Another New Antweight..

All things antweight

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Rapidrory
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Re: Another New Antweight..

Post by Rapidrory »

This is Chocolate Bot; proof that you can and probably shouldn't build an antweight in half an hour..

Image

I needed something to test out the new ESC boards that just came back from china, and Lionel's a little too compact to use in testing, so decided to throw something together :P

It's surprisingly good all things considered; even managed to flip over Lionel! Unlikely to make an appearance at the next AWS, but you never know :L
Rory Mangles - Team Nuts

Robots: Nuts 2 and many more...

NanoTwo Motor Controllers: https://nutsandbots.co.uk/product/nanotwodualesc
Remote-Controlled Dave
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Re: Another New Antweight..

Post by Remote-Controlled Dave »

Please enter that. Please? Please! Its the kind of robot entered for a laugh that ends up coming 4th or something.
Die Gracefully Robotics
Winner - AWS 39
Rapidrory
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Re: Another New Antweight..

Post by Rapidrory »

I would, but the motors aren't mine and I may need those wheels for something more serious... Though if I can, I will :L
Would need a little bit of tweaking/ actual soldering/ more cellotape first, but not more than perhaps another 5 mins worth :P

It even self rights so is already doing better than lionel :roll:
Rory Mangles - Team Nuts

Robots: Nuts 2 and many more...

NanoTwo Motor Controllers: https://nutsandbots.co.uk/product/nanotwodualesc
Rapidrory
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Re: Another New Antweight..

Post by Rapidrory »

Did a quick video to demonstrate the silliness of ChocolateBot! I love driving this thing around; it's so comical :P

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kTxvbMn ... SCHzqPS4jQ

I think it may well end up in the next AWS, as I've got a whole load of motors coming from china now. May build a thin polycarbonate chassis inside just so it has a bit of structural integrity, and to give me something to attach the motors to (they're currently held in with Blutack! :L). Also'll need to slim down a bit as its 5 inches across, and too tall to squeeze it in on the diagonal..
Rory Mangles - Team Nuts

Robots: Nuts 2 and many more...

NanoTwo Motor Controllers: https://nutsandbots.co.uk/product/nanotwodualesc
Remote-Controlled Dave
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Re: Another New Antweight..

Post by Remote-Controlled Dave »

Ace. Funny how a basic wedge flipper can be made so much more interesting with a few fun changes. Reminds me of Peter's last Flippant.
Die Gracefully Robotics
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Rapidrory
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Re: Another New Antweight..

Post by Rapidrory »

Well, having fought in both the 'Reading University Antweight Cup' tournaments today, both Nuts and Lionel lost every fight they were in, despite Nuts' awesome destructive power :P :

Image

Nuts did destroy Inertia 9.1, but lost the fight in the process.

Basically what I learnt from this is I could do with a more competitive ant. On the plus side I now have 5 Rxs, 16 gear motors, and a big box of ESCs now, so I've got a few shots to get it right! Not sure what my plan is yet; I'm hoping to come up with something before the AWS. Going to have to have a bit of a play around when I get back home

On the plus side, 8 out of the 10 ants competing today were running various versions of the N2xV, and all ran perfectly all day, despite getting smashed around a lot. Nice to get some decent testing in :) I'm also developing a little lashed together effects board to run off the 'gear' channel just for a bit of fun. All it'll do is activate some flashing lights and/or sound when the gear channel is switched; It'll basically be the equivalent of a very simple servo switch. Just thought it'd make for some cool effects/ pass the boredom of post exam uni life :roll:
Rory Mangles - Team Nuts

Robots: Nuts 2 and many more...

NanoTwo Motor Controllers: https://nutsandbots.co.uk/product/nanotwodualesc
Rapidrory
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Re: Another New Antweight..

Post by Rapidrory »

Ok, so I got bored... which is dangerous at the best of times, buut this time I got carried away and bought enough parts to build 8 (yes 8!) antweights. Seeing as I now have no money left to do anything else, I decided to sit down and make up some chassis. However seeing as can only enter a max of 4 at a time to the AWS, I decided I could play around with something a little more entertaining that didn't have to stick to the rules...

Meet Mr Burns, my little antweight flame-thrower :D :

Image

It is just a test bed at the moment really, therefore currently resembles a ball of pipes, tanks and valves... however still spits a pretty decent flame: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RAune5F ... SCHzqPS4jQ

It runs of liquid butane from a lighter refill bottle, so my problem at the moment is that of the C02 flippers in the heavier classes where my gas pressure drops and has to rebuild as the liquid butane slowly vaporises every time the weapon fires. Unfortunately the pilot light runs off the same tank, which means it has a habit of going out if I'm not careful to just fire short bursts. I'm planning to modify a refillable lighter as a secondary tank for the pilot light to help avoid this, and also possibly build a better chassis at some point.
Rory Mangles - Team Nuts

Robots: Nuts 2 and many more...

NanoTwo Motor Controllers: https://nutsandbots.co.uk/product/nanotwodualesc
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peterwaller
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Re: Another New Antweight..

Post by peterwaller »

That looks fantastic I think the main reason flame throwers are banned is because we wouldn't be able to find venues that would allow them on health and safety grounds.
I did have a play with a gas lighter in the early days but never got anywhere near that good a flame. :o
Remote-Controlled Dave
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Re: Another New Antweight..

Post by Remote-Controlled Dave »

Rory, what exactly are you bringing to the AWS to compete? You should so have a go at a walker next.
Die Gracefully Robotics
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Rapidrory
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Re: Another New Antweight..

Post by Rapidrory »

I'm planning on entering Nuts and Lionel, a 4WD body spinner that I'm working on (that may or may not be called Flail Whale :L), and I will hopefully be making a walker (though it will likely be terrible: probably going to be called Anticlimax :roll: )

As for the other 3 ants worth of parts; my brother is coming along (due to holiday logistics) and so I'm planning on giving him a working drive chain or two and getting him to build chassis around them, so he has something to do for the day, and hopefully have some fun while he's at it.
The 8th drive train is a 40MHz set up that I threw together just to make use of it, but that'll probably be left out of the AWS.

I'm planning on bringing Mr Burns to the AWS just for show, but if there's time and space out side (and if I'm allowed!) I may fire it up for a little demo :wink:
Rory Mangles - Team Nuts

Robots: Nuts 2 and many more...

NanoTwo Motor Controllers: https://nutsandbots.co.uk/product/nanotwodualesc
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