I decided it was about time this page had an update as its just a little old.....
Anyways if you're reading this page you've probably seen Battlebots on PPV or come across an article mentioning robotic combat and said to yourself I can build one of those!
First, their are many other tips pages out there such as..
Robot Combat (Team Hercules) Tips and FAQ
Technical aspects of robot design
Realize that robot building is extremely expensive. For a first time builder I would suggest that you start with one of the lighter weight classes such as the 55lber's instead of trying to build a ~200lb Gigabot. The parts are cheaper, easier to get hold of and it's alot easier to pickup and travel with a 55lb robot. Also most robots it seem end up being partly built on the kitchen table, and smaller robots are much easier to move off the table to eat breakfast.
Most robots follow a similar basic design plan, i.e. two motors hooked up for tank steer driving, a motor controller, batteries, a chassis to mount everything to, and a r/c radio for control.. Although not all robots follow this design, many do and for the beginner it is the easiest to build. So a few basics need to be covered first.
MOTORS
more to come....