Cicatrix Build Diary

[Anttazz]

Re: Cicatrix Build Diary

Biggest task left before saturday was getting Eric Jr going, so been working on it the past few days and the drive and electronics seem to be working well. Have taken out the old 3000mAh batteries, 12v Argos motors, Robochallange wheels, ESCs, weapon controller (servo/switch) and LEDs. These have been replaces with new 3700mAh batteries, 14.4v Gimson Robotics motors, Gimson Robotics wheels, Scorpion XL and a Battleswitch.

The control feels a lot sharper at the moment even with driving it around in such a small space and with the robot pneumatics not in place, but that will get done tomorrow morning then after a quick test of it all together it'll get a charge and be left for Edinburgh. The battleswitch/solenoid can be heard clicking so I hope no problems arise tomorrow.

Unfortunately, putting the Gimson wheels on Eric Jr has meant that Rover is now in bits again, so will have to put it back together tomorrow too, and replace the batteries that were removed over the course of the Chariots event, but that will be a quick fix.

Quick video:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hsDDoGpRN3w

[RogueTwoRobots]

Re: Cicatrix Build Diary

Very nice
I've got four of the Gimson wheels that I can bring along on Sunday, if you need another set for Rover?

[Anttazz]

Re: Cicatrix Build Diary

Cheers

I was just going to stick the Robochallenge ones that were on Jr on it, they're completely unused. The slight difference in diameter may cause a problem, but lets be honest, thats going to be the least of Rovers problems . If you want to bring them along anyway though would be cool

[Anttazz]

Re: Cicatrix Build Diary

Eric Jr and Cicatrix are pretty much finished, all ready for their event. Just a case of charging the batteries. Took Rover to bits event further to borrow some pieces from it, and it won't have a driver at the event anyway, so i'm only going to bring it along if I have a bit of time to spare reassembling it. Even then, its not really up to featherweight combat, and it looses control randomly, and it doesn't failsafe...

Anyway, video of the test of the pneumatics and drive system.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I7Xd1KwZK7I

[Anttazz]

Re: Cicatrix Build Diary

Aftet the video, I added the corner protection onto Jr then took a photo of the completed articles ready for Edinburgh:

[Anttazz]

Re: Cicatrix Build Diary

Event Report

Quite bad really

Eric got his one fight and beat Storm Force somewhat by default, which is good, but really needs the weapon back working again. Also looking at shortening it a bit as the back bit isn't really needed now that the electronics are pretty much all contained in one box whereas before they were huge. So thats something for the future.

Eric Jr got one fight too in the feathers, the other 2 fights the transmitter wouldn't bind to the receiver, the first time it didn't work in the arena, then took it out and one wheel did work. So Glyn and I had a look at it and messed about with the Scorpion which seemed to fix it, second fight it worked well and the flipper was ok, perhaps needs a bit more power though and the third fight it again didn't bind. Apparently the RadioLink gear sometimes doesn't like bonding when theres too many other radios around, and as I had pneumatics I was arming up close to last. At least I got to see how it performed with the other robots.

Cicatrix pretty much just sat there until the very last fight then had a pretty solid outing when Jamie had destroyed all of his other robots and had a go on it. Looked fine, as good as its probably going to get the way it is. Upgrade for it is already set really when I get the cash to build the drum.

So there it is.

I'm probably going to leave them all to gather dust for a few months for a number of reasons, mainly as i'll hopefully have something bigger to report around August/September time, but not confirmed yet.

[PJ-27]

Re: Cicatrix Build Diary

At the 2011UK Champs our Radiolink gear refused to bind and we put it down to the masses of interference from other gear and the set being cheap.
Having said that we also had binding issues with out DSM2 gear at the 2012 champs but that was with cheapy Rxs.

[Anttazz]

Re: Cicatrix Build Diary

Works again now, and worked as soon as the FW battle was over so i'm pretty sure its an interference issue and not anything being broken, but its hard to test that before or after an event, really has to be done there. I know that my DX6/BR6000 worked at the first time of asking. I'll bring an OrangeRx set next year too and see which works better.

[Anttazz]

Re: Cicatrix Build Diary

Got my hacked ESCs today, will have to change all the connectors to deans and will test them in a couple of weeks time.

I remember reading somewhere that with brushless ESCs you need to keep the wires the same length to the battery and motor, is this still important when running them on a brushed motor?

[Mouldy]

Re: Cicatrix Build Diary

nope, thats new to me...

with brushless you should keep your motor phase wires the same length, and the power leads as short as possible....with brushed its not so important.

[Anttazz]

Re: Cicatrix Build Diary

Cheers Dave. Wasnt sure if because they were originally brushless it would still require any of that, I mustve gotten the information mixed up along the line somewhere.

[Anttazz]

Re: Cicatrix Build Diary

ESC news to come, I tested them today but they're still not working too well, so i'll give them another try or two over the next few days and see how they perform.

In other news, the something bigger to report is coming on nicely and is passed the planning stage and has a set deadline of 8th September (if anyone can work out why, I will applaud them ) for a trial. Will disclose all when I can be a bit less vague about it, but if it all goes well I think it'll be good for the community as a whole.

[Anttazz]

Re: Cicatrix Build Diary

Gentlemen, the time is upon us.

Blurb from the website:

Scot-Bots are a group set up by Jamie McHarg and Tony Smith who's aim is to promote engineering though Robotics. Using their custom built arena and robots they take part in various public events such as exhibitions, open days and galas as well as providing similar services for birthday parties and school events around Scotland.

The team are based in the west of Scotland and will begin by primarily promoting Robotics within the next generation of Scottish engineers at various public events. Soon, they will make their Scot-Bot Featheweight robot kits available for purchase after they have been fully trialed and tested. These kits will not only be suitable for taking part in Scot-Bot events but will also be able to take part in Robotic Combat events provided by event organisers such as Robots Live, Robochallenge and Roaming Robots. Once you have your basic kit, you can either upgrade it yourself or purchase a variety of upgrade packages available from Scot-Bots to make your robot as powerful as it can be. You will also be able to choose from a variety of colours and system setups. We will hope to have these kits available for purchase before the next large scale event held by one of these organisers in Scotland.

Please get in touch if you would like more information we will be happy to assist you.

So there we go! Anyone local to us (ha!), we'll be in Westerton, East Dunbartonshire this September to prove the concept. Designs and pictures of all important things mentioned will follow. Hope this at least stirrs some excitement amongst the community

Join up on the FB pag to hear more, very basic so far but it'll get there over the next month or so, then the official website will be released too.

http://www.facebook.com/ScotBots

[PJ-27]

Re: Cicatrix Build Diary

Sounds awesome! Wish you every bit of luck and if I can help in anyway just shout.

Using their custom build arena....

Just pointing out that should be 'Built'.

[Anttazz]

Re: Cicatrix Build Diary

Ahhh yes, oops. Will get it changed, cheers