Climbers

FRC Climbers

• The most standard FRC Endgame is having the robot climb something.
• Pull ups
• Pyramids, jungle gyms
• Platforms
• Ropes

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Climber Basics

• Often there are different levels only doing 1 or 2 levels of a 3 level climb can make your robot simpler.

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• Know how the climbs are scored and ensure your robot climbs high enough for the referees to judge it as climbed even when your robot isn’t hanging level.

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• Ensure you have a way for your robot to not fall down when the match ends.
• Ensure you can get the robot off the climb afterward without power

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• Build a test setup to ensure it’s going to actually work on the field.

COTS Climbers

• Multiple vendors sale climber and elevator kits that can be used to help you quickly design and build a climber.
• AndyMark Climber in a Box or Elevator Bearing Kits
• WCProducts GreyT Telescope Kits or Elevator Kits
• TheThriftyBot Telescoping Tube Kit or Elevator Kit

COTS Climber Parts

• Gearboxes
• REV MAXplanetary Gearboxes are useful for powering climbers

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• UHMWPE/Dyneema Cord or Spectra Cord
• Cord that doesn’t stretch or creep

Climber Motors

• Because you are lifting your entire robot you normally want to use a powerful motor with a large gear reduction.

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• REV Neo or CTRE Falcon motors work well for most climbers.

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• Using the motors break mode with a large gear reduction will help your robot stay climbed after the match end.

FRC 2016 Climber Challenge

• Challenge: Looks like a normal pull up climb

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• Hidden challenge 1: bumpers and ramp leading to the bar makes you reach out past your bumpers

FRC 2016 Climber Challenge

• Harder challenge: going under the low bar defense and also reaching up to the rung to climb.

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• Hidden Challenge 2: Having your robot’s bumpers not hit the robot next to them

2016 Climber Challenge

• Get a hook on to the bar so you can then pull up your robot.

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• This is often done with either
• a elevator or telescoping climber
• a folding arm that deploys a hook and then the robot is winched up

2056 OP Robotics

• 2x Telescoping climbers

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• Fold out and extend past the bumpers
• Gas Spring Powered

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• Simple aluminum hooks

33 Killer Bees

• Fold out telescoping climber.
• Can fold out at an angle past the bumpers to reach the rung.

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• Two climbers connected by the hook.

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• U Hook goes over the entire rung including the sides.

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• Springs extend the climber

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• Winch pulls in the climber

148 Robowranglers

• Gas Springs deploy arms

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• Winch pulls back on straps

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• Bumpers stay away from the wall so partners can climb