Looking to dip my toes into robowars with an Antweight and am interested in making it a hover bot. I know it will be a bit skittish but I'm ok with that. Any ideas on things to try/not try? Looking at making it a pusher.

I guess first question is what's the max size? I thought I saw somewhere 4" square?

no max size for beetleweights and featherweights, ants i dont think we have either although that is a rule in the UK where the class originated from. Size i guess is limited by the weight limit in effect

As for a hovering pusher, i dunno if that would even be possible haha, i guess with a big enough motor and enough thrust it could work for sure, some of the new brushless setups are crazy powerful. But idk if hovering is going to work that well. The floors usually become destroyed pretty quick (they're wood most of the time) with huge gouges so getting a seal would be somewhat impossible me thinks.

Ambitious idea though! would be cool to see something like it in reality.
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www.demon50s.com - Minimoto parts
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A hovercraft style pushy bot might not work so well as you will have no surface based traction and will be relying entirely on air convection for your pushing ability.

Lemmings had a little foam hover craft toy at one of the ant event that we belted around with my antweight spinner Scarlet, while it absorbed hits from the spinner easily, it was somewhat weak at pushing.

The hover design might be more practical for another weapon design
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What weapon types would you suggest? It was suggested I stick away from spinners for local matches, otherwise that would be my next thought.

If your going antweights then I wouldn't worry too much about spinners, build one if you want. Non-spinner is feathers where stuff gets expensive. But once again just build something with wheels to start off with before getting into the too crazy designs. Tape stuff to a board and get it driving around.

Then indulge with many a hobbyking purchase to make some crazy hovering design.

I am not sure what hovering would be effective for really. Maybe a flame thrower? as you could vector the thrust to strafing and holonomic motion.

Steve
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Steven Martin
Twisted Constructions
http://www.botbitz.com

hovering flame thrower seconded
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<Patrician|Away> what does your robot do, sam
<bovril> it collects data about the surrounding environment, then discards it and drives into walls

Hmmm, I might go for a Hover Flamethrower, but I'll take Marto's advice and maybe start a little simpler.

Sounds fun...Also you get a weight bonus for anything that doesn't have wheels, like a hovercraft.....300g instead of the regluar 150g! ....but it would be hard to push and to steer. Sounds like some experimentation will be happening
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Miles Blow - Julie Pitts
www.mulesfilm.com.au
www.wombokforest.com.au

-Pickasso- Vivid Sportsman champion 2015

Yeah take Martos advice definitely. But just remember to build that hovercraft flame thrower one day
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<Patrician|Away> what does your robot do, sam
<bovril> it collects data about the surrounding environment, then discards it and drives into walls