this is a good example of the design two-step: mixing up What the machine should do and How it will be built

you dont want to do that!

study the requirements, determine what the machine needs to do, and why -

then figure out how the machine will do these things, how you will build and assemble it

being easy to build is not an engineering design goal - if it were you would see robots made of plywood, cardboard and staples

"well, yeah it tends to fall apart, but look how easy it is to staple back together!"

:c)

if being round, or spherical, or triangular has a functional advantage, then the round robots will perform better on the playfield - the extra design work to make the proper (best) robot shape will be WORTH the effort, if it means you end up winning.

I guess it depends on whether you mean "best" as in "best looking" or "best" for functionality.

If it is for functionality, it really depends on what you deisgn your robot to do and what it's goal is, that will determine the look of the robot.

Now if you just want it to look cool, i'd say round always looks cool, oh yeah and breathing fire..oh wait I don't think FIRST is starting any battlebot tournamanet yet :)

Well, the best body shape would not to have a body at all, the presence of mind of a body is much more complex and strong than an actual body.

Woah, that's freaky...

Anyway, us at 384 have prefered a 'wide is better than long' idea from Sparky 1 to Sparky 4. It gives us the most controll we have found.

see if I want to store it easily under my bed or in the closest (one of the requierements) and make it with only tools in my dorm room.... it has to be a rectangle or square! Now to go get some plywood, drill bits, a cordless Drill, a circular saw, dremel and hacksaw. And back to AutoCAD drawings and looking for motors, batttery, and all those nice electircal components... controls...... will build a bot when I got the money (either that or a model train layout) and know what componenets I want to build! (when i go out for CO-OP :D and def after get a real job)


Sorry I'm a little ahead there. But anway, Ken. Yeah you're right. You have to take it one step at a time. Needs assesment, analyse needs and establish goals, then brainstorm ideas, prototype, and come up with a final design, and then produce your final product.

Best Body Type
 

hmmm I think its a mix between Jennifer Lopez and Britney Spears...........I think im going with J-Lo on this one. :-) She'd definetly win some design awards!