Me-Me

Critter Crunch 20 lb



Me-Me is a 20 pounder which will compete the MileHICom Critter Crunch in the 20 lb class (she weighs a dainty 12.5 lbs so I'll be able to make it work at MURC/Botbash in the 12/13lb class). I originally was going to enter Wedgeward-Ho becuase it only weighs 19.5 pounds, but the Critter Crunch bots have to fit in a 12" cube, and Wedgeward-Ho was too big.

Me-Me got her name when I was showing the bot to some neighbors who like to hang out in front of my dojo to watch their kids ride bikes up and down the street. I mentioned I'd like this bot to have a female gender name, "Does anyone have any ideas?". Matthew (5) asked "Can it be named after a person?". I said "whom did you have in mind?" Matthew immediately exclaimed "Me!". Then Arron followed suit and said "Me!". So I named it after both of them. Besides, Mimi is a girls name so it worked out.

Me-Me uses 2 Chicago Electric 18V drill motors obtained from Harbor Freight, and the 3-1/2" Colson wheels on each side are joined by a #25 chain.. The wedge is gravity powered. It sits vertically at the start of a match then falls forward as soon as there is forward movement of the bot. I did this so it would start in the requisite 12" cube, but the rules allow the bot to expand outside the envelope when the match starts. The entire bot looks the same right-side-up or upside-down.

The chassis is .049 wall 4130 chromolly steel tubing. The covers are made of 5052-H32 Aluminum. Two IFI Victor 883's are used as speed controllers, running at 18V provided by the Battlepack from Steve Hill. I'm using the Team delta 24V to 5V converter and a 35amp toggle switch for the mains.. The receiver is a Futaba 75 Mhz FM 3 channel unit.

This bot has been built within three weeks and uses similar construction techniques (but better) as what was used on Wedgeward-HO. As you can see, Me-Me, is well compacted in order to fit within the 12" square requirement, yet it is 8 pounds under the limit. ...And its almost all steel! I can't imagine how you would put 20 pounds in that size. I had the same problem with Wedgeward-Ho! I'll add some iron inside the wedge cavity to make it heavier and hang some bars off the back for more traction.

Building Me-Me