battle

I have mentioned before that my undergrad degree is from the University of Cincinnati. The Combat Robotics Team was not a thing back then; in fact, robot fighting was still high-level and just coming around to the mainstream. Well, this past weekend, I had the chance to attend my first-ever PLANT at UC’s 1819 Innovation Hub.

What is PLANT, you ask? It is a class of combat robots restricted to PLA, ABS, or PETG construction materials. The bots cannot weigh more than 1 pound and have some other guidelines generally set forth by SPARC. The teams generally design these bots as scaled-down versions of the bots they plan to build and take on larger battles. In addition, they must weigh no more than 1 pound. They are mostly 3D printed, and the benefit is that they are a cost savings to manufacture and then test against other similar-sized bots to try and see how a design may work out in a larger form.

Because these bots are all 3D printed, they can test complex geometries without the cost of the machining hours. This also helps them to see the value a complex part may add or helps them to come up with other methods to manufacture the product. The entire point is for them to test on a small scale with lower impact/risk, then scale up.

When talking with customers here at EXAIR about projects that may require long Super Air Knives to blow off an entire conveyor belt, we will often suggest doing a scaled test. Use a 12″ Super Air Knife to test an edge or a dedicated section of the belt. If a stock EXAIR product is tested, it can be returned within 30 days of the date of the order. This means you can take a small test section, with low risk, put it in place, and test it under production scenarios for nearly a month, and then contact us to let us know whether it works or not. Get a sales return order for the shorter length, and then scale up for the full demand of the application.

EXAIR’s offering a 30-day guarantee on stock products truly reduces the risk of testing out even a full-length Super Air Knife if you want to. This can sometimes give the decision makers the last little bit of confidence that EXAIR is the correct team to work with. If you want to discuss how we can help your production lines, contact an Application Engineer today.

Brian Farno, MBA – CCASS Application Engineer

BrianFarno@EXAIR.com
@EXAIR_BF

Last year, EXAIR had the opportunity to sponsor The University of Cincinnati Combat Robotics Club and Teams. I’ve blogged about how I have seen these bots at the Tech Expo, a senior design showcase I volunteer and judge. This group of students ranges from first-year students up to seniors, and they are on a path to winning these competitions. Not just because we sponsor them.

Right now it is a summer session at UC, so the buildings are mostly quiet and the bustle about campus isn’t like a fall day. These 4 students, though, are still pushing through and building, competing, learning, advancing, rebuilding… it goes on and on. They shared the stories behind the bots, some were inherited from past teams, others were fresh designs, and they also shared some thoughts on what they could do for their next fight.

Hearing them talk about these devices they have labored over and listening to their confidence climb when they start rambling off, the velocities the tip of the weapon travels remind me of when I was in a similar position. These students all shared a passion and had similar goals in mind; to be the best team that is in the field. This isn’t just another checkbox for them to complete a grade or a test, it is a vested interest.

This is not far off from most of us here at EXAIR. This place isn’t just a checkbox, it is a vested interest, we want to be good at our jobs and that is why we continue to push to achieve certifications for Application Engineers like CCASS and is also why we continue to attend webinars, take courses, and continue to learn.

If you want to see more of the UC Combat Robots, check them out on Instagram, and make sure to follow the NHRL league for more of their events.

Brian Farno, MBA – CCASS Application Engineer

BrianFarno@EXAIR.com
@EXAIR_BF

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