The fight robotics neighborhood spreads throughout your entire world, with main competitions occurring on nearly each continent. Fight robots are divided into totally different weight lessons based mostly on the robotic’s general weight, and inside these lessons an incredible variety of weapon sorts are attainable. On this information we’ll introduce you to all the most necessary weight lessons and weapons.
THREE FLAVORS OF COMBAT
Along with weight, three totally different class modifiers are frequent in robotic fight:
• Full Fight or Commonplace class is the
least restricted ruleset, permitting kinetic vitality weapons, wedges, and quite a lot of management bots (lifters, and so forth.). Most occasions run
Full Fight lessons.
• Sportsman lessons add tip-speed limits to spinning weapons, drastically lowering their capacity to do harm. In addition they require an energetic weapon on every robotic, to cease passive wedges from dominating the competitors. Sportsman lessons are frequent on the 12lb and 30lb weight lessons.
• Plastic lessons, typically solely discovered on the 1lb Antweight scale, require robots to be completely fabricated from plastic elements (except for electronics, motors, and fasteners). The Plastic Antweight is quickly rising in recognition as an entry-level class because of the ease of 3D printing and the low harm charge, which make the robots extraordinarily reasonably priced in comparison with different weight lessons. (Construct your individual on web page 44.) You’ll be able to be taught extra about fight guidelines on-line at sparc.instruments.
ROBOT WEIGHT CLASSES
There have been many weight lessons over
the final 30 years, from 25g to 350lbs, however not all
of them have energetic competitions in the present day. Right here’s your information to at present energetic fight robotic weight lessons.
FAIRYWEIGHT (U.Okay. ANTWEIGHT) — 150g restrict
An excellent class for rookies. Many free designs could be downloaded from Thingiverse and printed on a 3D printer; elements are low cost, and the dearth of devastating weapon energy makes Fairyweight bots low cost to restore. Sadly, motors and electronics take up extra of the general weight of a Fairy, as it’s exhausting to seek out tremendous small elements, making customized designs difficult. Though Fairyweights are often constituted of 3D-printed plastic, probably the most aggressive are full of titanium, metal, and carbon fiber to maximise power and efficiency.
ANTWEIGHT (U.S.) — 1lb restrict
Antweights are the most effective place to begin out. Designs which might be primarily 3D printed or fabricated with low cost supplies could be aggressive. Weight just isn’t as a lot of a limitation as it’s in Fairies. Widespread robotic building strategies, akin to straight bolting weapons and wheels to motors, can be utilized efficiently with little modification. This class is usually much less damaging than the Beetleweight class, so your robotic is much less more likely to get fully destroyed. And since the electronics take up much less of your entire weight, robots which might be selfmade with reducing boards and duct tape can simply survive and even win Antweight occasions.
BEETLEWEIGHT — 3lbs (U.S.) / 1.5kg (U.Okay.)
By far probably the most aggressive insect weight class. Brushless motors at this scale present insane power-to-weight ratios, due to the massive marketplace for micro drones which has pushed the improved energy density and affordability of small motors. This makes Beetleweight robots extremely highly effective and harmful. Whereas they are often made by hand and with 3D-printed elements, probably the most profitable Beetleweights function a mess of customized machined elements in unique supplies. Strong engineering and design are
a should for this class, as robots repeatedly get ripped in half.
Whilst you may anticipate bots on this class to be principally steel, a shocking quantity of engineering plastics are used, giving superior impression safety and power whereas minimizing weight and price. Moreover, 3D-printed supplies akin to nylon and TPU are closely utilized, making fabrication a lot simpler than with bigger bots.
HOBBYWEIGHT — 12lbs
Hobbyweight bots are the smallest non-insect bot. This weight class permits for extra creativity in robotic design. The bigger footprint offers house for extra complicated mechanisms, whereas the bigger weight price range permits for extra off-the-shelf elements for use, and the motors and electronics take up a smaller proportion, leaving extra weight for body and weapons. The weapons on these robots retailer unimaginable quantities of vitality, so that they have to be designed extra robustly than bots in smaller lessons. Plastics are now not the go-to for body materials; Hobbyweights begin to use aluminum and metal frames as a way to survive the devastating weapons that they face. Whereas these bots are 4 occasions as heavy as Beetleweights, they’re nowhere close to as energy dense. No micro drone motors right here — Hobbyweight bots work at a bigger scale, with motors which might be typically utilized in giant RC vehicles and electrical skateboards.
