BULKHEAD REDUX

BULKHEAD REDUX was the follow up to BULKHEAD created with the goal of addressing the first revision's biggest flaws. This was a ground up redesign and ends as functionally a completely different bot with some elements carried over. Improvements include a slimmed down frame (~3.3" in v1 to 1.75" in v2), a geared drive train with urethane wheels (replacing the direct drive foam wheels), a much lighter titanium wedge, a stronger motor (Tempest 2808-100kv), and new drive ESCs that don't lock up (the ESC chips in v1 did not play well with the ESC firmware causing them to stop functioning). BULKHEAD REDUX features a 5.5" diameter 1/4" thick AR500 asymmetric blade mounted at the tail end of a TPU chassis sandwiched by 2mm thick carbon fiber plates. The bot won 1 of 3 matches during the September 2023 NHRL 3lb event. The drive performed very well, allowing BULKHEAD REDUX to zip around the arena with great speed and control. The urethane wheels allowed for much more precise control of the bot and the printed herringbone gears allowed for it to take hits and stay together. The weapon hit very hard (when it functioned), but the exposed belt was a big issue as it could be sniped by other spinners or even pulled off by lifting or grabbing arms (a cover was designed and printed for the back during the competition). The tail was also too flexible, so after contact the tail could bend and the blade would catch the belt, either cutting it pulling it off the hub. Overall, I'm very happy with the design and performance of the robot, it's a huge step up from its predecessor and with some design changes (mainly to the tail, the rest is intact) could be a formidable competitor.