Corvis (temp bot name) rough ideas.

[daliad100]

If you keep the mass of the ram and spike down and move it very fast (low moving mass + high flow rate) then you have a chance of stabbing through something.

As mass of the spike is <<< robot mass then they shouldn't get flung apart as much but still pack a punch due to having a lot of momentum. High velocity should also reduce the time the impulse acts making for lots of force. You could try recessing the spike into your robot so it has ample time to accelerate before hitting anything.

[Liftoff]

If you keep the mass of the ram and spike down and move it very fast (low moving mass + high flow rate) then you have a chance of stabbing through something.

I think it should be the other way round, the spike should be made from very heavy material like tungsten and be made as small as possible - same principle as used on armour piercing KE rounds. Having said that, I cant see a crosbow launched tethered projectile attaining the velocity of a cannon launched KE penetrator... But still worth a try!

[Bacon Wizard]

You could try recessing the spike into your robot so it has ample time to accelerate before hitting anything.

That's the plan. But I don't yet know how large the bow itself needs to be to generate the required forces. That'll pretty-much dictate the rest of the bot's design.

I'm counting on the reverse-energy configuration to help. Here's an example of perhaps the market leader for ordinary bows right now. Imagine mine with the arms 10 x thicker and the whole thing narrower.



Cocking it is also a concern. I could end-up with something that takes 30 secs to re-cock but which nobody want's to get hit-by. Or it could be weedy and quick. I need to do some proper maths.