Unskinny Bot: 3-lb Horizontal Spinner Combat Robot

Feature wishlist and design constraints

• Horizontal spinner weapon (my take on bots like Robo-Rooter, Misdirected Aggression, and Last Rites)
• Belt-driven wheels (not direct-drive; this is to isolate the motors from impact force on wheels from, e.g., another spinner or from fall/toss damage)
• Slip-belt-driven spinner (slip helps protect the weapon motor from stalling and burning out)
• Milled armor; each piece must be within an 11"x4.5" millable area due to the limitations of the milling machine I'll be using.
• Minimize in-shop time. (I have a 4-month old, so I have very little time for construction right now. Design for CNC milling on fabricated parts and off-the-shelf parts wherever possible.)
• Power switch (I always forget this one until the last minute!)
• Field-serviceable:
  • ability to quickly swap battery (or at least have easy access for in-place charging)
  • wheels and belts easily replaced if damaged/destroyed
• If time and weight allows, allow easy swapping of weapon blade for a saw blade.

Dragon Con 2013 Microbattles — Sep 3, 2013 12:36:23 PM

Build Complete: New Name, New Instructable — Aug 14, 2013 1:37:25 PM

Parts List — Feb 16, 2013 6:50:07 PM