Page 6 - Build Your Own Combat Robot

Contents For more information about this book, click here.

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS, XI
INTRODUCTION, XIII

1 Welcome to Competition Robots 1
What Is a Robot?, 5
Combat Robot Competitions, 5
BattleBots, 7
Robot Wars, 9
BotBash, 11
Robotica, 13
FIRST (For Inspiration and Recognition of Science
and Technology), 14
Robot Soccer, 16
The Scope of This Book, 17
2 Getting Started 21
The Robot Design Approach, 23
The Game of Compromise, 29
Design for Maintenance, 31
Start Building Now, 33
Testing, Testing, Testing, 34
Top Ten Reasons Why a Robot Fails, 34
Sources of Robot Parts, 35
Cost Factors in Large Robot Construction, 35
Safety, 36
Safety in the Use of Shop Tools, 37
Safety with Your Robot, 37

3 Robot Locomotion 41
Robots with Legs, 42
Tank Treads: The Power of a Caterpillar Bulldozer in a Robot, 45
Building Tank Treads for a Robot, 46
Wheels: A Tried and True Method of Locomotion, 47
Types of Steering, 47
Wheel Configurations, 50
Selecting Wheels for Your Combat Robot, 51
Tires, 53
Mounting and Supporting the Wheels and Axles, 54
Wheel Drive Types, 57
Protecting Your Robot’s Wheels, 59 v
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