2013-2015
Titanium Knights Robotics
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Bergen County Academies had a rich history of competing in Battlebots competitions in the early 2000s. However, by the time I started high school in 2012, many of the key members graduated and the team fizzled into obscurity. I could not accept this, and made it my mission to re-vitalize the Titanium Knights Robotics team in my Sophomore and Junior years at BCA.
The first year of rebooting the Titanium Knights Team, our team refurbished two legacy robots, Mini Knightrous and UKnight. This was a great first step to learn how to assemble and operate Battlebots, but after getting my first taste of competition, I made it a goal to design, build, and compete with my very own original design. Thus, Alumiknight was born.
I led a team of four to create Alumiknight, with myself taking on the majority of the design and planning. I generated several different concepts for the design, primarily drawing inspiration from UKnight and Falcon by Team Whyachi. The concept was to create a low profile spinning drum, which was low enough to scoop larger robots while still maintaining enough power to launch them. After several design iterations, hand calculations, cost-down efforts, trade studies, and changes to improve manufacturability, we landed on a final design for the robot.
From here, time was spent creating proofs-of concept for fit check purposes. The prototype was made using laser-cut wood parts, and it was great to get a feel for how large the robot would be fully assembled. I also spent time making a bill of materials and planning the competition and logistics. As a high school student, this was the first time I had planned something like this and possibly my first time using Excel.
Following this, COTS parts were ordered and we began the manufacturing process. This was one of the first times I worked with metal parts and was able to use tools like the water jet, mill, and broach. I am very fortunate to have had these resources available to me at my school. Below are a few highlights taken during the process.
Building and assembling the robot really came down to the wire. I pulled my first all-nighter the day before competition fixing issues and drilling holes to meet the 15lb weight limit. Thankfully the robot came together, but we went into the competition with zero practice.
On competition day, we had a record of 2-2 and placed 8th our of 16 competitors. This was very respectable for this untested first iteration of the design, and we learned many valuable lessons and ways to improve in the future. Leading the team, designing the robot, and building all the parts from scratch was by far the most educational experience I had at BCA. I will always hold this project near and dear since it was my first true entry into my passion for engineering.
