Mike and Joe with Ramming Speed at BattleBots in May '01
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7/3/02
I've
decided to step back from BattleBots. I've sold most of my BattleBots
related equipment, including Ramming Speed 2. I've got enough money to
pay off my credit cards, and take a breather. I've done this for a few
reasons:
After totaling up all of my receipts, I've spent an obscene amount of
money on BattleBots related items
The
competition is getting stiff, to the point that it's unlikely a 'basement
builder' will be able to win a nut
Though a 'basement builder' can enter and have fun, I won't be happy
unless I have a realistic chance of winning
Building something I'm happy with is now a multi-thousand dollar ordeal,
and can't be done easily in a basement without investing in more equipment
After
regrouping, I may come back and do smaller bots, perhaps something in the
ant-weight to 30lb range, and enter at smaller events. In the mean
time, I bought an E-MAXX truck that I will be using to improve my driving
skills. I may mount a saw on it and chase the neighbors if the BattleBot
urge gets to bad.
I will
continue to maintain the site, and perhaps as I start to get the itch, add
new design info, so keep an eye out...
6/6/02
Well, I'm
back, and had a great time. Unfortunately I didn't get to compete.
Before I left, I found the gearing was to high, and the motors were smoking.
It was to late to do anything about it, so I shipped the bot, hoping I could
at least muster a minute in the box (who knows, a quick knock out?). Well, I
had to do a functional test in a practice box, and I couldn't even run 30
seconds before it began smoking rather badly. Failed the test, and
couldn't compete. Anyway, I took a bunch of pics, check them out
here.
5/12/02
Been very
busy. Had the frame done by W. Haut Specialty
in Waukesha. Turned out pretty nice. Been busy getting everything assembled.
Finally have it ready for a test drive. Here's what it's looking like:
RS2.
4/12/02
I have
the design ready, and drawings for the parts to be made. See the drawings on
the Specs page, as well as the DXF files that will
be used to water jet some of the parts.
4/2/02
Parts are
rolling in left and right. I'll try to get pictures up soon. The design is
becoming quite modular. Their will be two power modules (the batteries and
connections), two controller modules (a master that contains two speed
controllers, the receiver, the power converter for the receiver, and the
inverter, and a slave that simply contains two speed controllers), and a
motor module (contains four Dewalt motors and gearboxes). The modular design
allows for easy access when it comes to working on the components, and I can
build them without having the frame ready. The metal should arrive in a day
or two, so work will begin on the frame then.
Mike will
be joining me once again at TI in May. I found
a
link that describes why it is best to purchase your plane tickets at 1am
on a Wed, so I'll be up late tonight. Cheapest I've found so far is $283 ea
(round trip from MKE to SFO), but the times won't work (doesn't leave till
after noon). Found one for $321 that has perfect times. Hoping it goes down
tonight, otherwise, I'll probably buy anyway. I thought flying into Oakland
might be cheaper, but it actually costs more. Could get a cheaper ticket out
of Midway, but the cost and time involved in getting there out ways the
savings.
I've
already made reservations for the Holiday Inn in Emeryville (Oakland side of
the Bay Bridge, a block away from the Sheraton that I stayed at last
November). Their will be a lot of builders there, so it should be a good
time again.
3/23/02
I've added
OnlineMetals as an affiliate. I'm getting all of my Stainless Steel from
them. If you're looking for metal, definitely check them out. I found them
to be cheaper than going through MetalMart, which is local for me, even with
shipping included! Click on one of my links, when you place an order so I can get
a commission to use towards my robot!
I've also
added RoboForge
as an affiliate.
RoboForge
lets you construct gigantic robotic gladiators, train them to think and
fight, and then unleash them in massive international tournaments for money
and prizes. Try it, it's almost as fun as building a BattleBot!
3/18/02
I purchase my motors
on Saturday. They are 18v Dewalt, but not the version I've described so far.
Their is a new combination though probably just as difficult to mount as the
24v motors I got rid of, offer 38% more speed (which I decided I
needed), and are easily neutrally timed. I'm spending a lot of time to come
up with a foolproof mounting system so I don't succumb to the same fate as
in previous tournaments. See my Dewalt 18v page
for details on the motor and gearbox, including how to take them apart, and
change the timing to neutral.
Speaking of
tournaments, the dates have been announced. May 21-27 at Treasure Island. I
will be in attendance, whether RS2 is ready or not.
3/4/02
The design of RS2
(that's the short name for Ramming Speed 2 for those of you just getting out
of bed) is evolving quickly. I've got it close enough to final that I can
start ordering some of the parts. Since I'm still paying off the first two,
I don't want to extend the plastic any further. I made a deal with myself
that any money I can make selling stuff on e-bay can go towards RS2. I sold
109 batteries from the first two for $250, about half what I originally
spent on batteries. I'm using that, and some money from a motorcycle helmet
to buy the new batteries. As the design gets
closer, I'll begin posting more images of the model. for now, check out the
RS2 page, where their are a lot of links
for the components I'll be using, and the concept behind the design.
2/24/02
I've been working on
a new version of Ramming Speed, which I'm referring to as
Ramming Speed 2. It will be faster,
smaller, and tougher.
