Novice Tutorials

DISCLAIMER: Combat robotics is a dangerous sport by it's nature. Extreme caution should be taken when performing any operation explained on this site. Any injury or death resulting from the use of these pages is the sole responsibility of the user and not totalinsanity.net. By undertaking the construction of a combat robot you assume all responsibility for your actions. When building a combat robot, always make sure you are, or are with, a responsible adult.

Build Responsibly.

Tutorials at T.i. are organized by their skill level. If you are a first time robot builder we suggest starting with the novice tutorials, and progressing on as you build future robots. All tutorials are written in an easy to understand format, although some of the terms used may be technical in nature. We suggest going over the Lingo tutorial first.

Novice tutorials are meant for the first time bot builder, and describe the basics of designing and building simple robots without active weapons. Active weapons are described in our amateur tutorials, and our veteran tutorials concentrate on advanced design techniques. Tutorials are listed in the order in which they should be read, optional tutorials are listed last. We recommend reading all the non-optional tutorials before constructing a robot of any size.

Please note, this section is still being built. There is a lot not explained here that should be known before constructing a robot. For a technical explanation of topics we have yet to cover, such as wiring and general construction, visit this site. Our build blogs also offer a good amount of building advice.

 

Intro - A good, basic overview of classic bot concepts. By Jeffrey Scholz

Lingo - This tutorial is really more of a dictionary. We suggest starting here before anywhere else, since it describes all of the commonly used words in combat robotics. At least skim this over before going to the other tutorials.

Robot Drive - Wondering how to make your robot move and steer? This tutorial covers the basic idea of "tank drive" which we recommend for any first time builder.

Thinking of a Design - This article by Mike Jeffries describes the many different designs that have been used in combat robotics. Variations on these, and completely new designs, are always happening. Combat robotics is all about original designs, but if you have no idea where to start, check these out.

Choosing a Weightclass - There are a lot of weightclasses in robot combat, which one is for you?

Choosing a Radio - Radios are what link you, to your robot. This tutorial will go over the most common radio systems in use today, and help you decide which radio is best for you.

Intro to Batteries - This tutorial by Jeffrey Scholz covers the basics of battery technology.

Wiring - This tutorial covers everything you need to know about wiring a 2WD bot.

The Basics of Choosing Armor - Unsure what to coat your robot in? This tutorial will tell you all you need to know to make a good decision for your bot's armor.

Building the Frame (Armor Style) - An introduction to the various types of frames used in combat robotics, and an overview of how to build a bot using the "Armor Style" frame. By Jeffrey Scholz

"The List" - This is a comprehensive list of all the parts you'll need to construct a working robot. Make sure you consult this list while you're designing your robot as it makes a handy checklist. Taking all these factors into account should keep you under budget, and under weight.

Optional Tutorials:

The Horizontal Thwackbot - A great design for the beginner, it allows the user to have a weapon while not being overly difficult to build. This tutorial overviews the thwackbot designs most common in robot combat.