15Degrees-North Blog.

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August 10, 2001

Let cut it in half!

So we get back from BattleBots and what do we do with 6 weeks to go for RW auditions? oh yes we cut the chassis in half.

Do I think we are mad yes I suppose I do. So anyway we set about making a complete new back end to accommodate some nice new NPC motors we had picked up in the states. To say these motors take the piss out of the Bosch would be about the biggest understatement I Could make!! Bosch are crap as far as im concerned great for powering HGV wipers blades for ever, crap for robots nuff said. Now the NPC motors on the other hand have a built in 20 to 1 gearbox stuck on the end and are about half again as powerful as the Bosch mm nice. They are also smaller to! and not that much heavier either.

So new chassis, new motors, and then new wheels to accommodate the new chassis and the fact we want to be able to run inverted, nice! Also yet another new body shell made from 1mm steel base with 7mm Dyneema panels and finished off with 2.55 T1 Ti on the top for hardness. Very tuff and more importantly impregnable. Couple all this with yet another ram made from ally some lighter blades (our 4th set)

So 6 weeks to go and we decide to rebuild the whole thing mad I guess! We managed to get all this done believe it or not. I had Rob knight over last weekend to help us with wiring it up and on the Sunday we were ready for launch. Out in the street we go 3 2 1 go PERFECT :) It is bloody PERFECT at last. Rob had a go at driving and I quote "That is the nicest and most well balanced robot I have ever driven next to Mortis" Well I take it you think its good then Rob? Oh yes grinning! But we definitely do not want to fight you as you now have to much control.

We ended up being able to do handbrake turn's with the damned thing :) Oh I am at last happy with the design :) roll on Sunday's auditions although I am very nervous as to how many things can go wrong :( I shall post all pictures we have of the new design next week.

Mark...

Posted by Mark at August 10, 2001 1:58 AM