Robo Challenge - Predator

Hello Guys

After years of deliberation, bits of designing, trying to get all the parts I am finally at the stage of starting my new robot :)

Everything is being strictly kept under wraps until the machines debut. It goes without saying however it will certainly be pushing the boundaries of what can be produced in a featherweight and should be a great spectacle for audiences to watch.

I am hoping to have the machine finished by the end of the year, fingers crossed and il keep you posted with some teaser pics :)

Venom running on hydraulics? :twisted:

A pair of flying brushless underpants?

Giant arena sweeping bristlebot?

Nope, now that has given me a few ideas :)

Predator? Wait, no chance of that :P
Just kidding, whatever it is though it's bound to be impressive. Good luck

Should we be worried?

Hmmm - or is this the mini Warhead?

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Metal Demons

Hmmm - or is this the mini Warhead?

---

That I would like to see.

That was the Predator to which I was referring :)
I heard whispers a while back about a new featherweight and if I remember rightly (and assuming they were correct) it's a crusher powered by a complete and custom-built, featherweight-scale hydraulic system.

I think Firestarter from the Netherlands is currently the only other feather in which proper hydraulics have been attempted. Haven't seen that up and running yet so could be a race to see who claims the mantle first :)

bring it on! boner's gonna hump ye! :P

:rofl: :rofl:
Makes for a good motto :proud:

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by typhoon_driver

bring it on! boner's gonna hump ye! :P

---

:rofl: one of my online gaming names was armoured boner

Now you have posted this I want a teaser photo today :)

not confirming or denying any of what has been said :) but yes i hope its impressive, il only know when its built. working on some parts today but a pic of that would give it away sorry :)

Im not the first roboteer to use hydraulics in a featherweight. Presser build by Mischa who also build the Dutch heavyweight Pulverizer is already working hydraulic. Although the system could use some improvements.

I don't want to get too oftopic, but for who is interested I do have some pictures of Firestarter being build.
http://picasaweb.google.com/Jeroenvdlo/Hyraulics#
I also have some design scetches which are not ready yet.
http://picasaweb.google.com/Jeroenvdlo/OverigeFotoS#

Thats easily the best engineered feather weight out there at the moment Jeroen. Congrads :)

Slight thread necromancy but curiosity has the better of me, :uhoh:

What material are those battery pods machined from on overidge?

that crusher looks smart is it ready to run yet? Im not saying thats what im building though :)

A year ago i had 2 steel plates lasercut so i could start practising driving. The drive mechanism is working well, but the hydraulics still need to be finished. That will take another month.

The frame around my battery packs are made of 3D printed Nylon from www.shapeways.com. Also the frame with the dampers is from nylon, but i find it too weak and needs to be machined in 7075 aluminium.

Nice you will have to bring it to the UK champs next year!

Check out the new titanium tail on Venom! Just finishing it off http://plixi.com/p/50411864

Looks awesome James, must of taken ages!!
How much weight did that save from the steel one?

Can you release any more photos of your new creation?

Btw, totally agree with Dave thats some serious engineering quality ther Jeroen. Look forward to seeing that. Have you thought about starting a build diary for it?

Is it a death star?
Or maybe just a pneumatic flipper?

Nah I prefer to think you are building a death star

Cheers sam, i thnk there was over 50% weight save. the new tail is sleeker and with the inside machined out so that helped a lot. New machine is getting there. Just deciding what direction to take it which will have a big impact on the finished machine.

In the mean time if you want to check out a new type of fighting robot check out The Gadget Show tonight. 8pm on FIVE.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by james...venom

Hello Guys

After years of deliberation, bits of designing, trying to get all the parts I am finally at the stage of starting my new robot :)

Everything is being strictly kept under wraps until the machines debut. It goes without saying however it will certainly be pushing the boundaries of what can be produced in a featherweight and should be a great spectacle for audiences to watch.

I am hoping to have the machine finished by the end of the year, fingers crossed and il keep you posted with some teaser pics :)

---

is that predator ?

Looked at Predator last night.... Such a shame to see it in bits....

After 30 seconds deliberation Ive decided to get cracking on it in my spare time. Should make a good build thread as I took pictures of every stage of the build until now. Il gradually upload them so you can see all the nity grity and continue the build until its done. The machine will probably run for demos and maybe combat (depends how im feeling once its done lol)

Cant see me having it finished for the champs as we are really busy however I will make a start. In fact I already have. Last night I fitted the tail servo and made a custom carbon fibre cable to lift it lol. Looks nice and its virtually weightless lol!

LOTS of pics to come very soon :)

Finally :)

Just finished the titanium axles... we are getting there :) ... slowly!

Yay :)

It's already a piece of art and it's not even finished yet, so it'll be fantastic to see it when it's complete. Do you reckon weight will still be tight or have you got a bit more room to manoeuvre now with the availability of lightweight batteries and brushless motors etc?

Its got Lipos but i think i will stick with the single astro for the head as ive already made that mount and its a lot to recreate it.

Check out this little vid of the tail :)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X5XQ1FzisU0

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by james...venom

I have 2 spare Titanium shafts for the bosch 35w motors which i am selling if any one is interested?

---

How much for them?

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by james...venom

I have 2 spare Titanium shafts for the bosch 35w motors which i am selling if any one is interested?

---

If they don't get sold let me know

They are currently available. Check out the for sale thread :) Ive added a pic too

Now sold thank you.

Just working on the drive system at the moment. Its a very small machine if you take off the arms and tail so its quite tricky fitting everything in lol. I will be posting loads of pics very soon from the initial design to where it is now. Should be an interesting read.

Here we go!

From the very beginning. here are the pics I took through out the build of Predator. Loads of pics lol. I will be uploading them gradually. Sorry for the poor pic quality I am taking pictures of my Predator Book. The comments above each pic are the original comments from the book at the time of taking the picture.

Enjoy

Tube frame tacked together.

Front braces curved and welded in.