DOGEWEIGHT — 15lbs
Dogeweight robots are primarily obese Hobbyweights. Most competitions that host bigger bots host 12lb bots, however this 15lb class has discovered life in an academic setting. Leagues akin to NRL and Xtreme BOTS host highschool and school stage competitions the place engineering college students can virtually apply what they’re studying to combating robots. As with Hobbyweights, these robots are extremely harmful and might do wonderful quantities of injury.
FEATHERWEIGHT — 30lbs
This weight class may be very in style for skilled builders, as a single builder with expertise can design and fabricate a Featherweight. There are a number of competitions for these robots yearly within the U.S. and worldwide. Featherweight robots are typically much less weapon oriented than smaller robots and focus extra on reliability and defensive armor. Good engineering turns into extra necessary when combating on the featherweight scale as a result of elements should be comparatively lighter than smaller scale robots whereas offering the identical efficiency.
LARGER WEIGHT CLASSES
Competitions for robots above the featherweight class are few and much between. Lightweights and Middleweights are virtually extinct, and Heavyweight occasions have been restricted to well-funded TV exhibits, or small sportsman occasions. The price of constructing these robots grows exponentially between weight lessons, so it takes a well-sponsored crew with expertise to compete at this scale. The very best-known fight robotic occasion is BattleBots, which is televised on Discovery and has close to 1 million viewers every episode. Exterior of BattleBots, varied Robotic Wars TV sequence from the U.Okay. are seen world wide, and several other heavyweight competitions have been filmed in China together with FMB (Combating My Bots), Conflict Bots, and KOB (King of Bots).
SPINNING WEAPON TYPES
Right here’s how they work, and their benefits and downsides, particularly within the smaller lessons.
VERTICAL SPINNER
These weapons retailer vitality in a spinning mass that rotates in a vertical aircraft, typically protruding the entrance of the robotic. They spin in order that the impression level of the weapon is transferring upward, successfully delivering an “uppercut” to the opponent. Vertical spinners are very efficient fighters, because the response power from the uppercut pushes the bot downward into the ground, retaining them planted.
The important thing to the vertical spinner is the power to get below different robots. When an opponent rides up a vertical spinner’s wedge or forks, the spinning blade can impression the underside fringe of the opponent’s chassis, relatively than grinding towards a facet wall. This ends in considerably higher vitality switch, that means a tougher hit and extra harm.
Vertical spinners typically spin both a bar
or a disk weapon, and generally swap between the 2 relying on the opponent they’re
going through. Disks are extra in style as a result of they retailer extra vitality for a given mass, however they’re weak to horizontal spinners. Doubling the spinning velocity of a weapon ends in 4 occasions the kinetic vitality, so vertical spinners will typically deploy asymmetrical, single-tooth weapons as a way to maximize their “chunk.” This enables them to avoid wasting weight whereas growing the vitality saved within the weapon.
One downside vertical spinners can undergo from is gyroscopic forces on the robotic because of the excessive momentum of the weapon. Like a motorcycle wheel, the spinning weapon acts as a gyroscope and resists the robotic’s turning movement. Flip too quick, and one finish of the robotic “floats” off the bottom. This impact can be utilized to self-right some robots however it might additionally flip a robotic the wrong way up. Due to this impact vertical spinners must restrict their turning velocity, or flip in giant arcs. These handicaps can provide different robots a bonus.
DRUM SPINNERS
These weapons additionally spin vertically however they’re wider, with smaller diameters, and might spin at a lot larger speeds. Drum spinner robots are principally pushed with two-wheel drive and have smaller and extra compact frames than another weapon sort, however their geometry is very liable to float when turning.
As a result of the weapon on a drum spinner protrudes previous the body of the robotic, their floor clearance just isn’t as necessary as different vertical spinners. Most robots get away with a small piece of steel pointed towards the bottom to cease different robotic’s wedges from getting below, however even that’s not completely essential to be aggressive.
