🔮 V2 RECONSTRUCTION · OVERRIDE-COMPETITIVE

Super Clawbot → V2 Override

Reconstruct the 2017 EDR Super Clawbot into a speed-focused Override V2 robot: 55W drivetrain (2.75″ or 4″ wheels), 4-DOF articulating arm reaching from back-loader pickup to tall-goal placement, aluminum chassis with weight-saving measures. Math + decisions + build plan.

📋 Related Pages
For the basic V5 conversion (no V2 upgrades), see /super-clawbot-v5-conversion. For the original 2017 build PDF: VEX Super Clawbot Build Instructions ↗
SECTION 0 / 5

The V2 Concept

What we're keeping from the Super Clawbot, what we're cutting, and why the architecture works for Override.

What's Worth Keeping from the Super Clawbot

The 2017 Super Clawbot was designed as a teaching robot, but its architecture has three things going for it as an Override starting point:

What Has To Go

Good news: the original 4-DOF arm (shoulder + elbow + wrist + claw) stays. The Override game manual caps wattage (88W total, 55W drivetrain), not motor count. With 5.5W half-motors mixed into the arm, you can run a 5-motor 55W speed-focused drivetrain AND retain all four arm degrees of freedom. See Section 1 for the full power budget breakdown.

The Match Cycle (What This Robot Does)

  1. Drive backward toward loader. Speed-focused drivetrain at 5.5-6.5 ft/s makes the back-and-forth fast.
  2. Loader pickup. Articulating arm reaches over the back of the robot, claw at H≈3-4″ (loader output height). Grab the cup-on-pin combo.
  3. Drive forward toward goal. Arm holds combo close to chassis to keep CoG low.
  4. Goal placement. Articulating arm extends forward + up, claw at H≈12″ (over 8.77″ tall goal). Drop combo on goal.
  5. Reset. Arm folds back. Drive back to loader. Repeat.
🎯
Why this works for Override: match loaders deliver pre-stacked cup/pin combos at predictable height. Articulating arm grabs and places in one motion (no manipulator handoff). Speed-focused drivetrain means high cycle volume. Single mechanism handles all three goal heights via different arm angles.

Where This Architecture Sits in the Lift Selection Space

Compared to other Override lift options (see /lift-selection):

ArchitectureCycle SpeedTall Goal ReachBuild ComplexityOverride Verdict
Super Clawbot V2 (4-DOF arm)High (no handoff)Yes (via geometry)Medium-high★ Strong for cup-on-pin combos
4-bar + V5 claw (V1.5)MediumMarginalLowGood baseline
4-bar + chain bar + pneumaticMediumYesHighMid-V2
DR4BLow (vertical only)EasyVery highWrong tool
SECTION 1 / 5

Power Budget — Wattage, Not Motor Count

The Override game manual caps wattage (88W total, 55W drivetrain) — there is NO motor count limit. With 5.5W half-motors mixed in, you can run 9-11+ motors total.

The Two Wattage Caps (No Motor Count Cap)

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What this means in practice: 11W full motors and 5.5W half-motors are now both tools in your toolkit. A 5.5W half-motor counts as 5.5W toward the cap (not 11W), so two half-motors equal one full motor in budget terms. This unlocks high-DOF arm configurations that would have been impossible under an 8-motor cap.

How This Changes the V2 Architecture

Earlier drafts of this guide assumed the 4-DOF Super Clawbot arm had to drop a degree of freedom to fit a 5-motor 55W drivetrain. That was wrong. With 5.5W half-motors, the wrist comes back:

Speed-focused 4-DOF V2 (corrected):
  Drivetrain: 5 × 11W = 55W ✓ R11a cap
  Arm: shoulder (11W) + elbow (11W) + wrist (5.5W) + claw (5.5W) = 33W
  Total: 88W ✓ R10a cap exactly
  Motor count: 9 motors (5 drive + 2 full arm + 2 half arm)

You keep all 4 DOF AND have a 5-motor speed drivetrain.

