Sometimes prototyping can be a bit dangerous, as the team has been finding out. This year's challenge requires extendable arms- something that, if done incorrectly, can lead to disastrous consequences. We have three different prototypes in the works, some of which can be quite dangerous when they... er...
misbehave.
Out of the three arms, one in particular has proved especially deadly. That said, out of the three, one is untested, one isn't that dangerous (provided you don't point it at someone), and the third has been nicknamed "Psycho," among other things.
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Psycho (A.K.A. Phil) |
"Psycho," as we have been referring to him, began as a simple claw mechanism. After the prototyping for the claw was complete, we moved on to making a wrist, which was, semi-accidentally geared for speed. Almost immediately after its construction it tried to take off the heads of three of the team members. Once we had it running more smoothly, we attempted to test its behavior while carrying a weighted ring (which weigh about 2.1 ounces).
Psycho threw it ten feet down the driveway and narrowly missed hitting one of our mentors.
Oops.
After re-gearing Psycho for strength (not speed!!!), he got a bit calmer, and we were able to successfully use the wrist mechanism without flinging random objects. We then moved on to the arm itself.
We had decided to make a linear extension arm, which quickly turned dangerous- that is to say that it very nearly launched at team members' faces.
Not to worry, no humans have been harmed in the making of this robot.
(*Scream in background*)
Um... Except that one.
Note: Psycho is NOT the official name of one of our robots! It is the a nickname for our robot's arm. Apparently it is also known as Phil. (Phil D. Psycho?)
The second arm (hereafter referred to as "Elastic" unless otherwise specified) is a lot less complex than Psycho/Phil. Consisting of a chain system that raises the arm, it not made any attempts on team members' lives, however it did attack a team member's leg.
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Elastic, as shown in its extended form.
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The third arm, a telescoping mechanism, is known as Fishing Pole. It remains the only resident invention that has made no attempts to injure team members.
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Fishing Pole (the arm on the work table) |
As you can see, inventing and prototyping are dangerous jobs. Do not attempt them at home unless you are prepared to face the possible consequences.
DISCLAIMER: I as the author of this post claim no responsibility for any confusion in regards to/concerning the names/potential names of our robots. None of them currently have names. The arms have nicknames.
This is a video of fishing pole arm in action.
