Clusterbot components

[Byron]

Hi all

I am planning to build a heavyweight clusterbot with some friends at university; since we are mostly new to combat robotics we figured that it would be easier to not build a full-sized heavyweight machine straight away.

A couple of the robots we are planning to build are going to be approximately 40 kg. Since this is not a very common weight for a robot it's been hard to find components that have been tried and tested in combat.

Any recommendations of drive motors, speed controllers and batteries would be greatly appreciated!

Thanks

Byron

[Garfie489]

From experience of those whove built Heavyweight clusters before - its easier to build a single heavyweight.

Clusters tend to use the same components as main heavyweights (Ampflow motors, Bosch 750 motors, ect) however now your building 2 of them - doubling your costs, time, and resources.

Plus Grade 3 live event arenas have a minimum weight limit - so youd be restricted in the types of event you can compete at. This is to stop main heavyweights flipping you through the roof.

All in all, the difficulty in making a middleweight is the same realistically as building a heavyweight - only its likely to be a lot less effective and limiting in terms of design.

If you want a pure starter class, the recommendation you will hear nearly every roboteer say every time is to start small - Featherweights, Beetleweights, Antweights, ect. A featherweight is 13.6kg, and you can make 2 of them for the same cost as a middleweight. You then have a large pool of championships and events to attend in order to build up experience to attempt a heavyweight.

[typhoon_driver]

Build a featherweight. Easy enough to build two and compete in a competition. You'll learn everything you need to know to think about tackling something bigger.

The biggest issue with heavyweights is that the mistakes are around 8 times the cost of featherweights (the costs tend to scale same as the weight). Mistakes will happen. Making these in the smaller weight classes will be easier. It also gets you familiar with the flow of an event, what happens at each stage and get you talking to roboteers in person.

[Byron]

Thanks a lot for the advice guys - it's clear that it wouldn't be worth the time, effort or money to build the clusterbots especially as a first proper build. We are now choosing parts for and designing a single featherweight instead.