HardWired II

[Flag Captured]

I'll try it again when I can Dave, problem when I last did it is that it simply wouldn't bind in that mode, I think I may be doing something wrong, probably will post a video tomorrow to troubleshoot... Thanks for the help there though!

[Eventorizon]

I have to say, I am definitely looking forward to fighting Binky, that will be rather interesting indeed. I'd be surprised if anything can get through the front hardox scoop, but the real danger will come from the potential OOTA. Course, there's Ironside in there too, which could cause me plenty of internal damage too...

Going to be a cracking first ever fight for me though!

I am sure the machine will still run at the end. Our main worry is you getting under Binky and pushing us around so we never hit you with the disc. If Ironside is the spinner then we are boh in trouble, if its just the pushing octagon then it will be a strange fight. Binky could OOTA both machines or it could get pitted and be left to watch the other 2 machines fight it out.

[Flag Captured]

I'm sure Binky will, HardWired... Depends how well I manage to shock-mount everything, bike tire and bubble wrap!
Really, my main tactic with spinners is going to be to attack the spinning element as much as possible, since it'll do more damage to the other robot than it will do mine probably. Binky's probably the spinner I'm most afraid of simply because it's a vertical with the OOTA ability. If Ironside's the pusher too, that'll be quite interesting.

[Flag Captured]

Since everyone else is doing it, here's HardWired's admittedly kind draw for the championships:

Binky vs Ironside vs HardWired

This is a funny one, for my first matchup. Starting with the unknown, Ironside, I can't seem to figure out whether it's the hexagonal pusher, the spinner or the bar spinner (most likely the bar, I think) really only poses a risk from battering my electronics out of their sockets, spinners won't do much at all to HardWired I don't think. Course, I don't know what it is, so this is one I'm being cautious of. Binky is the major threat here, mainly due to that spinning disc sending me potentially OOTA. Most likely going to use HardWired's speed to avoid that. Again, spinner - probably not going to do a whole lot to mine, but still a fun fight for my first ever venture into combat robotics.

HardWired vs Carcinus vs NST

Carcinus has the claws, and I think the grinder atop, which would be back for my wheels, but I hope I can take it on. Might not have to, since number 4 seed NST's reared it's (very well engineered) head. Again, a spinner won't be bothering HardWired too much, but need to be careful of the shocks to the electronics. Few good hits and it'll hopefully send itself out of the arena - despite it's pedigree, I'm quietly confident about this one. This will be swiftly deleted and henceforth forgotten if I'm sweeping HardWired out of the arena.

Joule vs Gianto vs HardWired

Just what I didn't want. Joule terrifies me, despite the obvious technical issues an electric hammer could pose to itself, this is a very well engineered machine and could absolutely murder HardWired. I don't have the advantage I'd have with Little Hitter either, being able to get it to waste CO2, electrically driven axes I'd assume are just consistently brutal. I'd guess that it'll jump a lot, and HardWired's low front will help considerably here, and the energy dissipated into the machine will be much less, I would guess. Really, I'm just praying that there's a bit too much power in the axe and it conks itself out, is that wrong? Gianto is an unknown here, going to take an educated guess and say it's not Gianto from Robot Wars but a featherweight Tanto, which is still something to be very cautious of. Assuming this, it poses less risk in the way of straight up tenderisation, but more in the way of brute force. If Joule goes, it's just a pushing match and driver skill will prevail, not something I'm all too confident on. I'm great with RC cars, just inexperienced in combat.

Beauty 8 vs Gianto vs HardWired

Over in ten seconds, if Beauty has it's way. I've seen Beauty 2, less of Beauty 3 through 7 so I really can't comment, but would assume it's just as dangerous. My planer blade on the front will be crucial here. Gianto's here again too, and I have no idea what it is or anything so again I can't really comment further than what I've already said. Hopefully I can get Beauty to waste those flips, since I can't keep it in the pit either whilst it still has them. Going to be a tough one again.


Pretty pleased overall, managed to miss the flippers and most of the ones that would give HardWired the hardest time. That's got to be a good thing!

All this said, I cannot wait to get there, it's going to be a ton of fun, and finally living that childhood dream! Albeit 17 years late, but I got there eventually!

[Flag Captured]

HardWired II is finally running!
http://youtu.be/Bu6eIoPQxSY

Absolutely enormous thanks to Mario again for all the help with it!


I was running the robot at somewhere below full power with no mixing so my driving was well off, should be sorted for the championships. Do need to get an external mixer though, the mixing inbuilt to the DX5e is dreadful...

Just a short update, had a busy today and am tired, but I'm just showing that progress is happening!

[maddox10]

That looks sleek....

[razerdave]

This is the only mixer I can guarantee that failsafes:

http://www.rcmodelcentre.co.uk/V-TAI...prod_1054.html

It must be te gold one, the white version DOES NOT failsafe.

[Flag Captured]

It does indeed Mario! Very much like this chassis, solid as anything!

Cheers Dave, shall have a look and see if I can get next day delivery on it anywhere, pressed for time haha! If not, I don't mind using dual sticks, just might mean I'm driving round like a headless chicken occasionally!

[Flag Captured]

Still a quick update because the last few days have been utter chaos and HardWired still hasn't had a proper test drive,

the charging cradle - what does this have to be like? I've made a hdpe frame for it to stand on, wheels about 5cm off the ground - is this sufficient for the tech check? Does it have to actually secure the machine as in having it strapped down or anything?

Heres a picture of the robot as it is now too, finally got electronics in and it's got it's second coat of paint, nearly done if testing is all fine at full pelt, no reason it wouldn't be! http://i1355.photobucket.com/albums/...ps842b46ef.jpg

[geeza]

That should be fine as a cradle.

[Flag Captured]

Great, thanks
Going to post some photos tonight hopefully of everything it it's almost final form, don't think I'll fail the tech check but that's one of my biggest worries at the minute... The other one is getting down to Birmingham by myself in one piece!

[mrsam]

Looks great, i think this is a dark horse

[Flag Captured]

Thanks! Hope it makes an impression at least, if it's running properly on the day... Having some bother with the link haha!

HardWired II is now in Birmingham, ready for the championships - hopefully going to get something sorted tonight for securing the link tonight and then I'll be ready. Harry (Massacre) has got some deans links too he's very kindly offered to put in H2 if I continue having problems with the EC5...

Issue is with it that the EC5 itself is too tall to allow the robot to freely run upside down, which is a pretty major issue. The deans will probably solve this, but I still have no firm mounting to the robot for it, the epoxy broke free again in transit... Also, the front blade is slightly bent, so I need to hammer that out...

[Flag Captured]

Day 1-ish at the champs has been great, nice meeting up with everyone and huge thanks to everyone who helped with sorting H2's link!

I got a bit of a shock when I realised how small my machine is compared to everything else, and underweight - it's just under 10kg so if anyone's got any ultra heavy steel for the top of bottom that'd be welcome! Joking aside, it's been a great first day and I can't wait to get into the combat tomorrow, hopefully it will go smoothly and HardWired won't get absolutely totalled... It's 7mm Hardox, but the electronics (the bits that Mario didn't do) are definitely the weak point. Mainly because I did them. I don't know how it handles under pressure either, so tomorrow will definitely be an interesting one, but I've done everything I can for now! Whatever happens, it will be tons of fun. Will be updating this when I can every night to just sum up how HardWired has done, just as a kind of event diary, so hopefully that'll be an interesting read!

[mrsam]

Glad you got down here in one piece, can't wait for tomorrow should be an awesome day