Hello all! I'm a little nervous posting a thread about building a robot, since it has always been a childhood dream of mine. It's hard to imagine it actually happening! Anyway, I feel I should do a short introduction for myself before I do anything, if you don't mind.
I'm Miles, and I've been a huge fan of robotic combat since I was three years old. I'm now fifteen and have discovered featherweights quite recently so I thought I could try to build one. However, I have almost no experience of hands on mechanics or electronics, doing two years of D&T before dropping it at GCSE (and then I decided mechanics were really interesting and I should build a robot). My parents know as little as I do, but I at least have access to teachers and all the basic equipment. What I have done is followed this forum very closely for about three months, and I've picked up quite a lot, enough at least to start designing.
The robot I have in mind will have to be on a budget, but I'd like to have some sort of flipper with a twist. I'll get on to that. First priority is getting a moving robot together. I have limited knowledge, experience and cash, but I think I have a good grasp on tactics, and I'm sure I have enough of an interest, to build myself a robot which I'll be calling Torrent (the name doesn't seem to be taken). I'm learning fast, but feel free to treat me like an idiot, because I know very little about electronics and mechanics. I'll put together a simple parts list of all the important bits which look like they could work, but in the meantime, I'm going to GSL tomorrow, and again on Sunday, and it would mean a lot to me if I could have a talk to one of you about building a fighting machine, though I know I can't go backstage.
Anyway, once again, hello Roboteers! My seven-year-old self would be amazed that I'm saying that!