Difference between revisions of "Big Bot Starter Guide"

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[[Category: BattleBots]]
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== Introduction ==
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== '''Overview''' ==
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Welcome to the RoboJackets BattleBots 3lb Beginner's Guide!
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Welcome to Battlebots! The environment of Battlebots will be fairly fast-paced. We only meet once a week for the first semester, which in the first few meetings will be spent on the ground work for what is probably the most engaging and important phase ... designing your robot.  The purpose of this guide is to educate the reader, our new battlebots members, on some key factors relating to designs of robots and analyzing the pros and cons. Often, new members try to design the perfect bot. However, designing the perfect robot is not possible. Everything has a disadvantage, a weakness that can be exploited. But that does not make it a bad design. It could be an effective one. However, it is important to consider all aspects of different types before determining what you will implement. This guide will also explore some ideas, and reasons behind that idea, that you can implement when designing your own bot.
 
  
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== '''Types of Robots''' ==
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The purpose of this guide is to educate the reader on some key factors relating to the 3lb weight class of BattleBots, such as common robot types, the design process, and common materials/components. While originally intended for members of the RoboJackets team, this guide contains information that is relevant to anyone trying to get into BattleBots!
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The first step of designing your robot is to decide what type you want to build. There have been several different designs throughout the history of battlebots and competitions. However, this guide will cover some of the generic designs that show up consistently each year in competition. It is important to keep in mind that each type of robot has their own advantages. However, it goes without saying that they also have their disadvantages and difficulties.
 
  
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=== Drum Spinners ===
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This guide primarily focuses on robot design, rather than information on the actual competition. For information about competition rules, it is often different between competitions so please visit that competitions website or social media for specific rules. However, for a good generic set of rules that are common across most competitions you can look at the Northeast Robotics Club (NERC) rule set [http://www.nerc.us/rules.html here].
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[[File:drum.jpeg|right|thumb|320x180px|'''Drum Spinner - Radi and Radii''' Designed and built by RoboJackets Members (2016-2017)]]
 
  
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Drum bots have a rotating cylindrical-shaped weapon (medium to large sized) usually attached with barbs or teeth attached to the cylindrical weapon to tear apart and flip opponent's bot. Drum bots are a good bot type for beginners and are quite common for new 3lb members to use as their first type.
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== Choosing a Robot Type ==
  
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==== Advantages ====
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=== Introduction ===
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Drums, as mentioned, are a great bot for beginners. Their weapon is simple, yet quite reliable and destructive upon certain hits. Drum's weapons are generally sturdy because they are usually made from a block of metal, which means that it will be difficult for it to break. They allow your bot to be stable when you are attacking an opponent bot, dealing several quick and continuous attacks. If correctly designed, drums are capable of launching or flipping the opponent bots in the air. If your opponent's bot is not invertible and they get flipped, it is more than likely that they wont be able to continue and you will emerge victorious in that match. Speaking of invertibility, drums can be designed to be invertible which gives you an advantage when you get flipped.
 
  
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==== Disadvantages ====
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Within the 3lb weight class of combat robots there are five common robot types found. This section will quickly introduce these commonly found robot types, and explain their similarities, differences, pros, and cons. By the end of this section, you'll have a clearer idea of what kind of robot is most interesting to you, as well as the associated design challenges of that robot type.
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Because the nature of the weapon, Drum spinner bots generally have a very small strike zone. The heavy mass in the front of the bot rotating at high RPM will making driving your bot fairly difficult. Sometimes, with powerful weapons at high RPM, the gyroscopic forces acting on the bot could cause lift to occur on one side of the bot when turning. Similar to Horizontal/Vertical Bar Spinners, upon your weapon's contact on an opponent bot, the recoil from the impact could potentially cause damage to your own bot, sometimes making it immobile. If not properly designed or built, as with any heavy hitting weapon type, the weapon could be ripped apart. The weapon is generally sturdy, however, after  direct attacks from opponent bot or extended contact, it is likely for your weapon to be damaged and will be less effective.
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=== Drum Spinner ===
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[[File:(Radiis).jpeg|right|thumb|320x180px|'''Drum Spinner - Radi and Radii''' Designed and built by RoboJackets Members (2016-2017)]]
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This weapon is a spinning solid cylindrical drum with teeth at the front of the robot. It is driven similarly to a vertical or horizontal spinner with a pulley system between the weapon and weapon motor.
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'''Pros'''
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* Great beginner bot
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* Reliable due to simple weapon
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* Outputs good damage
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* Weapon doesn't require too much space away from the rest of the bot
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* Easy to design so it can drive while flipped
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'''Cons'''
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* Smaller strike zone
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* Gyroscopic effect can make fast turns hard
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* Large heavy weapon
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'''Example Drum Spinners designed and built by RoboJackets'''
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* [[Radii]] - 3rd place winner at Motorama 2017
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* [[Snuti]] - Competed at Motorama 2017 and Sparkfun 2017
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=== Horizontal Spinner ===
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[[File:chewi.jpg|thumb|320x240px|'''Horizontal Bar Spinner - Chewi''' Designed and built by RoboJackets Members (2017-2018)]]
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The weapon is a flat spinning bar or disk at the front of the robot. It is also driven similarly to a drum or vertical spinner with a pulley system between the weapon and weapon motor.
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'''Pros'''
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* High damage output
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* Large strike zone
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* Easy to design so it can drive while flipped
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* Weapon can withstand significant damage without breaking (bent weapon still functions well)
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'''Cons'''
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* Robot must extend out to avoid its own weapon
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* Gyroscopic effect make turning fairly difficult
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* Needs a lot of structural support on the weapon to prevent damage from recoil
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'''Example Horizontal Spinners designed and built by RoboJackets'''
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* [[Ki]] - Competed at Sparkfun 2016 and Motorama 2017
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* [[Chewi]] - Competed at Motorama 2018, RoboGames 2018, and Sparkfun 2018
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* [[Daddi]] - Competed at Motorama 2019
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=== Vertical Spinner ===
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[[File:Golden Esci.jpeg|thumb|'''Vertical Bar Spinner - Esci''' Designed and built by RoboJackets Members (2017-2018)]]
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A robot with a vertically spinning weapon at the front of the robot. Typically this weapon is complemented by a surrounding wedge to lift opponents into the weapon. It is also driven similarly to a drum or horizontal spinner with a pulley system between the weapon and weapon motor.

