Alternate Solutions

        The goal of the VEX Robot is to find an efficient solution to a current problem/opportunity. It is common knowledge that a solution can almost always be solved more than one way. Knowing this, alternative solutions were made by my partner and me to ensure the maximum efficiency and problem solving ability of our robot. We looked at each challenge, which included our land challenge (to obtain soil samples without damaging the surrounding environment) and the aquatic challenges designed by all of the VEX robotic teams. As expected, certain solutions are going to be better suited/ more efficient than others. The following alternative solutions were made in the hopes of being able to eliminate several options until the most appropriate solution is evident.

        The first aquatic challenge to be attempted by the VEX teams will be to put a ball through a hoop. There are numerous ways to go about this, but none are particularly easy. The first alternative solution my partner and I decided on was a catapult. Using this, we would be able to launch the trajectory into the hoop. We also figured a slingshot would be the second operable solution. We realized that many practice tests would have to be done to get accurate angles of projection. We figured the slingshot and a catapult had the potential to be very inaccurate. As a result, we decided to think of some more dexterous solutions. Pinchers were our third alternate solution, using an arm with pinchers at the end to pinch the ball and then carry it to the hoop. This is also the mindset we had when we came up with our fourth alternative solution for this challenge; a claw. This claw would be similar to the claws found in claw prize machines and place the ball into the hoop.

       The second aquatic challenge is to tow a stranded vessel. We also brainstormed four ideas for this challenge. A hook (that would go through a fixture on the boat) was our first idea for an alternate solution. With this tool, it seems it would be relatively easy to tow a boat safely wherever we desired it to go. A very powerful magnet/ series of magnets that would attach to the side of the vessel were our second alternate solution. Our third alternate solution for the vessel towing challenge was to simply use rope. This, while not nearly as complex as some of the other options, would have the benefit of not being susceptible to technological malfunctions and, we feel, would be able to guarantee to get the job done. The downside of this solution would be the difficult task of trying to figure out how to maneuver the rope to be around the robot. Our fourth solution to the dilemma would be a large set of pinchers. These pinchers would be able to latch onto a fixture on the boat or the bow of the boat and tow it.

       The sinking of an enemy vessel is the third aquatic challenge the VEX robot teams face. To overcome this obstacle, we have devised several alternate solutions. The first alternate solution thought of was a puncture tool. A puncture tool would be attached via an arm to the robot. The robot would come alongside the enemy vessel and the arm would jab the arm with the puncturing device at the end of it into the side of the vessel. Water would then rush into the enemy’s boat, successfully rendering it immobile. A hook is my second idea for an alternate solution. The hook would be able to attach to a fixture on the boat and the operator of the vessel doing the sinking would drag the boat over. The third possible solution to the vessel sinking dilemma would be to place weights on the vessel until the weight became too much for the vessel to support and it would sink. The final alternate solution for the vessel sinking challenge is a machete of sorts. The VEX robot would then be able to simply sever the enemy vessel.  

        Last but not least, the final VEX robot aquatic challenge is to float a buoy. A claw, as seen before in previous challenges, was a commonly used solution to aquatic challenges. Challenge number four is no exception. We feel a claw would be an efficient way of picking up a buoy and placing it in a desired location. A shovel was the second solution we brainstormed for this challenge. We figured the shovel would be able to have the buoy placed on it and raised until the VEX robot was at the correct coordinates and could lower the shovel and let the buoy slide down. For our third alternate solution my partner and I thought a hook might be able to get the job done by attaching to the hole at the top of a buoy and lowering the buoy into its desired location. Finally, pinchers make up our fourth alternative solution. The pinchers would grasp the buoy between them and move it to the proper coordinates.

                                                     Combination One

Combination Two

Combination Three:

Combination Four

Battery Alternate Solutions