Skipdiving Robotics

[daveimi]

Sat for ages and ages sketching and sorting out where everything is likely to go in heavy. The results of about 64 different pages of sketches can be summed up below.

[daveimi]

Thanks for all the info on the batteries in the other threads, they arrived this weekend and are happily charging

[overkill]

Thanks for the kind words about my roll-over hoops! The onion shaped hoop works best for me although different shaped bots might benefit from different shaped hoops - its important to experiment. Another important feature is to always make the base of the hoops stick out further than the frame.

Advantages:
* Low-tech, no moving parts to break
* Cheap
* Works automatically
* Relatively low weight
* Provides shock absorption

Disadvantages:
* Can hang up on arena hazards
* Won't always work in arena corners
* Can get tangled with hammer and lifter bots

Looking at the servos mentioned above, the Seiko has almost 30X the torque of the Hobbyking one - I really doubt the 2 ft/pounds from the HK servo will turn your bot over. The are some mid-range options to look at: Invenscience has servos similar to the Seiko here http://www.invenscience.com/index_fi...tary_servo.htm . The i01853 has 8.3 ft/pounds of torque and as it has continuous rotation, you can gear it to produce whatever torque you need.

If you search thru the Aussie forum, Glen fitted Demon with a very effective self-righter made from a drill motor. The latest version with a custom metal case and clutch looks indestructible.

[daveimi]

Cheers! Is demon the vertical spinner with the red bar sticking up? I've actually seen that one in one of the video's it looks awesome!

I first saw the servo idea on Ice Cube, one of the lazy toad robots. Am digging the hoops, I know they won't work every time but I was thinking most flippers throw with a fair amount of momentum so most times out of ten it should work lol. I know some have tried them but I don't feel they've been fully exploited here in the UK yet! I prefer it to the robot being invertible as there's a lot of nasty axes about this year onwards.

The servo you've listed looks pretty indestructible! I'm gonna try some different hoops and antlers etc. and see what works best

[overkill]

This is Demon's build thread: http://www.robowars.org/forum/viewto...t=1261&start=0 Apart from being a heavy hitter, its made of military grade armour plate and never gets dented.

Another cheap self-righter option would be combining a 64:1 Banebots P60 with a Robotpower Wasp ESC http://www.robotpower.com/products/wasp_info.html. The Wasp has limit switch inputs, giving you the equivalent of a giant servo for far less money.

[daveimi]

Might try a hoop first as it's cheap lol and then if that's naff have a go at a home brew flipperer-backer-overer .

[daveimi]

Got fed up with making roll bars that never work, gonna rebuild Rag N Bone 2 back to being invertable but stick with the scoop as it's a million times more effective that the spike was. Will stick a picture up after tea as going to strip it down this afternoon. It's also a mare trying to get to the internals with a big body on.

[daveimi]

Erm, I had another picture after robot building to put up. I decided Rag N Bone 2 wouldn't go on to do anything exciting unless it was invertable. Experiments with roll over hoops were taking for ever and I couldn't be bothered spending the cash to come up with a self righter. I decided to cut the body away so that the robot looked like Rag N Bone 1, but it's obviously a new robot on 12V with fresh motors and wheels etc. I'm just sorting a top for it and I'll be set to fight. It drives nice as-is so am happy with it other than it needing a roof.

Heavy parts are taking forever to cut and sort out. I was at it all weekend in my spare time and don't feel like I'm getting any where but I know taking the time now will mean it at least gets a run out in the arena. I've been taking pictures as I go but when I look back through them it's like "oh look another angle bracket" so I won't bore you all to death till I have something substantial to show. In other news, the Beetle motors are on there way to MegaMasher. Once I caught on that for the for see able the Beetle events are gonna be down south, and that they were as dear to build as a feather I thought I may as well stick to a feather and a heavy.

I can see a day when the heavies decline and feathers and beetles are the main thrux of the community, as they are in the states and oz. At that point I'll get stuck into a beetle but at the minute trying to screw a heavy together is taking up most of my random ideas lol. I will try and get to a stage where I have some heavy pictures to put up.

[Mega Masher]

Cheers Dave,
Feathers looking good too

[daveimi]

The pile of scrap is gathering momentum! Oo scrappy! name for a beetle! Well...at some point haha

[daveimi]

Well pile of parts is moving, who knew it but Dell make awesome robot lids. Have almost given up on building a heavy, think feather is my limit. I can just about cobble together offcuts into something about 10kg that rolls backwards and forwards. Trying to get enough offcuts and stuff together to build a heavy is really hard. Anyone wanna buy some wheel chair motors and some brand new SLA's with charger haha.

Rag N Bone 2 is pretty much there, not gonna paint it so it looks extra rubbish. Bolts and brackets for lid to follow shortly. (note...features flag and handbag)

[Danny B]

That actually looks pretty sturdy!
And is that the next bot, Flag N Bag? XD

[daveimi]

Haha Flag n Bag made me laugh! And yeah it's actually turned out to be quite strong for once lol. They're normally rubbish but this is the first one I feel half alright about.

[daveimi]

[Mega Masher]

Wow, niiice!
Coming along nicely