Competitions

Robot MicroBattles was a new event at DragonCon. I
built an 8x8x2ft lexan arena to host 1 and 3lb robots.
This worked out really well and enhanced the
competition at the 12 and 60lb level by giving the
younger builders a more even footing. I built 2 ants for
my daughters to drive. LoveBug's record 1-1,
YellowJacket 0-1.

Atlanta Area Bot Battles was held by Matt Leach
(Team Caution) at HobbyTown USA in North Atlanta.
Lionel Vogt and I rebuilt my 8x8x2ft lexan arena into
a 6x6x2 metal and lexan arena. It is built for 150g,
1lb, and 3lb robots. This arena gave a big
improvement on the viewability, portability, and
overall professionalism of the event. I competed with
Criminal Intent, a beetleweight(3lber). Due to
problems with the weapon esc not passing safety and
a stiff gearbox, I fought as a weak wedge and went 0-2.

Robot Battles 2004 and Robot MicroBattles was my
third year competing at the DragonCon convention in
Atlanta, Ga. With the baby due so close to Labor Day
weekend, I did not think I would be able to attend.
With a few last minute adjustments to my 3lber
Criminal Intent and 12lber Banana I was off to have
some fun. Criminal Intent went 0-2 then had to forfeit
the rest of the competition due to a battery problem
compounded by a short in the wires by the speed
controller that I found after I went home. Banana went
0-2 in the main competition(mostly out-driven), losing
to the newest version of Dagger from Edge Robotics.
Later, during the rumble, my biggest fear came to
pass when both gearboxes for my 12vdc Harbor
Freight drills started slipping badly leaving me able to
move slowly but not push at all. I stayed in the thick
of the fight, getting hit many times by Storm, a 12vdc
EV powered downward spinner. I stayed pointed so
the side of my robot was closest to the side of the
stage and when anyone tried to push me I dug in with
the lifter and I put up what fight I could. Next thing I
know the stage is getting pretty empty and there is no
one near me. I start across the stage by pulling
Banana with the lifter then moving slowly with the
slipping gearboxes. The last two bots left fighting fell
off the stage together and I was left the last man
standing! I won the Rumble! I realy have to upgrade
that drivetrain! Hehe!

Atlanta Area Bot Battles 2 was held by Matt Leach
(Team Caution) at HobbyTown USA in North Atlanta,
same as before. Lionel Vogt brought our 6x6x2 metal
and lexan arena. This time he had added a 6 inch
Colson spun up by an angle grinder, controlled by a
variable speed router controller. This addition
provided a different hazard that worked quite well to
pump up the tension. Trust me, hitting that thing is
not advised unless you are really certain of your
ability to drive inverted. I competed with Criminal
Intent, a newly redesigned beetleweight (3lber).
However due to drive mounting issues, weapon blade
mounting, and general case of the frame being too
thin, I went 1-2. I did at least put in one pretty good
hit on Alabama Slammer XL, loosing a blade tip at the
same time as it was ripped from my frame, not to
mention the humuliation of being "worn like a hat"
several times in the competition. My Antweight
Criminal Justice did quite a bit better going 3-2 and
pulling 3rd place. Both losses were to Scalpel from
Blade Robotics, once I got pushed over the pipe
blocking the pits, the second time I drove myself into
the Wheel and ended upside down with a tweaked
frame, preventing my from driving upside down. The
design however worked very well for most fights and I
was pretty happy with it. Although the weapon spinup
was pretty abysmal, the top speed of 7000rpm or so
seemed pretty good for bite and power.