There are a number of in style methods to make the drum weapon. The primary is to manufacture a single-piece drum out of a hardened metal. That is troublesome with out extremely specialised instruments. A better approach is to mount hardened metal “tooth” to a drum utilizing bolts, however these weapons must be manually balanced which takes appreciable time. The best approach is by layering hardened metal disks with spacers constituted of a softer materials, akin to aluminum. This simulates the big impression face of a unibody drum whereas additionally storing a considerable amount of vitality within the rotating mass of the weapon.
BEATER BAR SPINNERS
Beater bars are a weapon sort that sits between verticals and drums. They span a lot of the width of the bot, like a drum, however they will retailer extra vitality with a bigger diameter, like a vertical spinner. The overall concept behind a beater bar is to maximise the second of inertia (MOI) of the weapon whereas retaining the burden low. That is achieved by eradicating a lot of the materials on the within of the weapon, and retaining the outermost materials, as mass farther from the axis of rotation has extra of an impact on MOI.
The best beater bars are stable metal, customized machined utilizing CNC or wire EDM processes, however there are good low-cost options. These price range weapons are lower out of a flat piece of aluminum in an overview of a rectangle, with a hole inside; bolts are mounted to the highest and backside edges to behave as an affordable hardened impacting floor. These could be lower with only some operations and are almost as efficient as costlier weapons at a fraction of the value.
HORIZONTAL SPINNERS
These weapons spin within the horizontal aircraft and are typically a lot bigger in diameter than vertical spinners, however they spin at slower speeds. Most horizontal spinners could be cut up up into considered one of three classes:
Horizontal bar spinners or midcutters have their weapon mounted off the bottom, between the underside and prime of their chassis. Horizontal spinners typically have bar weapons, as they’re weak to vertical spinners. Utilizing a disk weapon this excessive off the bottom will give vertical spinners nice engagement into the weapon, making bending extra doubtless. With a bar, there’s much less floor for a vertical to hit, and the weapon could be made stronger, because it doesn’t must span as a lot space. Horizontal bar spinners are weak to wedges, as their weapons wrestle to get good chunk on hardened surfaces and get deflected upward. These robots are additionally very liable to self-inflicted harm, as their weapon could be pressured right into a ground or wall, inflicting the robotic to ricochet across the enviornment.
Undercutter weapons are mounted below the chassis, as near the bottom as attainable. Undercutter robots assault low on their opponents with the objective of bypassing armor and straight hitting necessary elements akin to wheels. As a result of they spin so low to the bottom, different robots have hassle getting below them with out taking vital harm, they usually’re much less weak to vertical spinners. Undercutters can use both disks or bars for weapons, however disks are extra extensively used as they retailer vitality extra effectively.
Overhead bar spinners can spin weapons with a lot bigger diameters than undercutters or midcutters, as a result of they spin excessive of your entire robotic chassis. These robots are very enjoyable to design and construct and could be unbelievably damaging as a result of their excessive vitality storage, however they’ve a number of inherent flaws. They will’t drive whereas inverted, because the weapon lies between the wheels and the bottom. As a result of they retailer extra vitality, they take the best pressure on the chassis and weapon system at any time when they land a success. They’re additionally extraordinarily weak to vertical spinners as their weapons are mounted so excessive and can’t be supported on each prime and backside.
FULL BODY SPINNERS
Full physique spinners have a spinning weapon that protrudes exterior the robotic’s drive chassis and surrounds your entire robotic. They operate as each weapon and armor, and often weigh greater than another weapon sort. Full physique spinners are cut up up into three sorts:
Ring spinners spin a hoop weapon across the robotic’s body. These rings are supported on the exterior of the robotic and don’t cowl the highest. Subsequently the robotic can use wheels which might be taller than the body and stick out the highest, which permits them to drive whereas inverted. Whereas being invertible is a big benefit, this weapon system is inherently fragile. As a result of it spins across the physique of the robotic (with a number of contact factors to the body) the weapon will fail with any deformation. This makes ring spinners probably the most complicated weapon sorts to design efficiently.
Shell spinners have a weapon that covers
their prime and sides, defending your entire robotic. They will’t drive when inverted however have a a lot easier weapon assist in comparison with ring spinners. Shells typically have a protrusion on prime that makes them unstable when inverted, permitting them to proper themselves. These weapons are way more sturdy to break, as they typically spin a couple of shaft within the heart of the robotic and deformation of the outer shell doesn’t essentially imply it is going to be disabled.
