Kickin' Bot: An Illustrated Guide to Building Combat Robots (ExtremeTech)
Enter the arena of the metal gladiatorsDo you have what it takes to build a battle-ready robot? You do now. Here are the plans, step-by-step directions, and expert advice that will put you in competition-while you have a heck of a lot of fun getting there.Grant Imahara, the creator of the popular BattleBot Deadblow, shares everything he’s learned about robot design, tools and techniques for metal working, the parts you need and where to get them, and plenty of tips to keep you off the ropes. When you’re finished, you’ll be ready to rumble.Just a few of the topics you'll learn:Robot design 101Chemicals and power toolsPopular materials comparedCutting your armorThings to know about screwsTop ten drive motorsBearings, casters, couplers, and U-jointsRoller chains and sprocketsBetter traction through chemistryChoosing speeding controlsBatteries and wiringThe driving testRammers, hammers and crushers