Author Topic: Near Chaos Robotics (Read 171544 times)

Clickbeetle · « **Reply #60 on:** June 12, 2007, 04:46:19 PM »

Real robot combat isn't all about damage, unlike RA2. There's aggression, flipping, and pushing and slamming other bots taken into account too. In that respect Apollyon could do well.

I understand why you'd pull out Apollyon in the new format, since it would be hard to get KO's with a wedge, but why Ruiner? Even if the LW's went to the modified format at the last minute, you could still do well with a good HS like that.

Also, by the time I get done with all the bug fixes and rebalancing stuff and start working on new replicas, I think there will definitely be enough of Apollyon to add it in DSL

MikeNCR · « **Reply #61 on:** June 12, 2007, 05:11:44 PM »

Quote from: Clickbeetle

Real robot combat isn't all about damage, unlike RA2. There's aggression, flipping, and pushing and slamming other bots taken into account too. In that respect Apollyon could do well.

I understand why you'd pull out Apollyon in the new format, since it would be hard to get KO's with a wedge, but why Ruiner? Even if the LW's went to the modified format at the last minute, you could still do well with a good HS like that.

Also, by the time I get done with all the bug fixes and rebalancing stuff and start working on new replicas, I think there will definitely be enough of Apollyon to add it in DSL

I pulled both of my bots because I decided not to support robogames after the way the rules were changed. If the format had been that way from the start, I'd be taking both bots to robogames, but since the change happened after stating that it would be DE, after taking everyones money and after locking registration, I decided that I'd rather support another event.

Meganerdbomb · « **Reply #62 on:** June 13, 2007, 03:28:28 PM »

Hey, Mike! I just noticed that you live in central NY too! It dosn't say so on my profile, but I'm from Willaimstown. I guess that's accually upstate, but still it's not that far away. Just an interesting thing I noticed. Sorry about going off-topic.

MikeNCR · « **Reply #63 on:** June 13, 2007, 07:29:17 PM »

I'm going to college at RIT, so I'm there 9ish months out of the year. going between California and North Carolina during breaks and vacation.

MikeNCR · « **Reply #64 on:** June 30, 2007, 03:09:53 PM »

it's been a while since the last proper update-

Ruiner and Apollyon need to be wired up, then they're done. Gonna get some booster modded vics for apollyon as I don't believe the scorpion I have(and had before apollyon was even a cocept) will handle the mini-ev's at 18v.

Stanley Steamer performed as well as I could have hoped at robogames, doing a decent job in it's first match against shove-it and almost surviving apogee(and by that, both bots removed a weapon head for the other, and stripped bolts led to the top armor falling off, and thus, the battery falling out at the 2min mark, roughly)

Both of my teammates are working on new bots.

Blake is planning a rebuild of Stanley, as well as a LW rammer with possibly interchangeable weapons(concept pics at end of post)

Brian is talking about a 30lb bot and possibly a 12 of his own.

Look for Near Chaos Robotics to have a small fleet of robots by RoboGames next year.

and now, concept pics of Blake's new LW

A very solid front plow with two CIM motors at 18v for drive. 12:1 reduction giving a top speed near 12ish mph with a good bit of torque.

Even further in the concept, Blake is thinking about having a drum style weapon to swap in for fights against bots without active weapons. if something of this sort were to be used, that would mean a 20-25lb 'weapon budget would be needed, which would also mean a damn near unbreakable plow on the front of "Rabid Porcupine"

Almost forgot, apollyon WILL have a flamethrower. I didn't buy 48 4oz butane tanks for nothing!

MikeNCR · « **Reply #65 on:** July 19, 2007, 11:55:41 PM »

A few quick updates

After some supply problems, the flamethrower for Apollyon is on hold

After the announcements from Judge Dave, I won't be competing at any combots events in the foreseeable future.

MikeNCR · « **Reply #66 on:** June 25, 2008, 11:31:10 PM »

Been ages since an update:

Apollyon-
Went 3-1, winning the 12lb class at the Wreck the Halls event in North Carolina, beating Flatline, Blunt Instrument and Surgical Strike(first two by KO) and losing to CS3.0.

Planned upgrade-Titanium front wedge to replace the al/st layered wedge.

Ruiner-V2 is still unassembled, but could be put together in a day. Also working on the design for V3, which will use 18v dewalts instead of SS2's.

MikeNCR · « **Reply #67 on:** July 04, 2008, 09:09:37 PM »

Other robot related stuff:

Wrote an article on robot weapons for the April 08 issue of Servo
Wrote a build report on Apollyon for the July 08 issue of Servo
Writing an article on robot drive systems for the October 08 issue of Servo
Writing chunks of another article for servo that's not got a proper title yet.

Planning on funding a complete drive and chassis overhaul of Ruiner with the fat magazine writer cash =P

Sage · « **Reply #68 on:** July 04, 2008, 11:36:16 PM »

good work man. i wish i had the funds to build real bots. would be really cool. i might scrap together some stuff later. congrats on that tourney thing you won.