One downside that plagues each ring and shell spinners: as a result of their weapons have giant MOIs (because of the giant radius and weight), they’re liable to dropping drive traction when the weapon first begins spinning, which begins the chassis rotating in the wrong way. This causes the driving force to fully lose management of the bot.
Meltybrain spinners are a particular sort of robotic that makes use of its complete physique as a weapon and its drivetrain to energy it. Meltybrain robots have very high-speed drivetrains that primarily spin them in place. They will then use sensors to modulate the velocity of the motors to realize translational motion. As a result of the complete robotic weight is within the weapon, these bots hit extraordinarily exhausting. Their complete chassis should face up to 1000’s of RPMs, so they’re typically very powerful. Whereas meltybrains are extraordinarily damaging, they’re very technically complicated and require extra computing than another robotic sort.
NON-SPINNER WEAPONS
LIFTER ROBOTS
Robots which have a mechanism that doesn’t retailer vitality and is used to raise up and flip over different robots are known as lifters. These weapons transfer slower than flippers (see under), and could be moved to any level alongside their journey.
Most insect-weight lifters use a high-power servomotor or gearmotor to energy their lifting arms by way of a easy mechanism akin to a lever or a four-bar linkage. Lifters are the most secure bots which have energetic weapons, as they don’t retailer any vitality of their weapon system. (You’ll be able to construct one on web page 44.) Some lifter robots even have built-in grabbing mechanisms that may maintain their opponent as they raise them off the bottom. Lifter robots could be very aggressive in arenas that function some form of pit or “enviornment out” function, as they will corral their opponent into the out-of-bounds space, successful the match. Lifters are robust towards robots that aren’t invertible, as a single flip will render their opponent motionless, however they typically wrestle to trigger sufficient harm to attain knockouts.
FLIPPER ROBOTS
In contrast to lifter robots, flipper robots have a weapon that makes use of saved kinetic vitality to raise or flip their opponents. Flippers function complicated mechanical techniques that make reliability a problem: springs or pneumatics for insect-weight flippers, spinning flywheels or hydraulics for the heavier lessons. Some occasions ban pneumatic weapons as a result of security considerations, which makes flipper robots even tougher to efficiently compete with. Flipper robots work greatest in an enviornment with an “enviornment out” function however could be highly effective sufficient to break robots and obtain knockout victories in a regular enviornment.
OVERHEAD SAW ROBOTS
These robots have a spinning weapon on the finish of an arm that may be independently articulated. Most have an precise noticed blade that they use to chop by way of different robots, making the most of the dearth of prime armor. (Others have a weapon known as a hammer noticed that’s no totally different from a daily spinning weapon because it imparts kinetic vitality by way of an impression.) Overhead noticed bots often have a really open entrance finish with prongs protruding, as they should management different robots and maintain them nonetheless for the noticed blade to be efficient. These robots require a sturdy design and in addition a gifted driver, because the articulated weapon is extra demanding to function they usually often must pin their opponent in place to do significant harm.
HAMMER ROBOTS
Hammer robots and their cousins, axe robots, have a weapon that swings a mass excessive
of the robotic in a restricted arc to impart kinetic vitality into their opponent. On the insect weight lessons, these robots could be powered with both a high-speed servo or a motor. Like overhead saws, these robots make the most of the sunshine prime armor on their opponents. There are two most important issues with insect-weight hammer bots. First, their weapon have to be triggered barely earlier than the opponent is in entrance of them as a result of the hammer takes time to finish its swing. Insect bots transfer quick relative to their bigger counterparts, which exacerbates this downside. Second, they wrestle to retailer comparable vitality to spinners as their weapon solely has as much as 180 levels of movement to speed up earlier than impression.
CRUSHER ROBOTS
Crusher robots have an overhead arm that pierces by way of the highest of their opponents, damaging the internals . At insect weight lessons, crushers are designed to transform quick rotational motion from a motor into gradual, highly effective linear motion on the tip of their claw. The deadly flaw of crushers is that their actuators both are too gradual to simply seize their opponents, or lack the power wanted to pierce armor. Crusher robots are mechanically complicated and require extraordinarily exact driving.
WEDGE ROBOTS
Passive wedge bots don’t have an energetic weapon however they’re very sturdy, as they depend on pushing their opponent round till they break. These robots are the only of all — and really aggressive! 
