Page 47 - Build Your Own Combat Robot

Build Your Own Combat Robot
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any computer-assisted functions, your bot should be built and tested with all man-
ual control. Once the bot works to your satisfaction, then you can add the auto-
matic features.
All of the preceding design steps should be done, as much as possible, on paper
or CAD before you start cutting parts to assemble the bot. This will save you from
having to remake parts due to design changes. You don’t absolutely need to have
CAD software to do this, but CAD does give you more professional-looking re-
sults. You can use regular old-fashioned graph paper, too. Some people have even
used chalk on their garage floors to design bots in full scale. Do whatever you’re
most comfortable with.

tip Expert machine designers use CAD (computer-aided design) software; so if you want
professional-looking results, you should consider getting a CAD program. CAD is so widely used
among roboteers, in fact, that PTC (makers of Pro/E CAD software) has sponsored the last
three seasons of BattleBots. Each team who showed up at the competition and asked for it
got a free one-year license of the software, which normally retails for $21,000. Other CAD
packages are available for a lot less money.

FIGURE 2-4
This robot, Slap
Happy, was built
using plywood as
templates before
metal parts
were fabricated.
(courtesy of
Dave Owens)