What's the old adage... Tidy garage, untidy mind? That can't be right: Robert's always TOTALLY in control. Either he's got one of those little robo-vacuum cleaners that sneaks out at night to tidy up, or he employs magic invisible elves...
get a couple of eye bolts, and some long bungee tie downs to hold the top down, one running down each piece of the lexan would keep it in place to anything that fly's up and hits it, plus keeps it super easy to open And i really look forward to seeing your new beetleweight, hope you post build videos
FYI, Home Depot or Lowe's will cut sheets of plywood/paneling etc. Most will make up to like 6 cuts for free, some charge a few cents per cut. So you can get creative, buy cheaper full sheets, and not touch a saw. They will also cut lumber, pipe, etc. Not sure if they will cut metal, angle iron etc, but they usually have a hack saw hanging around in the plumbing area or somewhere, and I have used it to cut stuff down when I was on the road lol
Good stuff. A very neat solution. I'm not sure some casual robo-combat viewers realise the tremendous power modern robot weapons develop. Ants and beetles are scary enough - lethal, even - but testing a middle or heavyweight robot's 60+pound drum or bar spinner at home can't be done safely. That's why robots at the top level (BattleBots/Robot Wars) are often so unreliable. Their motors and electronics haven't been stress-tested before the competition; it's just too darned dangerous outside a proper combat arena.
@Logan 1664 - Yep. When you think of what industrial meat-processing machinery looks like, it's scary what people are happy to do in their garages! As you say, even teeny robots these days could kill you - they've got as much bite as a pro-grade chainsaw, so I suppose we all ought to be wearing steel-toe boots, chain-block gloves, chain-block trousers, and full-face shields. Or we could just make a decent safety box like Robert... :-)
What did you use for your metal skirting? I was originally thinking of 1/8" A606 steel 12" x 48" though I am a little worried it might be too hard for the weapons.
Just a suggestion. If you made a small cutout at the bottom of one of the side panels, you could run your power cord through that and have it lay down onto the floor. If something did come apart, there would be much less of a chance of cutting the cord, and causing you to have to put up with sparks, fire, and/or tripped breakers. ;-)
I didn't mention it in the video, but the metal skirts are removable for that reason. I haven't gotten around to it, but there will be pass-throughs for this reason. I even have the conduit and cable covers just off screen.
Nice and simple design, just how it should be! I am wondering though, did you include mounting points (or do you plan to do so in the future) on the bots for static testing? With that I mean for the fully assembled bot, not an isolated subassembly.
An example for that could be the static tests done by SpaceX (allright, thats an extreme example) or test runs of turbine engines on those neat test stands
This is super cool! Me and my dad are trying to figure out a cheap way to test our 3lb battle bot. Do you think it would he safe if we made an areana like this but did not have a top? We have a hz spinner so it is unlikely debree would shoot up
@@loganhughes2935 yeah in theory as India and first series of battle bots filmed horizontal heavy's without a proper roof. but if horizontals hit an angle or go unstable could fly up, they can explode flying that bar up. if i where you i wouldn't risk it, its not worth risking your life for 50- 100$. i had one of my ants bars randomly fly off and embed in the wall, a scary encounter but i suppose im still here. these things are dangerous and should be used with care.
i also wonder if you couldn't replace the bracers used on the corners with hinges, so the entire thing can be folded up when not in use, the tape holding the floor of it together would hold well enough to move it, and maintain its flatness, add some hinges to the lexan on the top for it to also be folded away, and you would have a test box you can easily deploy and put away when you want. Worst case you have to pull the hinge pin on 2 sides breaking it down into 4 sections of 2 pieces each, floor, side 1 and 2, and top
yeah, that's totally doable. I did think of that, but just went with the corner brackets instead. I might switch to hinges if it's in the way too often.
This is totally possible. But then you're assuming the camera can get damaged. The lexan is cheaper (and more durable) than the camera. And seeing things in real time in real life is much nicer.
