Killer Bees - 2014

[Jim Zondag]

Here are a couple of pics.
As Andrew said, it is very simple. The minimalist design freed up a lot of resources we could then use on other features of the machine such as a giant spring bundle in the catapult and huge catching wings. The lack of chains or belts means we do not need much rigidity in the frame, allowing it to be even lighter. There is a single 6:1 rear reduction to each wheel.

Our priority this year was to make the best catapult possible. The drivetrain needed to take a backseat to this objective.

A lot of people thought we were crazy and/or stupid when we revealed this. Admittedly it is a bold choice. It has its pros and cons, but for this game, I think the pros were an advantage overall. It does require a very good driver, and Ellen is pretty awesome. (7 blue banners, 175/46/1 record over 2 years)

There is more than one right way to design a robot. The right choice depends on many factors including: experience, driving ability, weight, complexity, and game strategy. I think our 2014 experience proves that you can sometimes step outside the box if you have properly thought through the question.