Im doing my engineering coursework on a combat robot and i was wondering if people could fill in my questionnaire. It wont be long and its just some general questions about building a robot. It would be greatly appreciated by me and my group.
Might not be what you were planning, but it would be great to have an online questionaire, Im sure youd get lots and lots of people taking part then.
Im pretty sure theres a few free programs that can make that kind of thing, just a case of looking around probably.
yeh that might be a good idea. i still need to write up the questionnaire and just seeing if theres any interest.
Ill fill it in, if its not too long.
As a community were all here to help, encourage and generally help u build a kick ass robot. Mark you put your qestionaire up and well do the rest
Ok im done. The file is here and id prefer if you filled in the word doc however the questionnaire is below for those who dont want to download the file.
http://hyperupload.com/download/a53ddd72/Questionnaire_for_combat_robot_builders.doc.htmlhttp://hyperupload.com/download/a53d...robot_builders .doc.html
Experience with combat robots:
1. What materials are commonly used in the construction of combat robots and for what parts?
Material Use Advantages Disadvantages
2. What health and safety measures are to be taken into consideration when constructing/ running a combat robot?
3. What common problems do you meet when designing a combat robot and how would you avoid them?
4. What chassis shapes are:
a. Strongest and most stable?
b. Most practical to build?
c. Most appealing to the audience?
5. What surface finish is most appealing to you? (Eg. Unfinished, polished, painted)
6. How would you fasten the armour to the chassis?
Other comments related to health and safety, design, manufacture and operating of combat robots:
If you have any pictures or details of your own robot(s) please could you send these to help with research of similar products.
From the position of a communications scientist: very good questionaire ! Not too big and delightfully to the point.
Dont worry about the interest. Im going to transfer your message to the Dutch/Belgian and the German fora, their input may be interesting given cultural differences.
Experience with combat robots:
1. What materials are commonly used in the construction of combat robots and for what parts?
Material Use Advantages Disadvantages
Ive used pretty much all the materials you can think of in my robotic projects over time. Heres a few comments on each of the main ones:
Wood - I used this in my first two machines, 20mm thick mahogany to be exact. It was cheap and very easy to work with. I later had problems with it splitting, particularly with sir killalot sitting on it... but thats a different story
Polycarbonate - One of the most common materials used in combat robots these days, especially in featherweights. It can be found quite cheaply from some places, and is very easy to cut/form. It is very impact resistant in most cases, but is prone to shattering.
Polypropelene (commonly known as polypro)- This is a great material. It can be found at great prices from several different places, heres a cheap online one: http://www.westwardplastics.co.uk/d_selector.php?page=2&cat=polyprop&subcat1=%&subca t2=%http://www.westwardplastics.co.uk/d_...op&subcat1=%&s ubcat2=%
It can be cut very easily, with the simplest of tools. It takes impacts well, it doesnt shatter, it just dents and absorbs the impact more. (note that it doesnt tap or screw together nicely).
Aluminium - Can be easily machined and cut. Is very tough, and comes in all kinds of grades from very soft to surprisingly tough. Can be quite hard to find low cost sources, but usually you can get it at good prices.
Steel - This is the oldie of materials, used for years and years since the dawn or robot wars. Its tough (different grades, as with aluminium) and is sometimes easily formed. It can be found very cheaply. One of the best reasons to use this though is that it can be easily welded, which can create some of the strongest joints. Downside though is its weight.
Titanium - This is often seen as the best material for fighting robots (but hardox may have something to say about that!). Its incredibly tough (comes in different grades, usually the better the grade for combat robots, the more expensive it is) and is incredibly lightweight for its strength. Downsides are its cost and its ease of cutting/forming. The best way to cut this is probably with a waterjet.
Hardox - This is the new material on the block and it has become very popular very quickly. Its got a weight similar to that of steel, but is much much stronger stuff and can be found really quite cheaply. Isnt very easy to cut/form, best way is probably with a waterjet. Its probably stronger than most grades of titanium, but it too comes in different grades. Some of the higher grades are now being used in featherweights as spinning disc material.
2. What health and safety measures are to be taken into consideration when constructing/running a combat robot?
When building my machines I just stick with common sense - trying not to cut my hand open for example. Try to follow set instructions for various tools. Get some protective gear for angle grinding (or cutting stuff in general), especially when cutting titanium or forming fibre stuff like carbon fibre/fibreglass which is nasty stuff.
3. What common problems do you meet when designing a combat robot and how would you avoid them?
I dont ever really run into problems. I just design around the components that I have available and try to make allowances for small changes in the design as I go along.
4. What chassis shapes are:
a. Strongest and most stable?
b. Most practical to build?
c. Most appealing to the audience?
a) Solid welded chassis, if welded professionally and accurately.
b) Solid steel welded chassis if you know how to weld, or a simple bolted together chassis if you dont.
c) No particular type I dont think
5. What surface finish is most appealing to you? (Eg. Unfinished, polished, painted)
Its good to have a robot painted but its really not worth polishing a machine when its about to get (at least) pretty scratched up.
6. How would you fasten the armour to the chassis?
Some chassis types are both the armour and chassis as one piece. These are usually stronger, as there is more weight for the armour. I personally use bolts to fasten the armour to the chassis most of the time as it allows for easy quick repairs.
If you have any pictures or details of your own robot(s) please could you send these to help with research of similar products.
Youll find everything here: http://www.micro-maul.co.ukhttp://www.micro-maul.co.uk
Oh yes, if anyone finds it useful, heres an ultra simple diagram for wiring up a robot with an IBC speedo (more coming soon) lol.
http://www.micro-maul.co.uk/images/ajcircuit.jpghttp://www.micro-maul.co.uk/images/ajcircuit.jpg
(made for AJ if anyone asks
Hehe
If you can wait a couple of days, Ill send some pictures of a robot just finished to you.
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