I'm all for lexan - I just bought six sheets to build a beetle arena. But for a cheap testing arena (where cheap is operative) you can do realtime HD engineering-quality video for under $50.
Combat robots is a mind game. Extra noise from vibration also makes the bots seem scarier to your opponent. This can increase the caution of your opponent and lead them to tap out more readily. Vibration that visually causes the bot to shimmy and drive poorly is bad and does need to be corrected as it makes your robot seem worse to your opponent and the judges. That blade was very well balanced for a combat robot weapon. Most people just don't worry about it on the assumption that it will be even worse after the first match. I understand your desire for it to be perfect. If it was an internal flyweel, an engine crankshaft, or a propeller, I'd agree with you.
Not trial and error. But Ian is right, it's all done in CAD. Design the majority of the weapon, then calculate center of mass, then create a reference point that's tied to the center of mass and add all your mounting holes and such, based on that hole. I could make a quick video.
In theory that sounds like it would work but I would not take my word for it. I also would like a cheaper way to stay safe while testing my battle bot.
It’s better than open air, but I’d test outside from 30 feet away instead of standing 4 feet away with chicken wire in between. Distance is safety. Your mileage may vary. I also don’t build horizontals.
I'm at an actual computer now which helps. Where in the world are you? Is there a specific requirement that the bot be 11lbs and how good is your opposition? It would all depend on exactly what 1000 rpm 12v brushed gearmotor you found. My best example of something that could be used moderately successfully meeting these specifications would be a gearmotor from a 12V drill. This could be effectively employed to build a rotary lifter where you use torque rather than kinetic energy to lift the opponent. This works well to combine with a wedge. The RS-550 driving that 12V drill gearmotor is unlikely to have the power necessary to build a good vertical spinner with fast enough spinup time for the class as it stands today. (12 and 15lb bots are nasty.) It would have been marginal in 2004. However, it would still be fun, and you could hit cans and jugs pretty well in your backyard if you wanted to have fun. In the US for a good, modern 12lber vertical spinner, we'd be looking at around a 1000-2000 Watt Chinese-rated brushless motor with suitable ESC.
Hey, would you happen to know where spark fun gets their arena? Do they rent it or own it? And do you know if their are arenas that I could rent for a day? thanks!
SparkFun doesn't own the arenas, the event organizer does. They don't really get 'rented', since it takes a few people and a day to setup. Message me privately and we can talk.
This garage is inhumanly clean...
What's the old adage... Tidy garage, untidy mind? That can't be right: Robert's always TOTALLY in control. Either he's got one of those little robo-vacuum cleaners that sneaks out at night to tidy up, or he employs magic invisible elves...
Yeah my garage is a mess!
@@EleanorPeterson Nope, I just clean up after myself.
get a couple of eye bolts, and some long bungee tie downs to hold the top down, one running down each piece of the lexan would keep it in place to anything that fly's up and hits it, plus keeps it super easy to open
And i really look forward to seeing your new beetleweight, hope you post build videos
Ah, that's a good simple solution.
Saftey was an important part of my job in the Navy, so I applaud your efforts to be safe; WHY BLEED??
Great video!Im thinking about building a beetle weight soon for a competition coming up!
Great video! Great arena to start up a 1lb plastic ant or 150g robot league in (with more flashy lights of course)
I would make the areana a little bit bigger than that one of you could afford it to be 6*6
Nice! yours is a little larger then mine, but I designed mine around more "off the shelf" things.
I should do a video on mine at some point
I can assure you everything I used came from a shelf.
FYI, Home Depot or Lowe's will cut sheets of plywood/paneling etc.
Most will make up to like 6 cuts for free, some charge a few cents per cut.
So you can get creative, buy cheaper full sheets, and not touch a saw.
They will also cut lumber, pipe, etc.
