Tesla’s Tornado Fact Sheet

Team McHargue (<http://McHargue.Org/William/BattleBot/>)

Updated 2/3/2003:

When Tesla's Tornado was first begun I didn't realize how much work would be involved (few bot builders do). As the design progressed, and technical hurdles were encountered, the desire for minimum compromise in the simplicity, ruggedness, and striking power had led more often than not to a custom and tightly integrated solution. Combining what skills I have in mechanical design, electronics, computer modeling, and general physics...this is the result:

• Designed as a Horizontal Spinner, BattleBot “Middleweight” (53.48kg, 117.9 lb.)
• Design Philosophy: Make a Fighting Robot As Simple As Possible Yet Still Effective In Combat
• Integrated Design: Chassis is Weapon
• Whole Bot Spins and Translates (moves laterally) at Same Time.
• Hardened S7 Tool Steel "Bot Cutter" Corners
• No Gears, Pulleys, or Separate Axle - Direct Motor To Wheel Coupling
• Mechanics Modeled with Cobalt (by Ashlar-Vellum, Inc.) - 3D Solid Modeling Software
• Performance Modeled with Mathematica (by Wolfram Research, Inc.)
• All Modeling, Analysis, Procurement, Correspondence, and Shop Entertainment Provided by an Apple Computer, Inc. PowerBook G4 (Ti) Running Mac OS X.
• Completely Vertically Symmetric (Works Upside Down)
• More LEDs (Light Emitting Diodes) Than Any Other BattleBot!
• Infrared Pulse Code Modulated Communication
  • Detector Photodiodes Double As Orientation Sensors
  • New "Laser Remote" Transmitter - Very Tight Illumination Pattern
• Fully Custom Built Electronics
  • Infrared Laser Remote Control Transmitter
  • Auxiliary"Arena Flooding" Transmitter Unit w/250 LED Array
  • 6-Way Redundant IR Detectors
  • On-Board CMOS Control Logic w/PCM Decode (Only 23 ICs)
  • Dual Motor Drives w/Active Braking
    • FET Arrays: 280A Cont./800A Peak Capacity Each Drive
• Sealed Lead-Acid Battery “Packs”
  • 8 Cyclon “E” Cells/Pack
  • 4-Point V-Block Mounting Each Cell
  • 16 Volt, 32 Amp-Hour Total Capacity
  • Very Fast Recharge: 30 Minutes Or Less (90 Amp Charging Current)
• Novel Master Switch Design:
  • Brass Grounding Screw Each Battery Pack
  • Highly Shock Resistant/High Contact Force
  • Allows for Battery Subset Operation
  • Switch Contact Doubles as Charging Terminals (Closed Bot Charging )
• Designed and Built by William McHargue (Last-minute shop help from John & Robert Knepp (Electramotive Computers) and Terry Peterson—thanks guys!)