Build Your Own Combat Robot

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N this chapter, we’ll conclude our discussion of building combat robots by offering
two first-person accounts from veteran robot builders. Contributor Ronni
Katz recounts her experience building Chew Toy for a past Robot Wars event, and
co-author Pete Miles tells what it took to construct his machine Live Wires for a
Robotica competition.
A lot of the technical details covered previously in the book will be addressed in
some fashion in each builder’s story. The steps they went through to build their
machines are similar to what many builders go through constructing their robots,
especially newer builders. Although their methods are not presented here as the
only way to build a robot, they are intended to inform the reader as to the particular
methods these builders chose to build their machines.
Anyone who builds a robot is going to do things in his or her own way; still, it’s
a good idea to keep in mind what methods others have used. When you begin your
project, talk to others who have built robots and ask them about their experiences—what
worked and what didn’t. Learn from others’ mistakes, and duplicate
those efforts that worked well.
Ronni Katz—Building Chew Toy
I have competed in several Robot Wars competitions and have come up with three
different designs. For this discussion, I will be using my lightweight design, Chew
Toy, as the example model. Of the three possible entries, this one is the most basic
robot that was actually a “garage-built” robot created using easily obtainable
parts and tools that most builders either already own or can acquire.
First, I will cover the research and conception stage and the preconstruction
phase. The latter phase comprises everything you do short of cutting the metal and
welding it together. Figure 14-1 shows Chew Toy.
Step 1: Research
If your introduction to robot combat has come only from watching TV, you need
to know much more before you begin building your first bot. First, it’s a good idea
to get familiar with the current rules for whatever competition you have in mind