Not sure if they will cut metal, angle iron etc, but they usually have a hack saw hanging around in the plumbing area or somewhere, and I have used it to cut stuff down when I was on the road lol
Good stuff. A very neat solution. I'm not sure some casual robo-combat viewers realise the tremendous power modern robot weapons develop. Ants and beetles are scary enough - lethal, even - but testing a middle or heavyweight robot's 60+pound drum or bar spinner at home can't be done safely. That's why robots at the top level (BattleBots/Robot Wars) are often so unreliable. Their motors and electronics haven't been stress-tested before the competition; it's just too darned dangerous outside a proper combat arena.
Wow that sounds intense!
@Logan 1664 - Yep. When you think of what industrial meat-processing machinery looks like, it's scary what people are happy to do in their garages! As you say, even teeny robots these days could kill you - they've got as much bite as a pro-grade chainsaw, so I suppose we all ought to be wearing steel-toe boots, chain-block gloves, chain-block trousers, and full-face shields. Or we could just make a decent safety box like Robert... :-)
What did you use for your metal skirting? I was originally thinking of 1/8" A606 steel 12" x 48" though I am a little worried it might be too hard for the weapons.
Can’t wait to see the finished beetle weight
Just a suggestion. If you made a small cutout at the bottom of one of the side panels, you could run your power cord through that and have it lay down onto the floor. If something did come apart, there would be much less of a chance of cutting the cord, and causing you to have to put up with sparks, fire, and/or tripped breakers. ;-)
I didn't mention it in the video, but the metal skirts are removable for that reason. I haven't gotten around to it, but there will be pass-throughs for this reason. I even have the conduit and cable covers just off screen.
Nice and simple design, just how it should be! I am wondering though, did you include mounting points (or do you plan to do so in the future) on the bots for static testing? With that I mean for the fully assembled bot, not an isolated subassembly.
An example for that could be the static tests done by SpaceX (allright, thats an extreme example) or test runs of turbine engines on those neat test stands
I feel like a test box could be more simple and just made out of wood.
This is super cool! Me and my dad are trying to figure out a cheap way to test our 3lb battle bot. Do you think it would he safe if we made an areana like this but did not have a top? We have a hz spinner so it is unlikely debree would shoot up
But part of a test box is better than no test box!
Ok
@@loganhughes2935 yeah in theory as India and first series of battle bots filmed horizontal heavy's without a proper roof. but if horizontals hit an angle or go unstable could fly up, they can explode flying that bar up. if i where you i wouldn't risk it, its not worth risking your life for 50- 100$. i had one of my ants bars randomly fly off and embed in the wall, a scary encounter but i suppose im still here.
these things are dangerous and should be used with care.
Yeah, I think If I make one I'll do it properly.
i also wonder if you couldn't replace the bracers used on the corners with hinges, so the entire thing can be folded up when not in use, the tape holding the floor of it together would hold well enough to move it, and maintain its flatness, add some hinges to the lexan on the top for it to also be folded away, and you would have a test box you can easily deploy and put away when you want. Worst case you have to pull the hinge pin on 2 sides breaking it down into 4 sections of 2 pieces each, floor, side 1 and 2, and top
yeah, that's totally doable. I did think of that, but just went with the corner brackets instead. I might switch to hinges if it's in the way too often.
Nice. You could make it totally enclosed with a wide angle GoPro clone and lamp to view.
This is totally possible. But then you're assuming the camera can get damaged. The lexan is cheaper (and more durable) than the camera. And seeing things in real time in real life is much nicer.
I'm all for lexan - I just bought six sheets to build a beetle arena. But for a cheap testing arena (where cheap is operative) you can do realtime HD engineering-quality video for under $50.
You can also just put wood on top and mount a cheap $10 webcam internally and connect it to a laptop or tablet to observe.
Would love to see a video of your procedure for balancing your spinner weapon
Stephen Kamin In CAD? It’s kind of boring. It’s just a bunch of trial and error.
Ian McMahon CAD?... if your not putting a bearing on that thing and spinning it to balance it your not getting the full revs...
Ian McMahon just listen to it... when he gives it full revs you can hear it vibrate.
