with much larger diameters than undercutters
or midcutters, because they spin over the top
of the entire robot chassis (Figure
F
). These
robots are very fun to design and build and can
be unbelievably destructive due to their high
energy storage, but they have several inherent
flaws. They can’t drive while inverted, as
the weapon lies between the wheels and
the ground. Because they store more
energy, they take the greatest strain on the
chassis and weapon system whenever they land
a hit. They’re also extremely vulnerable to vertical
spinners as their weapons are mounted so high
and cannot be supported on both top and bottom.
FULL BODY SPINNERS
Full body spinners have a spinning weapon that
protrudes outside the robot’s drive chassis and
surrounds the entire robot. They function as both
weapon and armor, and usually weigh more than
any other weapon type. Full body spinners are
split up into three types:
Ring spinners spin a ring weapon around
the robot’s frame (Figure
G
). These rings are
supported at the outside of the robot and do not
cover the top. Therefore the robot can use wheels
that are taller than the frame and stick out the
top, which allows them to drive while inverted.
While being invertible is a huge advantage, this
weapon system is inherently fragile. Because it
spins around the body of the robot (with several
contact points to the frame) the weapon will fail
with any deformation. This makes ring spinners
one of the most complex weapon types to design
successfully.
Shell spinners have a weapon that covers
their top and sides, protecting the entire robot
(Figure
H
). They can’t drive when inverted
but have a much simpler weapon support
compared to ring spinners. Shells generally
have a protrusion on top that makes them
unstable when inverted, allowing them to
right themselves. These weapons are much
more robust to damage, as they generally
spin about a shaft in the center of the robot
and deformation of the outer shell does not
necessarily mean it will be disabled.
One problem that plagues both ring and shell
spinners: because their weapons have large MOIs
H
F
G
Caleb Kraft
31
make.co
M81_026-33_SS_WeightWeapons_F1.indd 31M81_026-33_SS_WeightWeapons_F1.indd 31 4/11/22 11:00 AM4/11/22 11:00 AM
..................Content has been hidden....................
You can't read the all page of ebook, please click here login for view all page.