.
The rotational movement provided by the motor drives the game piece up the ramp and into the conveyors above, which will further bring the game piece upwards to our desired height.
We had to innovate to couple the D-shaft from the power motor to the ½" hex shaft holding the wheels with custom made adaptors!
After having picked up a game piece, it travels down a plexiglass ramp by utilising gravitational force. It twists and turns, optimising the limited space at our disposition to store the maximum number of game pieces.
This system can store multiple game pieces in a single file, similar to a highway! At its end, the toboggan curves downwards into a halfpipe, preparing the game piece for the next part of its journey: the tower.