Gimbal Mount: PDR One
Relevant Competition Rules:
<1.2m from GND to top of rover. Make sure all parts under that
<50kg total with arm or science on, <70kg total for all parts
Constraints:
<1.2m from GND
Can hold the weight of the gimbal, antennas (negligible), black box, and LED matrix stable [define weight]
Need to mount Camera, at most 6 antennas, black box (receivers to antennas), LED matrix
Camera needs proper sight of the front of the rover
Antennas placed 7-8cm apart (min 1/4 wavelength and not exactly at each wavelength), website on doc
Criteria (in order of significance):
Minimal vibration
Low Weight (possibly lower weight of the aluminum tubes)
ability to vary angle of antenna to 2.5 degrees for calibration
Possibility to make sight line higher that 1.2m during game (equipment can be 1.5m up)
Easy to make (minimal parts, simple machining)
Low cost
Possibility to change antenna direction in case we have directional antenna on rover (not likely)
Risk:
The higher you go, the better you see around you
Tradeoff: could lose 40% of the points instantly for miscalculating height
Not adding easy way to get 2.5 degree incline, less power to transmit data better way to cope with interference.
Tradeoff: will have less accuracy in calibration. Billy says “5%” difference and battery is large enough
Trying to make weight lower in aluminum rods
Tradeoff: Reduces strength of tubes, increases manufacturing time
Mitigating Risk:
Making a hard cap at 1.1m height, nothing can go above this. Gives 10 cm of wiggle room.
Design Concepts:
Chosen Design
Other designs (freestyled from the top of my head)
Proposed design timeline:
Hopefully done in 2 months.
(CAD → present) cycle
Draft
Manufacture everything