ReBoot v3

Utah Combat Robotics Spring Fling: May 2024

In preparation for the UCR Spring Fling,

Arizona Robotic Combat RoboRumble: June 2024

The biggest change to ReBoot between UCR's Spring Fling and ARC's RoboRumble was the addition of machined aluminum CAMs. The previous iterations of the CAMs were a frustrating source of seemingly endless drive issues, where the bot would often decide to either spend the match crab-walking or not move at all.

But no more!

With its new aluminum CAMs--one on each side was enough--ReBoot's drive issues were gone. It drove like it should, and it was fast. I didn't mind losing both matches at all--I was just overjoyed that neither of those losses had been forfeits.

note: lost to botterfly and guacamole

Southern California Attack Robotics' Destruction Under the Stars: July 2024

This was the event where ReBoot's aluminum forks finally went bye-bye.

SCAR at Orange Country Maker Faire: September 2024

EVAC Cactus Clash: November 2024

ReBoot underwent two major changes in preparation for EVAC's first event: first, a new set of boots, with Vytaflex cast on both the top and bottom, to assist in driving upside down; and second, the addition of magnets underneath its bottom plate.

The EVAC Cactus Clash was the last event for ReBoot v3, and oh, what a way to go. ReBoot was thoroughly wrecked in this bracket, first by Three Tapper and then by Fruit Punch. These two fights revealed some finer points of weakness in ReBoot, now that I had solved the issues of "it doesn't drive" and "it gets stuck upside down." In these fights, ReBoot constantly loses the ground game, often getting flipped up into the air and losing valuable time and points as it tries to right itself. The points of failure in both fights were the same: the shuffle shields would detach from the chassis at one side or another (likely the result of the threads formed in the chassis by the plastite screws being worn out), and the bottom plate would shatter under the intense impacts doled out by these two heavy hitters.

ReBoot vs. Three Tapper

The fight against Three Tapper was rough for ReBoot, and made even rougher by me not noticing before the match that ReBoot's weapon ESC had unplugged itself from the receiver. Three Tapper kicked ReBoot around quite a bit, even launching itself into the air at one point, and I'm proud of how well ReBoot stayed together before finally the shuffle shields popped off and the bottom plate cracked.

ReBoot vs. Sally

I was really excited to fight Sally. Its unique weapon (double vertical spinner) and unique body style (triangle) make it unlike any other robot I've seen before.

ReBoot vs. Fruit Punch

This is the second fight that earned ReBoot its Most Destroyed prize. Fruit Punch was consistently able to win the ground game and get under it, sending ReBoot into the air with pretty much every hit. The right shuffle pod burst open almost immediately, but ReBoot stayed surprisingly mobile with one-and-a-half drive sides, until one fateful hit shattered the most crucial part of the bottom plate, and ReBoot ejected its battery.

Final Thoughts on this Event

I was really satisfied with ReBoot's performance in this event. It drove consistently and the weapon worked almost-consistently. It didn't spend nearly as much time on its back as it did at OC Maker Faire, despite getting thrown in the air just as often, which I'm pretty sure was thanks to the magnets. I'm also glad that this event destroyed ReBoot enough for me to redesign it! I have a lot of improvements in mind for version 4 that