2/23/02
Here are
descriptions of my two fights at the November event, as reported by
spectator Chris McVey:
Ramming Speed (won) vs. 401k
Ramming speed was not real fast, either. In the
beginning, 401k could only circle, and Ramming Speed came over and pushed
him. That must have shaken something loose, he regained control
afterwards. It was a basic pushing match then; Ramming Speed had an
advantage but not a clear one. He was, strangely enough, not very fast.
Maybe it was just an illusion because he could not hit very hard on the
soft tire-body of 401k, but he seemed not to be a rammer at all, more of a
pusher. He looked slow.
Ramming Speed vs. Firestorm (won)
Ramming speed took a run at Firestorm, and went right
over him. You can't ram what you slip right over like a road dot! This
wasn't like Buddy Lee and TRK; in that fight Buddy Lee Was able to hit TRK
before he went over him. Ramming Speed actually couldn't hit at all. He
was easily wedged under and lifted up, and slammed into walls. At one
point Ramming Speed got under Firestorm by hitting him from the side, and
pushed him around in circles, but it didn't last long. As soon as
Firestorm got free he slammed Ramming Speed into a wall again. The bots
circled and pushed each other as the match ended.
2/18/02
It's been a while.
I've been working on a redesign of Ramming Speed. Why? Well, I think it's
late enough in the TV showings to disclose that I won my first fight, but
lost the second. In both fights, I was disappointed in the drivability, the
speed, and the power. I'm going to simplify the design some, going with
proven solutions. See the new Ramming Speed 2
page for details on the design. Note that I won't start building till I pay
off the first two, so I may not make the announced May date, but will try to
attend as a spectator.
I continue to have
problems with my ISP(s). I switched from one after they gave me 12 hours
notice they were switching servers. My new one hasn't responded to e-mails
asking why my navigations isn't working.
11/16/01
Finally got all the
photos up for the diary of my SF trip. Note,
some of these pictures may be 'spoilers', but some are also deceiving,
since damage doesn't always indicate the winner of the fight...
11/13/01
I've completed the diary
of my trip, but still need to add more pictures over the next couple days
(I have over 200 pictures to share.
I leave this
Saturday! The bot has been shipped. Total weight of the bot is 54lbs, 6
pounds under! I will possibly take advantage of the extra weight by
designing add-ons depending on the opponent. Pictures coming...
10/14/01
I've been working
hard! The wheels, hubs and axles I ordered have arrived and they look
great! I've got them on the bot, and have done some bench runs. The motors
and speed controllers are working fine. I put everything on the scale
except the armor, and it came in at 49.5 pounds. I calculated the armor
will weigh 5.5 pounds, which gives me 5 pounds left over to play with!
Apparently the design changes I made, and extra lightening worked. I will
now have tougher armor, with weight to spare. I'm planning on having
attachments that can be change depending on the type of bot I face.
My registration has been accepted, I purchased my plane
tickets, and hotel reservations at the Sheraton Oakland Bay Bridge
(official hotel of BattleBots) have been made. No rental car this time.
Parking in SF is terrible. Their will be shuttles from the hotel, and many
builders staying there with cars, so I'll save my money and the hassle.
9/26/01
The dates have been
announced! The next event will be at Treasure Island in San Francisco from
November 3rd till November 11th. I will be in attendance, alone this time,
and hope to do a bit better than last time. Even though I haven't won a
match yet, I'm ranked 88th overall for lightweights (out of 161), the 4th
best ranking for a bot that never won a match, due to the 20 points I
scored.
I finished the spindles last night. Had to grind a
keyway into them, and of course was paranoid about softening the metal
like I did with the last ones. The solution was to grind the keyways while
the spindle sat in a bowl of oil. Doing this, the spindles never got to
hot to handle with my bare hands, so I think I should be OK. I will
definitely be testing them on asphalt, where I should be able to get some
good traction.
9/2/01
The next Battlebots
competition will be at Treasure Island in San Francisco again, most likely
in early November. I will be in attendance, and will do much better this
time around. I've ordered parts, and should have the robot drivable within
three weeks so I can begin beating the snot out of it. Don't want to die
by self-destruction again!
We've got some new Clobber Club members, a
minor injury, and a picture of my progress
on Ramming Speed.
8/15/01
While relaxing in
the north woods, I heard a rustling outside, and was able to capture a
faint image of this strange creature,
covered in plastic bags. The camera flash startled it, and it ran off into
the woods. Mike was sleeping at the time
and didn't see it. I still don't know what it was...
8/9/01
I found it! At the
Battlebots competition, they took a 360 degree animation of the bots, and though they
only made a few of the 'winners' public, I found mine. Take
a look!
8/6/01
The website finally
made it to my new host server. I've made a few changes, including
organization and imagery. Realized I didn't really have a good picture of Ramming
Speed anywhere, so here it is! I'm also
working on a forum for the site. Stay tuned...
8/1/01
The shimmer of
aluminum chips and the aroma of burnt oil once again fill the Team Clobber
facilities as production of Ramming Speed 2 begins. I'm currently making
the four new aluminum structural pieces.
