pls...help me build a basic fighting robot

hi.. i'm entirely new to robot building... hv a local robowars competition on 7th of april.... its jus a rookie compitition for beginners....
Bot Specifications:
 The initial dimension of bot should not exceed 30cm x 30cm x 30cm.
 However there is no limitation on bot dimension once the match starts.
 Any machine component should not be detached (intentionally) during any point of
the war.
 The weight of the machine should not exceed 6 kgs. (Including remote control, wires
and Batteries)
 Readymade gear boxes, parts, chassis, control circuits and remote control can be
used.

Methods of mobility include-
 Rolling (wheels, tracks or the whole robot).
 Jumping and hopping is not allowed.
 Pneumatics and hydraulics are not allowed.

Weapons Systems:
 Robots can have any kind of flippers, hammers, lifting devices etc. as weapons, with
the following exceptions:
 Liquid projectiles
 Acid based Weapons
 EMP generators
 Any kind of flammable liquid
 Flame-producing weapons
 Any kind of explosive material.
 Nets, glue or any other entanglement devices
 High power magnets or electromagnets
 Radio jammers

Arena specifications:
Arena will be a rectangular wooden plane.


pls help me out so dat i would hv an average bot to participate over here... also i'm not accessible to high end equipment... n also i hv a vry budget is low... i'm familiar with arduino programming...

Hmmm. 2 weeks and you have no money, no experience, no machine shop and no design.

Good luck with that.

Actually, to be helpful, I suggest you get a cheap RC car (like 40 bucks at Target) and make a box of hardware store aluminum around it. This is is only way I can think of to have a battlebot in 2 weeks. It will not win, but you will get the excitement and exposure to real battlebots that hopefully will motivate you to start NOW on next year's bot!!

It's a lot of fun, but it really does take time to learn about, design, buy, make, and build a competitive combat robot. Even our first year we spent over a thousand dollars and our team of 10 met 2 or 3 days a week for two months before our first competition (and I knew a little and had some power tool experience going in). We did come in 2nd, but that was when the sport was much more primitive.

I almost wanna suggest you simply attend the event without a bot, and just get permission to roam the pits with a camera, a notebook, and an open mind.

And this time, I really do mean Good Luck with that!

but v really want to make a lifter bot.... our team's vry eager to do it... v built a basic chasis with 2 300rpm motors yest... programd it to move aroun.... its workin fine as a wired bot rite now.... v r plannin to build lifting mechanism today wit a single 45 rpm motor... any advice on dat?

use the motor, geared down, to wind up a spring if you want a vicious lifter, otherwise just make sure all the connections and supports on the lifting piece are sturdy enough to withstand heavy hits while the arm is fully extended.

spring?? cud u tel me how to use the spring nd wind it back...

or cud v use a hi torque servo to power the flipper using the four bar linkage??

I would suggest you do the same thing rdubard has: get a standard Tyco-RC car, and just pile armor onto it. The cars themselves are surprisingly durable (a few years back we used one as a practice opponent and it held up pretty well), fast, and safe for someone with very limited experience to use. If you make it a wedge, depending on how well you apply the armor and how good of a driver you are you may even make it through an early match or two.

The top-level robots can and will shred what you build between now and competition into tiny, tiny flakes of robot. I'm not saying any of this to be condescending, but nearly anything built with less than a month to go and with no set design is going to have a hard time competing well.

ok... thnx for dat... i'l keep u al posted on wat happens...

I don't mean to be a prude but this is a forum not a text message. Present yourself will full, well written responses and you will get better, more respectful feedback.

As for the bot, get youself a nice cheap rc toy that works both ways up, a bunch of sheet metal, and duct tape. Save the lifter design for the next competition when you'll have more time to do it right.

-Kyle