Do you want to build a combat robot?It was too expensive and dangerous.The weight class for Robot Wars is 150 grams.The class is called "Antweight" and "Fairy Weight" in most countries.These aren't as dangerous as the bigger combat robots, and are a lot cheaper.They are perfect for people who are new to fightingrobots.The article will show you how to build a combat robot.This article does not take into account that you have already built an RC robot.Do that first if you have not.This article does not recommend a specific part for your robot.The goal is to promote creativity and diversity.
Step 1: You must understand all the rules before designing a robot.
This is where the rules can be found.The metal armor rule is one of the most important building rules that you need to be paying attention to.
Step 2: What weapon will you use?
The weapon is a big part of the combat robot.Think of an idea for a weapon, but make sure it's within the rules.It's highly recommended to go with a "flipper" or "pusher" for your first antweight bot.A flipper is a weapon that can be used to flip another robot over.A flipper weapon can be the most effective weapon in the class.The simplest weapon is a pusher.The whole robot is used as a weapon.The rule states that half of the arena can't be walled.You can push the other robot out of the arena.
Step 3: Before designing, you need to choose your parts.
Don't buy them yet.Pick your parts and design accordingly.You save money if something doesn't work while you are still designing because you can switch parts now.Don't buy the parts yet.You do not need a speed controller which saves money and precious weight on your robot if you choose Drive Servos.Micros will save you a lot of weight.It's important to make sure the servo is modifiable.If you have a separate weapon, it's easy to push otherrobots around even if you don't have high speed.There are servces that can be purchased here.There is a section on that site that sells "Futaba" servos.Futaba is a brand that makes things.They have different sizes than the HiTech brand.If you have an active weapon, choose a weapon motor.You probably need a motor to move the weapon if you aren't creating a pusher.If you have a weapon that needs to move quickly.You should get a geared DC motor with a speed controller if you want a spinning weapon.It's not a good idea to use a spinning weapon for your first antweight because they can be hard to build and balance.If you are making a flipper weapon, you should use a servo.If you want to flip other robots with ease, you should get a micro servo with high Torque.When looking for a weapon, consider the type of gears.If the motor gets a lot of stress, nylon gears can lose their strength over time.Get stronger gears made of metal.Remember the rule that says the robot has to be able to fit in a 4 x 4 cube when choosing wheels.You have to have wheels that are less than this.It's recommended to use a larger wheel.It's important that the wheels are easy to attach to the servos.The ability to drive upside down is one of the best ways to use a combat robot.The controls will be a bit backwards, but it will prevent you from being immobile.If you make your robot shorter than your wheels, it will be able to drive upside down."Fail-Safe operation" is what to look for when buying a receiver.It's a rule to have a safety feature in most competitions.The receiver does not have this.You will need to purchase a receiver that has this feature.It's recommended for a transmitter.If you built the remote controlled robot, you can reuse the transmitter, but you have to buy a new receiver.It is highly recommended to get a LiPo battery instead of a NiMH battery.LiPo batteries are lighter.They are more dangerous and need a special charge.Invest the money into a LiPo battery to save on weight.It is important to choose a material for your combat robot's armor because it is what prevents enemy weapons from piercing your electric components.There are three main choices that you should choose from, and they are the best for this particular weight class.It can be difficult to cut aluminum, which is light weight and strong.It can't be more than 1mm.Titanium is light weight and strong, but difficult to cut and expensive.This is also subject to the thickness rule.It is easy to cut, shatterproof, and strong plastic that is sometimes used in bullet proof.If you want it to be as thick as possible, you should get it about 1mm thick.It is highly recommended.The plastic that makes up the arena walls is so durable that it's used in an antweight competition.If you make a mistake, be sure to get extra.
Step 4: When you have all your parts selected, you need to get size and weight specifications.
They should be listed on the website where you bought them.Use a conversion to convert all values into millimetres.All your components should be written on a sheet of paper.You can convert all weight values into grams.The weight specifications should be written on a piece of paper.
Step 5: You want the design to be as precise as possible.
If you want the design to be 3D on a computer, you should try to make it that way.The 3D design doesn't need to look complex, a simple one made of rectangular prisms and cylinders will suffice.To make sure the parts are less than 150 grams, add up the weight of them.You can download the free version of Sketchup if you don't have a computer.You can learn all the basics with some of the free ones on Sketchup.Use the size specifications you wrote down to create all the components on Sketchup.You can design out your armor.It should be less than 4X4X 4 inches.If the components fit in the 3D model at the same time, they should.This will help you decide where the components will be.
Step 6: If your components fit into your design perfectly, order your parts.
New parts should be considered if not.
Step 7: You need to assemble it now.
Put all of your components in the same place.Plug everything in and see if it works.If you can easily take out components in case they need to be replaced, you should assemble it that way.The components may need to be replaced more than a regular robot.Yours could be damaged by the robots.It's a good idea to hold the components in with a piece of fabric.
Step 8: If you fall off, you lose.
You need to practice driving before you think about competing.If you want to drive through cones, use upside down cups.If you want to practice pushing Styrofoam cups off of targets, try to do this on a small table.If you want to purchase a cheap RC car, have another person drive it on a table, and try to knock it off or destroy it, without falling off yourself.If you know another person with an antweight robot, have friendly fights with him, replace spinning weapons with a less destructive plastic weapon.
Step 9: Compete and destroy other robots in a competition.
If you are going to compete in the US, you need to look for Fairy Weight contests.