4. Entry name: BLACKOUT
Category B (PF IR)
Signature move name: Smithereen maker (spinner)
Summary of functions: High speed light-weight spinner, skid steering, self-righting mechanism
I wanted to do a robot with a spinner that can reach in all directions. My plan was to mirror it around the spinner, so that the top (where the self-righter is) also had wheels, so that it could drive upside down. It turned out to be too bulky and didn't look very good, so I added a self-righting mechanism instead. I also planned to make the spinner completely round with teeth, but it got too heavy for the speed i wanted. The blade weighs a little over 100 grams and I actually calculated the rotational energy the blade has, and it's approximately 1 Joule (if you drop an apple from 1 meter, you get the same energy). The speed of the blade at the tip is 20 km/h. It has a "pull to activate battery"-mechanism, which makes it almost impossible for other robots to turn off the power, as you have to pull a small beam to power it off (look at the end of the video). It also has a special shape to make it impossible to balance on it's side, which means it can always self-right. The black things sticking out from the top helps with that.