Revision as of 04:00, 28 May 2024

Introduction

Welcome to the RoboJackets BattleBots 3lb Beginner's Guide!

The purpose of this guide is to educate the reader on some key factors relating to the 3lb weight class of BattleBots, such as common robot types, the design process, and common materials/components. While originally intended for members of the RoboJackets team, this guide contains information that is relevant to anyone trying to get into BattleBots!

This guide primarily focuses on robot design, rather than information on the actual competition. For information about competition rules, it is often different between competitions so please visit that competitions website or social media for specific rules. However, for a good generic set of rules that are common across most competitions you can look at the Northeast Robotics Club (NERC) rule set here.

Choosing a Robot Type

Introduction

Within the 3lb weight class of combat robots there are five common robot types found. This section will quickly introduce these commonly found robot types, and explain their similarities, differences, pros, and cons. By the end of this section, you'll have a clearer idea of what kind of robot is most interesting to you, as well as the associated design challenges of that robot type.

Drum Spinner

Drum Spinner - Radi and Radii Designed and built by RoboJackets Members (2016-2017)

This weapon is a spinning solid cylindrical drum with teeth at the front of the robot. It is driven similarly to a vertical or horizontal spinner with a pulley system between the weapon and weapon motor.

Pros

  • Great beginner bot
  • Reliable due to simple weapon
  • Outputs good damage
  • Weapon doesn't require too much space away from the rest of the bot
  • Easy to design so it can drive while flipped

Cons

  • Smaller strike zone
  • Gyroscopic effect can make fast turns hard
  • Large heavy weapon

Example Drum Spinners designed and built by RoboJackets

  • Radii - 3rd place winner at Motorama 2017
  • Snuti - Competed at Motorama 2017 and Sparkfun 2017

Horizontal Spinner

Horizontal Bar Spinner - Chewi Designed and built by RoboJackets Members (2017-2018)

The weapon is a flat spinning bar or disk at the front of the robot. It is also driven similarly to a drum or vertical spinner with a pulley system between the weapon and weapon motor.

Pros

  • High damage output
  • Large strike zone
  • Easy to design so it can drive while flipped
  • Weapon can withstand significant damage without breaking (bent weapon still functions well)

Cons

  • Robot must extend out to avoid its own weapon
  • Gyroscopic effect make turning fairly difficult
  • Needs a lot of structural support on the weapon to prevent damage from recoil

Example Horizontal Spinners designed and built by RoboJackets

  • Ki - Competed at Sparkfun 2016 and Motorama 2017
  • Chewi - Competed at Motorama 2018, RoboGames 2018, and Sparkfun 2018
  • Daddi - Competed at Motorama 2019

Vertical Spinner

Vertical Bar Spinner - Esci Designed and built by RoboJackets Members (2017-2018)

A robot with a vertically spinning weapon at the front of the robot. Typically this weapon is complemented by a surrounding wedge to lift opponents into the weapon. It is also driven similarly to a drum or horizontal spinner with a pulley system between the weapon and weapon motor.

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