A lot of time has been spent using AutoCAD, we have come up with three completely different designs. AutoCAD has proved to be an invaluable tool for the design of our Battlebot. We can see how things will fit together and what products will work in our robot best.Most of the time on this project will be spend in design phases and much of this is AutoCAD.

In order to tackle this assignment we had a lot of research and learning to do. We needed to learn how to create a robot from scratch. We learned about receivers, speed controllers, control system, drive methods, motors, batteries, electrical properties and many other things.
Everything put in the Battlebot is an obstacle had to encounter and overcome. These robots experience massive amounts of force thus everything put in the robot must be addressed accordingly. In the battlebot all wires must be secured and all wire connections heavily secured to handle the extreme g forces that will be applied to the robot.

Construction started with the creation of the internal frame which is a box 29.5"x29.5"x6" gusseted at all 90º's made out of ½" box steel. Next we welded four sides out of 16 gage steel to the box and a bottom out of 10 gage which will sustain hits form the kill saws. Next came the cross supports that would hold the bearings that the 1" center shaft would sit in. In the middle of the cross supports we layed down ½" steel plate that the bearings would be bolted onto. The top bearing support had a 1 and ¼" hold drilled in it so the shaft could come up through. The ½" plating would not be welded into its box until all ;bearings are torqued down and the shaft sitting in them to insure absolute parallel so the shaft would spin freely.

Next came the motor mount which would hold the 15 hp Brigs and Stratton spin motor. Obviously and real sturdy mount would be necessary to handle the horsepower, weight of the motor in impact and impact transferred to the motor when the blade strikes. Also the motor would need to be able to move back and fourth to obtain proper v-belt tension. We did this by making a plate that is bolted directly to the top of the motor with grade 8 bolts and was slotted on either side. On the bottom there were two railings next to each slotted holes. This would enable us to use 5/16 bolts going through the slotted holes into taped square pieces of steel that would rest on the railing, this would not allow the square pieces of steel to spin when tightening the bolts but allow it to slide. Two plates were then attached to the upper cross supports that two bolts in each could go down though into the slots. One plate was welded directly to the frame while the other was bolted in with 12 bolts so the motor would come in and out. Extra supports were made to the frame in the motor mount places to handle the stress that will be applied there.

Next came the 1" center shaft. As stated earlier it would be supported by two large bearing that could hold a static force of 2000 lbs each. To keep the shaft from making vertically we will use a brass washer then a 1" rubber piece another washer and a circlip. To make a spot for the circlip we will lathe down an indentation in the shaft. The rubber section would provide some impact resistance. The center shaft will be keyed for the pulley and spin shaft. A set screw will hold the pulley on which will sit above the main body of the bot under a protective cover. The spin motor in pre-keyed and a pulley will sit down on it. To achieve proper gearing a 8.5" pulley will be used on the center shaft while a 2" pulley will be used on the motor.

The spinning blade will be a 1" thick and about 40" wide with a width of about 4". It will be keyed and have a set screw to hold it in place. Then the top of the center shaft will be taped and two 1" bolts will also help hold it in place.

To drive the battlebot we will utilize two 24 volt wheel chair motors, they will be attached to 4" solid rubber wheels. The positive and negative leads of the motors will be hooked up to two vantec 883 speed controllers in between the battery. These speed controllers will be hooked up to our PCM radio receiver. The speed controllers and the receiver will be shock mounted with rubber between them and the base of the robot. The front wheels will be fixed forward mounted on either side with pillow blocks. The battlebot will skid steer meaning that to turn it will drag the front wheels to turn. On other battlebots casters have proven to cause more problems then they are worse and two fixed wheels add stability and help the bot track straight.

The three motors, two 24 volt wheel chair motors and the 15 hp 48 volt Brigs and Stratton lynch motor, will be powered by 4 batteries. Two 12 volt seal lead batteries will be wired in series to make 24 volts for the wheel chair motors. Two other smaller batteries will be wired into the 24 volt batteries to create 48 volts for the Brigs motor. The wheel chair battery will run off two battery and the Brigs will run off all four. We will adjust battery sizes according so they will all empty at the same time.

Wedges will be put on all four sides and the corners making a octagonal shape. They will be hinged and spring loaded to the floor. This will allow low bots that might be able to fit under the blade to be ramped up into the blade. Also theses wedges will make it so other battle bots which are designed to get under us unable to.

Ian and I work very well together which we proved in the previous year where we made human powered vehicles together. Our strengths and weaknesses intertwine and create an efficient group. Few compromises needed to be made because we respect each other's ideas. If there is a disagreement we will test each idea and see which one is most practical. Communication is easy with AutoCAD and the use of pictures and diagrams. Responsibilities and tasks are evenly distributed, we each handle a part of every responsibility.