Posts filed under 'Combat Robots'
Anti-Static Bags
Jon Hylands sent me a link today for anti-static bags with the note:
“The anti-static bags are great – Digikey sells them in 100-packs for $6.18 [CAD].”
–Scotty
Add comment February 1, 2008
MINDS-i, Tough, Strong, Universal!
After I won third place with Mean Puppy in Lego Sumo, I headed over to the neighboring booth, MINDS-i. At first I was skeptical, okay it was not robotics, but like most other booths I stopped by to see what was going on. Mike Marzetta, inventor of MINDS-i, came up to me, and started explaining his ideas for his creation. Something kept me there at the booth; maybe it was his nice personality, maybe the pure coolness of this new invention!
He started by showing me the Buggy:
Then he showed me a rock crawler. At this point it grabbed me: the rock crawler had a Pro-Line body and 2.2 official rock crawling Pro-Line wheels and tires!
I’ve been waiting for a product where you can use other brands parts, and are not controlled by the company!
If you look at the above picture you can see white “loops” for stock 7.2 volt batteries for power, just above the axels! Not only does this let the robot/RC car have a low CG for climbing, you can use the old 7.2 packs that are on the workbench; NO need to buy “MINDS-i” battery packs (if you don’t have any batteries, just buys yours from MINDS-i)!
Look at this picture:
Stock servos, too!
It all did not set in until I handled the 6 wheel base:
(Notice the Futaba plug and the shocks)
It was not heavy, but light, very strong, and had killer looks!
A combat ‘robot’ is even possible to make with the MINDS-i parts!
Take a close look at the interlocking parts:
While at first it may seem to look like specially-made camoflash part(s) outside of this tank. After a closer look these same parts can be used on other creations also.
The wiring of the 6 wheeler:
(a stock motor)
On the flyer it says:
“By adding hobby-industry compatible wheels, motors, servos, radios, shocks and more, MINDS-i enables you to ignite your imagination and maximize your fun. For the highest-quality upgrade components, look no further than MINDS-i.”
Of course like most other products, there are those “I just don’t know…” with this one also. Like how would this hold up against a ‘real’ R/C car? Can you put in a brush-less system? How much weight could a Minds-i creation hold? Does every part work with every other part [I mean this up to a point]?
The MINDS-i products are just begging for a microcontroller and a CMU camera!
I was, and am, amazed! YOU control your robots, NOT the company you buy it from!
Coming Spring 2008!
–Scotty
Add comment October 24, 2007
Help Out At Mechwars 10 (Video)
You can volunteer at Mechwas 10 for these jobs:
| position | Saturday | Sunday | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| morning | afternoon | morning | afternoon | |
| pit boss | richard | richard | richard | richard |
| pit assistant | open open |
open open |
open open |
open open |
| cage boss | steven | steven | steven | steven |
| cage marshals | steven Rod open open |
steven Rod open open |
steven Rod open open |
steven Rod open open |
| Supermodels | open open |
open open |
open open |
open open |
| Money boss | reserved | reserved | reserved | reserved |
| ticket takers | open open open open |
open open open open |
open open open open |
open open open open |
| floor boss | dean | dean | dean | dean |
| merchandizing | ramona open |
ramona open |
ramona open |
ramona open |
| floor staff | open open open open |
open open open open |
open open open open |
open open open open |
| audio/visual boss | open | open | open | open |
| audio/visual assistant | open | open | open | open |
| m.c.’s | Jon reserved |
Jon reserved |
Jon reserved |
Jon reserved |
| judges | reserved reserved reserved |
reserved reserved reserved |
reserved reserved reserved |
reserved reserved reserved |
| film crew | open open open open |
open open open open |
open open open open |
open open open open |
| Electrical Boss | paul | paul | paul | paul |
If you do volunteer you can get in and watch the bots fight for free! Also you will trade off with somebody else so you will not have to work the whole time.
Mechwars is planning on having 50 to 100 robots being there to fight so if you go as a volunteer or spectator, you should have a lot of fun!
Mechwars is going on May 19th (Saturday) and 20th (Sunday) 2007, in Minneapolis, Minnesota.
Here is an exciting video from last year:
Signup with the link below.
Link:
–Scotty
Add comment February 28, 2007
And the DART Ant Weight Winner is…Babe The Blue Bot!!! (Video)
When I receive each issue of Servo Magazine, I first go to the “Combat Zone” section by Kevin Berry. When I got my February 2007 issue, it was no exception. This time, with Kevin just talking about Babe The Blue Bot on Robot Magazine’s forums, it really stood out when I saw that Babe The Blue Bot won at DART (Daytona Area Robot Tournament). He posted some pictures and said how he made motor mounts cheaply with hand tools and handcut Kevlar honeycomb armor. Kevin lives in Florida (FL) USA and works for NASA and has been in every space shuttle–past and present–working on cameras, beams, etc.!
Babe The Blue Bot is the low pushy bot in the video.
Links:
Kevin Berry’s post on Robot Magazine’s Forum
–Scotty
Add comment February 7, 2007
