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