Combat robots is a mind game. Extra noise from vibration also makes the bots seem scarier to your opponent. This can increase the caution of your opponent and lead them to tap out more readily. Vibration that visually causes the bot to shimmy and drive poorly is bad and does need to be corrected as it makes your robot seem worse to your opponent and the judges.
That blade was very well balanced for a combat robot weapon. Most people just don't worry about it on the assumption that it will be even worse after the first match.
I understand your desire for it to be perfect. If it was an internal flyweel, an engine crankshaft, or a propeller, I'd agree with you.
Not trial and error. But Ian is right, it's all done in CAD. Design the majority of the weapon, then calculate center of mass, then create a reference point that's tied to the center of mass and add all your mounting holes and such, based on that hole. I could make a quick video.
I have a antweight vertical spinner, it has 11.1 volts going to the weapon, is that too fast to get a nice grab on the opponent
How long is a piece of string? What's the size of your weapon? Whats the KV of your motor? What the reduction?
what is the name of your new beetleweight
My new beetle is Anxiety Attack.
Where do you find fights/ competitions I have a 1lb not but in Utah I can’t find many. Thanks!
www.robotcombatevents.com/ and buildersdb.com have events listed.
Ask Jerome Miles if he knows.
Great video! Just as a comparison, how much kinetic energy did kamikaze store? 2kj is *almost* in the the feather ballpark :-D
Kamikaze was just below this, maybe 1700J or so? But it never really got up to full speed. Anxiety Attack can get to full speed in under 5 seconds.
@@RobertCowanDIY wow, that's still crazy...
I can't wait for his first fight!
can you replace le lexan by some kind of grid or net? I'm thinking of chicken wire or something of the like.
In theory that sounds like it would work but I would not take my word for it. I also would like a cheaper way to stay safe while testing my battle bot.
DON'T
In lieu of small parts flying out of the box it may be a better idea to use that same mesh to hold down the lexan.
It’s better than open air, but I’d test outside from 30 feet away instead of standing 4 feet away with chicken wire in between. Distance is safety.
Your mileage may vary. I also don’t build horizontals.
i am building a 11 pound robot with a vertical spinner , i wanted to know if a 1000 rpm brushed 12 v motor is enough for the spinner
Not if your goal is to win in the 12lb class. If you just want to make a weapon that spins and can hit soda cans, possibly.
@@ianmcmahon8589 can you clarify what you exactly mean
I'm at an actual computer now which helps. Where in the world are you? Is there a specific requirement that the bot be 11lbs and how good is your opposition?
It would all depend on exactly what 1000 rpm 12v brushed gearmotor you found. My best example of something that could be used moderately successfully meeting these specifications would be a gearmotor from a 12V drill. This could be effectively employed to build a rotary lifter where you use torque rather than kinetic energy to lift the opponent. This works well to combine with a wedge.
The RS-550 driving that 12V drill gearmotor is unlikely to have the power necessary to build a good vertical spinner with fast enough spinup time for the class as it stands today. (12 and 15lb bots are nasty.) It would have been marginal in 2004. However, it would still be fun, and you could hit cans and jugs pretty well in your backyard if you wanted to have fun.
In the US for a good, modern 12lber vertical spinner, we'd be looking at around a 1000-2000 Watt Chinese-rated brushless motor with suitable ESC.
well the motor I am using is a geared one
Void [ ] well what’s the gear ratio?
Hey, would you happen to know where spark fun gets their arena? Do they rent it or own it? And do you know if their are arenas that I could rent for a day?
thanks!
SparkFun doesn't own the arenas, the event organizer does. They don't really get 'rented', since it takes a few people and a day to setup. Message me privately and we can talk.
@@RobertCowanDIY ok thanks! Also do you have and email you would like me to message you through
@@loganhughes2935 You can find my contact information through the 'about' section of my channel.
Sweet thanks
when will the video for the upgraded creepling depression come ?
Hopefully that will be my next video. I'm combining it with the damage recap.
Sooner the better............
sorry its 12.6 volts not 11.1
what type of weapon does anxiety attack have
1 pound overhead spinning bar.