A new comer

Hello, im looking to build a featherweight robot as a project for uni, but im not too sure where to start. ive been reading up on the forum, to get an idea of parts to look out for. so far, i know ill have to buy a cordless drill and strip it, to get the motor, the gearbox and the battery. battery value should be 12-14.4v. itll be a great help if you guys could give me a push in the correct direction. ive also come across a section in the forum that shows a layout of the drive system, im not too sure if i could use that particular method, or if there are other methods. thank you.

Hoi there,

On drive lay outs, there are as much options as you can imagine. But the most used in feathers are 2 and 4 wheel drives.
With the 4 wheel drive, the 4 wheels are in the corners.
2Wheel drive, I opt for wheels just behind the center of gravity.

Batterydrill drives, Never used them myself. So I cant give direct applicable advice.

In my opinion cordless drills are great for featherweights- my robot whirlpool uses 4, 12volt drills and has more than enough pushing power.

Heres a video of it at the London Expo last weekend pushing a 12kg beer barrel around (the batteries were running low when it was filmed) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lo5dafd-MGghttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lo5dafd-MGg

Whirlpool is a quality robot.

What speedos are in there Will?

I like the lights.

Thanks for the nice comments.

We use a scorpion XL speedo in whirlpool but we have 2 small PC fans fitted to keep it cool.

we use them little blue speedos from leo

they have worked fine for ages now prob over a yr

think its time to get them changed just incase they go boom in a comp soon lol

and beauty use drill motors and is pretty powerful and speedy for what is it

Get two or four drills-maplin do powerful 18v cordless drills for about £13.

http://www.maplin.co.uk/Module.aspx?ModuleNo=221018&source=2001&doy=28m10http://www.maplin.co.uk/Module.aspx?...2001&doy=28m10

You can use the batteries out of these to power your drive.

Go to technobots and get two electronise speed controllers-

http://www.technobots.co.uk/acatalog/Online_Catalogue_Electronize_Speed_Controllers_351 .htmlhttp://www.technobots.co.uk/acatalog...Speed_Controll ers_351.html

While your there get the 40mhz 4ch transmitter-

http://www.technobots.co.uk/acatalog/Online_Catalogue_4_Channel_Technobots_40MHz_251.ht mlhttp://www.technobots.co.uk/acatalog...chnobots_40MHz _251.html

E-mail James Cooper and get some wheels off of him-whatever size you want(75mm,100mm,125mm and 150mm).These come with a nut in the wheel that just screws sraight on to your drill motors.

Go to your local metal/plastic stockholders and get a load of polycarbonate out of the scrap bin(6mm upwards should be enough).For about £30.

A decent robot for about £150.

I dont think ive missed anything-but if i have im sure someone will point it out.

Perhaps someone more exsperianced will give you better suggestions.

Hope i helped anyway.

Dan.

cheers fellows

all your comments helped me alot. thanks again
Francis

I dont know if you saw this already:

http://www.fightingrobots.co.uk/discus/messages/89/10050.html?1193653253http://www.fightingrobots.co.uk/disc...tml?1193653253

Perfect for a first feather.