Oh boy oh boy oh boy...

Now how do I put this?

It's been a while since I've been on this. And yes, I'm still wishing to build such a robot. And all my ideas have been evolving ever since I've drawn out the first idea. I've even sent a couple of questions to Ask-Aaron. Yes, I'm that "Sheffield."

Not only that, but emisnug even replied to it.

To answer all his bulletpoints on there, which will be linked here, I'm 23, I'm no longer in any education which means access to any CAD software is extremely limited, I've attempted to cost it all out, but with more and more ideas flowing into my head, that's difficult to accurately cost it all out, I have to factor in my autism stuff, so my socialising is extremely hampered, and not only that, I'm having an extremely tough time convincing my mother to let me build one, as she is practically my carer. She says I have "no space to work in (We have an entire back garden to work in and a couple of sheds), no experience (how am I supposed to get experience if I don't try?) no money (eBay's a thing and so is researching), and no equipment (not like I'm going to be doing any welding, and there's a B&Q just a 20min drive away.)." How does one convince a parental figure into letting me do so? Build a small prototype out of wood/cardboard? Draw it all out and tell her where I can get all the stuff from? I'm rather stuck for ideas, and could really do with some help.

So with that in mind, I'm just going to throw all my ideas out on here. And maybe even try to make a (very) rough digital drawing of what I have in mind, but at some point, I will be attempting to draw it out on paper and make it as detailed as possible.

To start off with, chassis wise, I'm hoping to get 30milx30mil box steel tubing. How they're going to be connected is most likely going to be gusset plating and bolts, as I have no experience in welding.
The drive system I would like would be four wheeled, chain driven in a tank-style configuration, being run off of either an electric scooter motor or a wheelchair motor, depending on what the budget I'd have once I finally convince my elder. The wheels are a bit of a unknown at the moment, so I will update on that as soon as possible.
Batteries I would hope for LiPo or anything of the sort, as long as it can get the motors to move.
The ESC and RC I'm willing to splash out on a little bit because if I can't control it, then it's not a robot, it's a hunk of metal.
Shape-wise, I would love to go for a low box, but going from the front to near the middle, I'd love to go for a kind of a pyramid style wedge, and on top of such a shape, the weapon.
Armor I can try to contact John Findlay for some hardox, seeming as that can withstand punishment. Some panels I can skimp on and go for some polycarbonate, such as the bottom of the robot or the back half of it.
As for the weapon itself, it's still kind of in the dark area. I was thinking either a sledgehammer or a pickaxe, but I have no idea how to do pneumatic systems, so it'd have to be electrical. I have ideas for how it'd swing but I'm not sure if it'd be effective enough.

So... yeah... those are just ideas at the moment, so if anything I may end up switching things out for different ideas. Fingers crossed I can try to get things mocked up at least.

Any input would be great, as I've been wanting to build a robot for the past... oh god, 13 years now... and I've never really had the chance to do so.

Cheers,

DJ

Your best bet to get your mom onboard is to start off with a simple featherweight. Those can be build for roughly 200 pounds (but can ramp up to several hundreds more if you choose higher grade parts) My father used to scoff at the notion I could build a combat robot when I first started untill I build a mobile platform and drove it around the yard. He became much more supportive as I kept researching and learning about the methods and techniques involved.

Niels is correct. Start small and go from there. Start with a feather, beetle or even an ant weight and show your mum that you can put something basic together. She will likely be more supportive if she can see that.

Heya, may not be the most well structured reply but i want to go through the bullet points youve mentioned.

Q: I'm no longer in any education which means access to any CAD software is extremely limited

A: I designed and built a featherweight using just paper. Drawing around the components, and designing using cardboard. Infact, if you go to my facebook page "https://www.facebook.com/AblazeCombatRobotics/" you can see me designing and building a new heavyweight last year using just cardboard.

Q: I have to factor in my autism stuff, so my socialising is extremely hampered

A: Doesnt stop you doing anything dont worry, there are many members in the community on the spectrum and it doesnt negatively affect you in any way.

Q: I have "no space to work in

A: Neither do i. I have a garage without power 100m down the road - or a front garden without cover and a simply a socket outside my front door. I usually use the front door option - look at my pages "Featherweight 2016" photo album and youll see said front garden and some cardboard designing.

Q: no experience

A: Start small, work your way up. Just be realistic and youll gradually get there

Q: no money

A: Cant help you there, however a combat robot isnt much compared to many other sports if you choose to give them up. For example season tickets to some football clubs are £2k nowadays. Thats the way i justify it anyway :P

Note: You can easily make a featherweight for £200. Id say aim for £200-250 with a budget of £300. Thats what some of the schools im organising atm are doing

Q: How does one convince a parental figure into letting me do so

A: If you find out the answer, please let me know :P

Personally i just used my own birthday money ect to pay for it in the beginning. Ive since got a job though which helps.

With regards to design, i can help you make a basic cheap kit from various sources which just needs a chassis - its the same as what i give to the schools. Question is really in terms of budget, it could be made cheaper but you have to question reusability and quality against just going cheap.

The sport is unfortunately the biggest compromise game youll ever play. Youll never get everything you want, and if you do it probably wont last long until that thing becomes obsolete. Have a think through your priorities, and post them here and im sure people will help :)