Featured This Month:
Features
26 BUILD REPORT:
30 Pound Combat Robot
— Mitch by Ray Billings
28 MANUFACTURING:
Even More Things to
Consider When Building a
Fighting Robot by Mike Jeffries
33 PARTS IS PARTS:
Chain Length Calculator
and Chain Path Visualizer
by Kevin Berry
35 A Brief History of WAR
by Robert Farrow
Events
30 Aug/Sep 2008 Results and
Nov/Dec 2008 Upcoming
Events
31 EVENT REPORT:
Robot Battles 2008
by Charles Guan — Team Test Bot
ROBOT PROFILE – Top
Ranked Robot This Month:
34 Limblifter by Kevin Berry
26 SERVO 11.2008
BUILD REP RT
30 Pound Combat Robot — Mitch
● by Ray Billings
Frequently at events, I am
inundated with questions on
how to get started in combat
robotics. I’m always honored by
the requests, and enjoy the
enthusiasm that potentially new
builders bring to the sport. But
due to the violent nature of
some of my more high-powered
creations, I always feel hesitant to
tell a 10-year-old how to build a
heavyweight spinner! I usually
recommend something simpler to
start out with — like a wedge —
but up until recently, I didn’t have
an example of my own to display.
Well, all that changed
for the RoboGames
event this year.
Introducing Team
Hardcore’s first wedge
bot: Mitch.
Mitch was created
almost completely from
off-the-shelf parts and,
although there were
some areas that were
machined specifically for
assembly, there is no
reason this bot couldn’t have
been built with a simple drill
press, or even a hand drill and
basic hand tools. Most of the
material used was inexpensive,
as well. And the best part: This
machine was very effective,
winning the 30 pound division at
the 2008 RoboGames event;
going undefeated in the class.
I started out with four of the
basic 20:1 36 mm planetary gear
motors from Banebots. They are
only 1.5” tall, allowing me to
create a very low profile robot
and still have decent power.
This is Mitch, after winning the 30 pound class at
RoboGames. You can see some of the scars on the
wedge from all the action.
