Cicatrix Build Diary

[Anttazz]

Yup, it will be, probably not possible actually. It'll work fine without one though so isn't too big of an issue.

[Anttazz]

Well, that didn't go so well.

Eric Jr didn't even make it to the start line after the battery died as did the battery connector on the bot, so that'll all need re-soldered and a new battery. The ants were killed by the Royal Mail so they didn't make it, also the deadline was really just too tight to get them all properly built in time, especially when I didn't really know what to do when I got them. Got one of them kind of working but not really what I was looking for

So it was left to Cicatrix to do the demo, and after about 10 seconds one of the motor terminals managed to break off leaving him only able to go round in circles. Also, the floor wasn't quite flat enough and he got beached regularly.

Ah well, a lot to learn from for next time!

[RogueTwoRobots]

Ah the joys of taking your robots out for a spin at a public event swiftly followed by the embarrassment of having them break down/not work/generally fail almost immediately. Been there, done that, got the red face.

Like you said though, it's a good learning experience and the thing is that the robots don't even need to be moving to generate interest so people will no doubt still have enjoyed it. Was there a good range of costumes in the tennis tourney?

[Anttazz]

Yeah it was well attended, more than last year even with me on the sidelines. Had all sorts from Zombies to Surgeons and I think there was even someone dressed as a pint of Guinness. Lots of great costumes and good fun all round, can;t ask for more than that.

Cicatrix ripped a lot of paint from the floor of the room it was in too, hope no one notices that . They worked up until a point where the interest was already generated and I just deactivated them for people to look at, so it wasn't a total failure. Next year we'll have Eric to bring along though and he will have unimpeachable reliability :wink:

[Anttazz]

Got a lot of messages regarding my molasses rust fix I used on Scar so will post a bit about it on here.

I basically just made a solution roughly 1:10 of molasses sugar and water and let it soak in there for a couple of weeks then blasted it with a jet washer/gave it a clean when I took it out, worked really well and cost me 88p from Asda*. The hardest thing was finding a container big enough. Also, make sure you do something with it after you've taken it out/cleaned it etc as it begins to corrode again surprisingly quickly!


* http://www.mysupermarket.co.uk/asda-com ... _500g.html

[Anttazz]

Early Christmas for the robots this year:

Heavyweight ESC


Featherweight Spinner Motor


Also in the process of getting the drum designs completed. Jamie has yet again, legendarily, offered to amend the drum designs to suit the robot as it is in practise which we will get made and hopefully get it ready for a Robochallenge event next year. Which is good, because after only 2 events I was getting pretty bored of running a rambot...

Still can't really work on the heavies with this funny ankle, but hoping to fix the problems with Cicatrix before starting work on the drum pod when the drum design is finalised. Eric Jr needs new batteries....will do that sometime too....

[Anttazz]

For anyone who hasn't seen these speed controllers in the past, before I send them off to their new owner, I thought i'd take a photo to illustrate the size issues we were having that made me change from 4QD's to a Roboteq.

[jonny]

Tony do you still want the hydraulic tanks ?

[Anttazz]

I reckon so Jonny.

[Anttazz]

Right, haven't written anything of note in this for months now. So, I will upload my pictures of the refit of Rover later this evening and also some information about how the Gimson Robotics wheels are working. Got most of it running at the moment, just need to fit a BEC then we're all finished.

Here it how it looked when I got hold of it on sunday:


More pictures to come in about 3 hours or so