Pole Climbing Robot Design: 5m Height, 5 Bricks Load, 30s Wait Time

  • Thread starter Thread starter salimshk
  • Start date Start date
  • Tags Tags
    Pole Robot
Click For Summary

Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around the design of a pole climbing robot for a mechanical engineering project. The robot is required to ascend a height of 5 meters while carrying a load of 5 engineering bricks, pause for 30 seconds, and then descend. Participants explore various design ideas, calculations, and technical considerations related to the project.

Discussion Character

  • Homework-related, Technical explanation, Exploratory

Main Points Raised

  • One participant suggests using high friction wheels in a ring that clamps around the pole, along with a tray for carrying bricks, questioning the feasibility of the friction to support the load.
  • Another participant recommends researching rope climbing techniques as a potential source of inspiration for the design.
  • Several participants express confusion about necessary calculations, particularly regarding friction forces for vertical climbing, with one confirming the need to use the equation F = mu * N.
  • A participant mentions the need to determine the coefficient of friction (mu) for rubber against galvanized steel to calculate the friction force.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants generally agree on the importance of friction in the design but express uncertainty about specific calculations and approaches. Multiple competing views on design strategies and calculations remain unresolved.

Contextual Notes

Participants have not settled on a specific design or calculation method, and there are varying approaches to the problem, including the type of climbing mechanism (wheels vs. tracks) and the materials involved.

Who May Find This Useful

Students or individuals interested in robotics, mechanical engineering design, or those working on similar climbing robot projects may find this discussion relevant.

salimshk
Messages
2
Reaction score
0
Pole Climbing Robot, Please Help!?

Hi, I have been given a project for Mechanical Engineering 1st year. We have been given no ideas and I cannot go to the lecturers for any help and I do not have any previous knowledge even on the basics.

Guidlines are as follows:"Design an robot capable of climbing a standard scaffolding pole to a height of 5m while carrying a
load of 5 standard size engineering bricks. It must automatically stop at a height of 5m, then wait 30
seconds during which the bricks are manually removed before automatically reversing and finally
stopping at the bottom"



Homework Equations





The Attempt at a Solution


My initial ideas are four very high friction wheels incorporated into a sort of 'ring' that clamps around the scaffolding pole and some sort of tray with a hole to accommodate for the pole which attaches on top of this ring to carry the bricks. I haven't even thought about motors or any electronics as of yet, but how does this idea sound to you guys? Is it possible for the wheels to provide enough friction to withstand the weight of 5 bricks?
 
Physics news on Phys.org


Something along the lines you have suggested sounds pretty good to me.Here's something else to think about...google rope climbing techniques and perhaps that may give you some ideas.It sounds like an interesting project.Have fun.
 


Im doing exactly the same thing for my project.
Im lost as to what calculations I need though.
My robot will be climbing a galvanized lamp post and am planning on using either wheels or tracks.
Do I need to calculate friction force seeing as it will be climbing vertically?
 


poleclimber said:
Im doing exactly the same thing for my project.
Im lost as to what calculations I need though.
My robot will be climbing a galvanized lamp post and am planning on using either wheels or tracks.
Do I need to calculate friction force seeing as it will be climbing vertically?

Yes, you basically need to use F = mu * N.
 


Thanks Berkeman. Ill see what figures I can come up with.
I will need to find mu for rubber and galvanised steel to get F.
 

Similar threads

Designing a Pole Climbing Robot for Mechanical Engineering
  • · Replies 3 ·
Replies
3
Views
7K
Rocket design -300km range, 5-15kg payload, 200mg accuracy
  • · Replies 8 ·
Replies
8
Views
6K
Kerbal Space Program - Rocket Design Basics
  • · Replies 2 ·
Replies
2
Views
10K
Why is the U-2 nicknamed the Dragon Lady?
  • · Replies 4 ·
Replies
4
Views
9K