Thud was our first robot, and was born while watching the first series of robot wars. My self - Richard Dallimore, Paul Sharp and Gorden Lee set about putting ideas onto paper and taking our first tentative steps into robot design.
    Thud was built using tracks , our thoughts were that the tank design was going to be the most stable and best, a rough frame was built and Thud started to take shape.

With the tracks fitted our attentions turned to motors and gearboxes, little did we know this was to prove our largest headache!!!!. The first set of motors were some 24v units of about 300w but with no gearboxes. We tried using the motors straight onto our axles but the motors didnt have enough torque, so various ideas about gearboxes were thought of and in the end we decided to use Black/Decker electric drill gearboxes- time was running out so we went for it and fitted them. One problem when the robot ran forward they preformed well untill you went backwards and the drive pinion would try to unwind its self from the gearbox and place extra load onto support bearings. August was getting near for the filming so thease units had to do.
    After the return we sorced some golf caddie 12v motor/gear boxes which worked much better and they we fitted for the 'robot get-together' in Wales which was hosted by Team Panic Attack the final Winners of Robotwars 98.
The golfcaddie untis fitted to thuds axle.

Weapons
Our main weapon was always going to be a large cirular saw. but it underwent quite a few design changes just like any thing else.

The saw started to be driven by a chainsaw engine but as we found out in the last war the engine was too unreliable, so it was swaped for a 12v starter motor.


The saw during testing - no the carpet did'nt catch on fire!.

Control
Thud's control used a series of microswitches to inturn switch 40amp relays to control the power to the motors this system works but it puts alot of extra strain on the motors and shortens their life. After the war we sourced an electric wheel chair controller - but more about this later.
So that was it for Thud, alot of work and also alot learned along the way. Tracks are very good but they do not provide much grip in the arena - things had to change.   Read on.