In the qualifying rounds at Robot Mayhem we met Mike Hammerton of team Eric (before they beat us) touting for robots to come to the Uckfield live robot bash.
Having spent two days doing very little as reserves it looked like a fine opportunity to actually give carrot a run. We had switched steering to "Speed and Steer "mode on the 4QD DCI and were actually going sort of where we wanted to .
We were matched to have a demonstration bout with mincer, but unfortunately his aerial connection broke and required a fix, we then seemed to loose all power and limped about more like a wet lettuce than a killer carrot.
On returning home we found the batteries hadn't charged the previous night for some reason, and were down to about 20v,then I blew up the charger. Carrot went down to the workshop for a strip down and rebuild, but with a little time on our hands before it's next outing at Robots@war on June 30th 2001, it was decided to do a complete redesign with very little salvageable from MK 1. Plans for Killer carrot 2 were drawn up and materials "acquired"
On the plus side we saw some smashing little antweight robots and decided to have a go.
Antweights can be controlled by the kids without destroying the furniture, you can't let them play with a heavyweight robot in the living room
13/1/01- Waiting
The wait for parts continues. After much email advice from Woody on Team Onslaught we have ditched the idea of the air chisel for the time being as its consumption rate of 113 litres per minute would prove excessive. The order has gone in to Graham Leacock for some Festo 40mm rams which should provide just enough oomph to lift a middleweight robot if I make some minor adaptations to the regulator. Thankyou Woody!
The design for KC1 will either follow it's original shape, but in steel and lexan, or might remain as a stubby truncated box with a lifting arm. It all comes down to weight in the end, and I really need to seem how much the gear train will weigh before I decide.
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