Getting Started in Robotics

From Bots High

There are lots of robotics programs out there, including a lot that involve kits.
This guide is mostly about building combat robots from scratch, using parts that
you can buy online or at a hobby shop, and which you can reuse over and over
in different robots.

The goal of combat robotics (or BattleBots) is simple: To build a robot that can
destroy another robot while not being destroyed itself. The only restriction is the
weight limit for the different categories, which ranges from 35 grams (1/10 lb.)
to 120 lbs. That's where the skill comes in. Do you opt for a heavier, more
powerful weapon, or do you reinforce your shell with thicker metal? Do you go
for maneuverability or better resilience?

To get ready for the rest of the course download the free and extremely useful
RioBotz Combot Tutorial. It's over 350 pages of detailed information on

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everything you'll need to build a robot, from materials to motors to electronics to
competing in events.

BUILDING AND OPERATING COMBAT ROBOTS CAN BE DANGEROUS. DO NOT BUILD OR

OPERATE A COMBAT ROBOT UNLESS YOU ARE QUALIFIED TO DO SO, OR ARE SUPERVISED BY
A RESPONSIBLE AND QUALIFIED ADULT

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El Cheapo Bot
You don't need to spend a lot of money to make a great robot. That's because
more money doesn't make better bots; good engineering does. There are lots of
stories about $500 robots beating $10,000 ones. So don't be intimidated or think
competing is too expensive.

For some examples of small, inexpensive 3-lb. robots, take a look at the video
clip on the right.

Then check out the links below for some of the cheapest parts available on the
Web, courtesy of Will Bales. These are geared towards a 15- lb. robot, which is
the lightest weight class for BattleBots.

And don't forget – since many parts are reusable, you can start small and work
your way up to larger robots without having to buy all-new components.

For construction techniques, refer to the RioBotz Combat Tutorial (download for
free).

Motors, Battery, and Charger

First thing you'll need are some motors. The cheapest you'll find are the ones in
cordless drills. Not only do you get a motor, but you get a battery and charger!

Harbor Freight has them for less than $20. You'll need two to drive (one for each
side). Three if you want a weapon. You'll break apart the drill and take out the
motor.

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18 Volt Cordless 3/8" Drill/Driver with Keyless Chuck

$18.99 - HarborFreight.com

Wheels
Next, you'll need some wheels. Robot MarketPlace has a really good selection.

Wheels & Tires

RobotMarketplace.com

Colson Wheel 3 x 7/8

$2.95 - RobotMarketplace.com

Speed controller
You'll connect these to your motors for driving or your weapon. Some
commentary on each part included from Will.

Scorpion XL Speed Controller

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$104.99 - RobotMarketplace.com

Just drive. Will do two motors and can use a cheaper transmitter.

Scorpion XXL v2 Speed Controller

$159.99

Like one above but more powerful. Can control more powerful motors and put
more power into driving.

40A Waterproof Speed Controller with Reverse

$39.99

Single controller. Can do weapon or single wheel.

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BaneBots 12-45 Reversible Brushed ESC

$57.00

BaneBots. Tried and True.

Sabertooth 25 Dual 25A Motor Driver

$124.99

Dual control. Built in mixing.

Transmitter
This is what you'll use to drive your robot.

Hobby King 2.4Ghz 6Ch Tx & Rx V2

$22.99

Cheap 6 Channel Transmitter. No mixing. Includes the receiver needed to work

with it.

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Hobby King GT-2 2.4Ghz 2Ch Tx & Rx

$14.99

2 Channel “Pistol-Grip” Transmitter. No mixing. Comes with receiver.

TURNIGY V-Tail Mixer

$2.95

External Mixer. Mixing affects type of driving (tank, where one joystick controls
one wheel, or normal, where everything is controlled by one joystick.)

Materials
McMaster-Carr - Hardware, Metal, Pulleys, Chains, belts, glue, etc.

SDP/SI - All you could ever need regarding transmission (belts, pulleys and such)

Online Metals - Cheaper metal than McMaster, but with less choices

Speedy Metals - Cheapest Metal in largest variety of shapes and sizes, limited
alloys

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Also check your local hardware stores, junk yards and scrap yards. You can also
probably score scrap parts from metal or wood shops, especially if you play the
student card.

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Inside 15 lb. Fluffy
Fluffy is a 15-lb. robot that was built by Will, Alex and Tyler at Ransom-
Everglades.

Check out the list of Fluffy's components and Will Bales' comments below to see
what goes into a winning robot design.

Speed Controllers

Banebots BB 12-45 ESC

$57.00

Used for drive motors. "Not good at voltages at or above 14.8V, as we learned
the hard way."

