Is it possible to run an onboard compressor without discharging the batteries prematurely? When we first built Terminal Ferocity back in 1999 (a slower gentler era in Robot Wars), we have a petrol-powered chainsaw on top and did consider running a compressor using a belt drive off that, but ran out of space to put it in.

I have heard on a liquid-nitrogen powered robot in a non-fighting application before. I wonder if anyone has thought of using CO2 to provide the drive via a couple of air motors, as well as the weapon?