VEX Robotics Project TEJ4M

This is a robotic tank using the VEX Cortex 2.0 system made for my TEJ4M Class. This project was designed and created to fulfill the culminating task for TEJ4M. I wanted to create something within the physical world so I could use my hands. I learn by doing and watching. The purpose of this tank is to be a fun and engaging project that makes use of coding and problem solving to fulfill the requirements for this culminating project.

Chassis Parts

• Chassis Bumper 20 2
• Chassis Rail 16 4
• Motor 393 2
• Motor Screws 4
• Axle 4
• Collar 11
• Spacer Thin 6
• Spacer Thick 12
• Small Gear 4
• Big Gear 4
• Chain x2 50links
• Track x2 32links
• Screw 24
• Screw Long 4
• Nut 28
• Rivet 8
• Bearing 4
• High strength gear 1
• Controller 1
• Motor Controller 6
• Platform 5x15 1

Cannon

• Chassis Rail 16 3
• Platform 5x15 1
• Platform 5x5 1
• 90 hinge 3
• Quarter Hinge 2
• long spacer 4
• motor 393 4
• axle 5
• motor screw 8
• big gear 2
• small gear 3
• bearing 5
• rivet 10
• collar 10
• spacer small 8
• spacer big 2
• big wheel 2
• spacer short 3
• rack gear 1
• screw 21
• nut 6

extra

• Allan key big 
• Allan key small
• small wrench
• elastic 2
• battery
• Vex remote controller
• Vex 2.4ghz sticks 2
• USB cable
• Computer
• RobotC 

This is the starting section of constructing the chassis.

Start by attaching the base chassis pieces together like in the photo.

Attach the motors onto the second inner rails.

Attach two chains to either side so bot wheels on the track will drive when the motor is spun.

Attach the outer wheels and tracks to both sides like the photo.

Finally Connect the high strength gear to the base platform to provide a basis for the cannon to turn on.

Use both collars and a large spacer to provide enough space for the cannon to spin freely.

Connect the motor controllers to the central controller in this order. (This is so the code works later.)

Port 2 - Right Drive (Reversed)

Port 3 - Left Drive

Port 5 - Cannon Turn

Port 7 - Right Flywheel

Port 8 - Left Flywheel (Reversed)

Port 9 - Feeder

Start construction for the cannon with two rails and a 5x15 platform with a 5x5 platform attached with two long spacers as shown in the photos.

Shown in the photos is the flywheel mechanism used to spin the wheels at a higher speed than the motors are capable of.

Use the two rails to hold the gears in place and place the two flywheels on top of the mechanism.

The Turn mechanism consists only of a single motor placed on the bottom that connects to the shaft previously placed on the base chassis.

The feeder uses a rack gear to push the feeder arm towards and from the flywheels.

Use the 90 Degree brackets to allow the final rail to slide smoothly in the frame of the cannon.

Open this file with RobotC and download it to the robot.

Use the 2.4Ghz sticks to connect the controller to the robot.

And finally test the bot by driving around.

I learned a lot when creating this project. I learned how to use the programing language for RobotC whish is very similar to python. I learned the limitations of the vex cortex system and I learned how much fun building something from nothing that ends up working in the end can be. I think this was a great project and definitely worth my time. This project covered most of the things we went over in class including coding and he physical aspect of building. Overall there weren't many difficulties aside from a motor that was plugged in the port or a motor not spinning because the RPM was too low.