Venko · « **Reply #69 on:** August 03, 2008, 01:37:09 AM »

Mike, i think you should visit my stock bot showcase...
I made RA2 replica of your bot "RUINER" in stock.
Now somebody can make it in DSL.

MikeNCR · « **Reply #70 on:** August 03, 2008, 02:33:29 PM »

Quote from: venko;12048

Mike, i think you should visit my stock bot showcase...
I made RA2 replica of your bot "RUINER" in stock.
Now somebody can make it in DSL.

Ruiner and Apollyon both have AI counterparts in the DSL mod.

Replica looks about as good as it can get with stock parts.

MikeNCR · « **Reply #71 on:** September 20, 2008, 12:36:55 AM »

Assuming I can scrape together the cash in time and I can get the time off to attend, I'll be taking a rebuilt Ruiner to RoboGames.

Here's the new chassis design in progress-

Speaking of cash, I've got articles in the October and (probably) November issues of Servo Magazine. One on drive systems, the other on a variety of topics my drive and earlier weapons article didn't cover.

Did some more work on the model-

Urjak · « **Reply #72 on:** September 20, 2008, 04:23:07 PM »

Wow... Looking good. :D

Sage · « **Reply #73 on:** September 20, 2008, 10:04:45 PM »

how much would a decent beetleweght or lightweight cost? i wanna build one, but funds could be short.

R1885 · « **Reply #74 on:** September 20, 2008, 10:11:50 PM »

I think the avarge lightwight costs about 2000$, beetles I think cost about 500$. I think.

MikeNCR · « **Reply #75 on:** September 21, 2008, 02:36:29 AM »

Don't have a run down for the LW handy, but here's what Apollyon cost me

Parts List
•   Victor 883 speed controller (2)- http://www.robotmarketplace.com $139.99
•   GB42 gearbox (2)- http://www.robotmarketplace.com $85.99 (no longer available)
•   Mini-EV motor (2)- http://www.robotmarketplace.com $8.99
•   18v 1650mah NiMh battery pack- http://www.robotmarketplace.com $62.50
•   Spektrum DX6 with BR6000 receiver (1)- http://www.robotmarketplace.com $199.99
•   3” colson wheel with hub (2)- http://www.cncbotparts.com $25.00 (no longer available)
•   GWS Elevator/Aileron Mixer- http://www.robotmarketplace.com $14.99
•   S-BEC Super BEC 5V- http://www.robotmarketplace.com $46.99 (being replaced with receiver battery pack for future events)
•   MS-05 power switch (1)- http://www.robotmarketplace.com $48.00
•   45A Powerpole connectors- http://www.robotmarketplace.com $1.39/set
•   #8 ring terminals- http://www.robotmarketplace.com $1.99/25
•   Deans Wet Noodle Wire-12awg- http://www.robotmarketplace.com $1.25/ft
•   Raw metal, nuts & bolts- http://www.mcmaster.com and http://www.onlinemetals.com
•   Wood and plumbing pieces for battery mount- Local hardware store
•   Machining- http://www.teamwhyachi.com

Clickbeetle · « **Reply #76 on:** September 26, 2008, 02:16:18 PM »

Building a good bot doesn't have to be expensive. Just look at Bobbing For French Fries. The hard part is handling the little details in the design (like exactly how your spinner will be attached to the axle and not break; stuff you usually neglect in the CAD), and then finding time to actually build it. Like, I have several parts laying around for a Defy Ant 3, and if I had the time I could make some progress.

The new Ruiner looks great, by the way. A lot more like 2EZ though, which could be a good thing/bad thing. More reliability, less originality.

MikeNCR · « **Reply #77 on:** September 26, 2008, 02:27:24 PM »

Refined the design a bit-

It's also looking like I might not make RoboGames this year as if things go as planned, I'll be working in Rhode Island as a Design Engineer at the same time as robogames is happening, and getting the time off isn't terribly likely.

infiniteinertia · « **Reply #78 on:** October 13, 2008, 06:02:32 PM »

This is kinda a bump but...

The CADs look really nice. I dont think that many people around here appreciate REAL builders like you. Like Click said, reminds me a lot of 2EZ...just watch out for K2!

In response to Sage...I am actuallt building two antweights as a graduation project in high school. Depending on how much you WANT to spend and what YOU want the quality of the bot to be, price can differ. At least on the first one, I'm running into the 400$ range, and I got asomelot of bargains too (shipping is a killer). I don't know how much it will be with the water-jetting...

Sorry to invade!

MikeNCR · « **Reply #79 on:** November 14, 2008, 11:55:02 PM »

I don't mind the minor invasion. Been distracted lately. Between being in my 3rd year of college and Fallout 3 coming out recently, I've not played much RA2 lately.

Some minor news:

Probably won't be going to Robogames this year. Got myself a job/internship/thing doing R&D in remanufacturing and fuel cell tech. Will probably make it so I can't go, but it will pay for the new Ruiner and Apollyons new Grade 5 Ti wedge.