Phoenix-180 Brushless Motor Control

$299.95

Used for weapon motor.

Batteries
Thunder Power 3300mAh Six Cell 6S 22.2V LiPoly Pack

$149.99

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"Originally, we had a 5000mAh 6S LiPo battery crammed inside. Later on, we put
these batteries in for weight purposes, but they worked just fine."

Motors

P60 Gearbox: Stock, Standard Shaft, RS-540/550 Mount, 26:1

$54.50 - Drive Motors

"We used 36mm Banebots Planetary Gearboxes with a 36:1 reduction.

Unfortunately, those aren’t around anymore either. The next best thing would
probably be the P60 gear motor, their new version."

1950

Weapon Motor

"These are waaaay too expensive for your first robot, but they are amazing."

Transmitter and Receiver

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Spektrum DX3S 3-Channel DSM

$249.99

Drive Transmitter

Spektrum DX6i 6-channel 2.4Ghz DSMX Radio Transmitter

$159.99

Weapon Transmitter: "We used the original DX6, but that is no longer made, so
this is the closest thing"

Parts
Weapon, body, etc. "All of the parts for this robot were manufactured by a
machine shop in China. It was an interesting lesson in international commerce.
We also got custom Titanium screws for weight and because of a countersink
dimension error on all of the parts (3 sets of parts)."

SDP/SI - Belts and pulleys

AliBaba - Connects you with manufacturers.

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Inside 120 lb. Fluffy
What can we say about an insane 120-lb. killer robot? Created, like his
predecessor, by the crack team at Ransom-Everglades, Fluffy De Large is the
meanest thing on 8 wheels.

Once again, Will Bales gives us a look at what goes into building a winning robot.
See below for a list of Fluffy De Large's insides and what makes them special.

Speed Controllers

Phoenix ICE HV 160

$319.95

Weapon speed controller

Mamba Monster

Drive speed controller

"Mamba Monster Speed Controllers have a setting for brushed motors which we
used. NEVER EVER blew up once!"

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Wheels

Colson Wheel 3 x 7/8

$2.95

"Colsons are light, strong, and cheap to replace when one gets completely
chewed up in a battle."

Batteries
"We used two of the original 5000mAh 6S LiPo packs from the original Fluffy in
series to power our weapon. The drive motors were powered by two 4350 mAh
4S LiPo packs in parallel. Neither of these battery packs are available any more
because they’ve been quickly outdated by unbelievably powerful replacements."

Motors

Magnum 775 Planetary Gearmotor

$89.99

"We used these gearboxes, but with Traxxas Titan 775 motors. The included
motors instantly let the magic blue smoke out of them. Other than that issue,
these gearboxes have so far been problem-free."

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Titan 775 Motor 10T, 16.8V

$36.90

Traxxas Titan 775

HXT 80-85-A 250Kv Brushless Outrunner

Weapon Motors
Transmitter and Receiver

Spektrum DX3S 3-Channel DSM

$249.99

Drive Transmitter

Spektrum DX6i 6-channel 2.4Ghz DSMX Radio Transmitter

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$159.99

Weapon Transmitter: "We used the original DX6, but that is no longer made, so
this is the closest thing"

Parts

▪ McMaster-Carr for hardware and some special steel alloys.

▪ Online Metals for Aluminum and S7 tool steel for the weapon teeth
and armor.

▪ Speedy Metals for some metal and the weapon drum.

▪ SDP-SI for all of our belts and pulleys, except for the weapon pulleys
which we made

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Resources
We hope this very brief introduction gets you on track to build your own robot, or
that at the very least you enjoyed learning about this great hobby. Below is the
promised list of resources, which should include everything you ever wanted to
know about Combat Robotics. If you don’t find what you need or have any
questions, feel free to contact us.

CAD Software
Once you get more involved in robotics and engineering, you’ll want to first build
your robot virtually in a CAD program. You’ll also need to design parts in a CAD
program if you want to use a CNC mill (basically a computer controlled mill) or
for 3D printing, which is becoming extremely popular and affordable.

SolidWorks (Student)

AutoCAD (Student) – Free student version

SketchUp – From Google, it’s completely free and a good introduction to CAD,
but is not accurate enough for actual manufacturing. However, you can export
files from SketchUp that you can then import into SolidWorks or AutoCAD.

Resources
Links to buy parts online and what local places could people search for to find
electronics and basic materials?

Robot MarketPlace

Robotshop

Hobby King

Hobby City

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Hobby Lobby

Tower Hobbies

Lots more parts, tutorials, task and combat

competitions
Click to view the huge list online.

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