Unit 15 Competency 3 - Perform advanced robotic concepts associated with accumulators
Suggested Objective a: Design a functional robot incorporating an accumulator using provided software and hardware
Image copied from http://curriculum.vexrobotics.com/curriculum/object-manipulation/accumulators Links to an external site. on December 15, 2014
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Introduction:
“Energy can neither be created nor be destroyed, but it can be transformed from one from to another.” This energy can also be stored in a device or equipment, so that they can be used in another form. For example, we know about the function of flywheel in a rotary machine. It gains energy from the prime mover, stores the gained energy, and, when required, releases the energy back into the same system. Another example of energy storage
and conversion, which is the most recent development in the automobile industry, is the K.E.R.S, or Kinetic Energy Recovery System. The system utilizes the kinetic energy when the car reduces its speed, and gives it back to the car itself for its acceleration. Thus energy is stored in some form and given back to the system in another form. The point I try to emphasize here is “energy is stored.” Have you ever wondered how energy is stored? Read here to know about one of the most widely used energy storage devices, the hydraulic accumulator. -
What is a Hydraulic Accumulator?
It is a simple
hydraulic device which stores energy in the form of fluid pressure. This stored pressure may be suddenly or intermittently released as per the requirement. In the case of a hydraulic lift or hydraulic crane, a large amount of energy is required when the lift or crane is moving upward. This energy is supplied from the hydraulic accumulator. But when the lift is moving in the downward direction, it does not require a huge amount of energy. During this particular time, the oil or hydraulic fluid pumped from the pump is stored in the accumulator for future use.
Information copied from http://www.brighthubengineering.com/hydraulics-civil-engineering/43410-hydraulic-accumulators-theory-and-use/ Links to an external site. on December 5, 2014
An accumulator is a register Links to an external site. for short-term, intermediate storage of arithmetic and logic data in a computer's CPU Links to an external site. (central processing unit). The term "accumulator" is rarely used in reference to contemporary CPUs, having been replaced around the turn of the millennium by the term "register." In a modern computers, any register can function as an accumulator.
The most elementary use for an accumulator is adding a sequence of numbers. The numerical value in the accumulator increases as each number is added, exactly as it happens in a simple desktop calculator (but much faster, of course). Once the sum has been determined, it is written to the main memory Links to an external site. or to another register.
The term "accumulator" is used in a wide variety of noncomputing applications and activities, such as electrical engineering (an energy storage device such as a rechargeablebattery Links to an external site. or ultracapacitor Links to an external site.), hydraulics (a mechanical energy storage device), in stock trading (a contract or agreement), and even in gambling (a parlay bet).
Information copied from http://whatis.techtarget.com/definition/accumulator Links to an external site. on December 15, 2014
More information can be found using Autodesk's VEX Robotics Curriculum Download Autodesk's VEX Robotics Curriculum. Here is the link Links to an external site.for the pdf. It was obtained from http://www.rapidonline.com/downloads/vex/VEX-unit14.pdf Links to an external site. on December 15, 2014.
How Accumulators Work Links to an external site.
Accumulator Assembly and Test Animation
Links to an external site.
Suggested Objectives b and c: Construct a functional robot incorporating an accumulator using provided software and hardware and Program a functional accumulator robot using provided software and hardware
Image copied from http://curriculum.vexrobotics.com/curriculum/object-manipulation/accumulators Links to an external site. on December 15, 2014
As we progress through our material in LearnMate, you will construct and program a robot. Use your notes that you take from completing the upcoming modules. They will be of great benefit to you.