Robots

ExhilarAnt

Designed as my first entry into the 150g Antweight class, Exhilarant was a new challenge focused around extreme weight and size constraints. In addition to the strict weight limit, the robot also had to fit within a 100mm cube, requiring a highly compact layout where every component had to be carefully positioned and justified.

The robot was built around a lightweight aluminium base chassis, providing a rigid core structure while keeping weight as low as possible. PLA armour was used to enclose the robot, offering a simple and easily replaceable solution that balanced protection with the tight constraints of the class.

For the weapon system, Exhilarant featured a premade horizontal spinning bar, chosen for its simplicity and effectiveness at this scale. The design focused on achieving reliable spin-up and delivering clean, controlled hits, while also helping me understand how energy transfer behaves in smaller robots.

To assist with drivability, a micro front caster wheel was added using a free ball design. While this helped support the robot and made movement smoother in theory, it ultimately became a weakness. On impact, the lack of friction at the front caused the robot to ricochet away from opponents rather than maintain engagement, reducing control during fights.

Working within both the 150g limit and the 100mm size restriction proved to be one of the biggest challenges, forcing careful compromises across durability, weapon size and drive performance. Every gram and every millimetre mattered and the build process involved constant adjustments to keep the robot competitive while staying within the rules.

Exhilarant continued the Exhilarator naming theme, while marking a step into a new class and a new set of design challenges, building on existing experience while adapting to a much more constrained and precision-focused environment.