BUILD YOUR OWN ROBOT
New from Haynes, this manual explores the tech behind the battle bots of BBC’S Robot Wars and provides step-by-step guides for building your own
1 Create a platform
Using the accompanying image as a guide, start by drawing the platform shape on a sheet of A4 paper. Aim to make this template roughly nine centimetres wide at its widest point and 13 centimetres long at its longest. Once this is done, carefully cut out your paper template and place it on top of a piece of cardboard. Next, trace around the template with a marker pen and cut out the cardboard platform.
2 Arrange the components
Begin this step by carefully using your glue gun to attach the rocker switch to the underside of the battery pack. Now it’s time to arrange our components on the paper template. Place the two drive motors at the narrowest point on the sheet and place the battery pack to one side. Above the motors, at the flat edge of the template, place the two micro switches, angled inward so that they’re slightly facing towards the centre.
3 Connect your wires
Attach the red wire on the battery pack (with the switch attached) to one of the tabs on the rocker switch, then connect the two inner tabs of the micro switches using 50 millimetres of red wire. Next, attach the following with 120 millimetres of red wire: the outer tab on the left micro switch to the bottom tab of the right motor; the outer tab on the right micro switch to the bottom tab of the left motor; the inner tab of the right micro switch to the other tab on the rocker switch. To finish, solder the left-hand motor’s top tab to the negative side of the battery pack and connect the top tabs on the motors using 60 millimetres of black wire.
4 Bind your components
Add four AA batteries to your battery pack and test the motors before continuing, because you’re now ready to start assembling your robot! Using the double-sided sticky tape, attach the two drive motors to the cardboard platform, making sure that they line up nicely along the narrowest segment. Stick the two micro switches to the card in the same positions as described in step 2 and finish by sticking the battery pack to the top of the motors.
5 Add the antennas
Now you’re going to create the bug’s most iconic features — the antennas! Fetch your cable ties and make a 45-degree bend about 1.5 centimetres away from the square ratchet end. At the other end make another 45-degree bend but this time in the opposite direction. Your cable tie should look like a stretched ‘S’ when you’re done. Next, using your glue gun, glue the ratchet ends to the micro switches.
6 Complete your bot
Gather your plastic wheels, double-sided sticky tape and two elastic bands. Cut thin strips of the sticky tape and wrap them around the wheels. Carefully stretch the elastic bands onto the tape — this will give the wheels more grip! Secure the wheels to the motors when you’re done. Finally, your bug is going to need an exoskeleton. If you have access to a 3D printer you can download a design from www.robotwars.tv. But if not, you can fold coloured paper or card for a simpler design.