Architecture Options With Wattage-Only Limits

OptionDrivetrainArmTotalDOF preserved
A: Speed + Full 4-DOF (recommended)5×11W = 55W2×11W (shoulder, elbow) + 2×5.5W (wrist, claw) = 33W88W ✓4 DOF ✓
B: Speed + Mirrored shoulder5×11W = 55W2×5.5W (mirrored shoulder) + 11W (elbow) + 5.5W (wrist) + 5.5W (claw) = 33W88W ✓4 DOF + redundant shoulder
C: Conservative drivetrain + Full 4-DOF + extras4×11W = 44W4×11W = 44W88W ✓4 DOF (more arm power)
D: Push-heavy hybrid4×11W + 2×5.5W = 55W2×11W + 2×5.5W = 33W88W ✓4 DOF + half-motor drive boost
E: 5-DOF (add intake roller)5×11W = 55W11W + 11W + 5.5W + 5.5W = 33W (split with optional intake)88W ✓5 DOF if you swap a wrist 5.5W for intake
Recommendation: Option A (Speed + Full 4-DOF). 5-motor speed drivetrain at 55W gives you 6.28 ft/s (with 4″ wheels at 5:3 reduction). Full 4-DOF arm preserves cup orientation control via the wrist. The shoulder gets the full 11W cartridge (it's the highest-load joint); wrist and claw get 5.5W half-motors (low-load joints, fixed at 200 RPM). 88W exactly at R10a cap.

Half-Motor Tradeoffs (5.5W vs 11W)

Why use half-motors at the wrist and claw, but not the shoulder?

Spec5.5W Half-Motor11W Full Motor
Power5.5W (counts toward both caps at 5.5W)11W
SpeedFixed at 200 RPM (no cartridge swap)100/200/600 RPM via Red/Green/Blue cartridge
Stall torque~10.5 in-lb~14-21 in-lb depending on cartridge
Mass~140 g~280 g
Cost~$30~$50 + cartridge
Best useLow-load, low-speed-flexibility tasks (wrist, claw, intake rollers)High-load or speed-tunable tasks (drivetrain, lift, shoulder)

Recommended Final Allocation (Option A)

SubsystemMotorsCartridgePowerNotes
Drivetrain (5 motors)5 × 11WBlue 600 RPM55WPorts 1-5; speed-tuned via 5:3 reduction (see Section 2)
Shoulder1 × 11WRed 100 RPM11WPort 6; full power for highest-load joint; rubber band assist mandatory
Elbow1 × 11WRed 100 RPM11WPort 7
Wrist1 × 5.5W half-motorn/a (fixed 200 RPM)5.5WPort 8; just enough torque to rotate the claw; speed adequate
Claw1 × 5.5W half-motorn/a (fixed 200 RPM)5.5WPort 9; rack-and-pinion grip; 200 RPM = ~0.5 sec full open/close
Total9 motors88WR10a cap exactly; R11a cap exactly; 4 DOF preserved
⚠️
Half-motor caveat at the wrist: 5.5W half-motors are fixed at 200 RPM with stall torque ~10.5 in-lb. If your wrist needs to rotate a heavy end-effector (claw + cup + pin = ~360 g) at 8″ from the wrist axis, the static torque load is ~6.3 in-lb. That's 60% of stall — workable but high. Reduce wrist load by:
  • Mounting the wrist motor close to the rotating axis (not at the end of a lever)
  • Using a 2:1 or 3:1 gear reduction at the wrist (gives more torque, slower rotation)
  • Swapping the wrist to an 11W motor and dropping somewhere else (move shoulder to 5.5W mirrored pair = 11W, freeing 5.5W for wrist upgrade)
SECTION 2 / 5

Speed-Focused Drivetrain — 2.75″ vs 4″

For a speed build with 5×Blue motors, which wheel and gear ratio? Math compares both options at speed-tuned ratios.

Setting the Speed Target

For Override, "built for speed" usually means 5.5-6.5 ft/s at the wheel. Faster than that and the driver loses precision; slower than that and you're indistinguishable from a push-heavy build. The 5.5-6.5 range is where speed-focused robots live.

Configuration A: 2.75″ Wheels + Speed Gearing

ReductionGear PairWheel RPMLinear SpeedForce/wheelVerdict
1:1 (none)direct drive6007.20 ft/s10.2 lbTop end
4:336T → 48T4505.40 ft/s13.6 lbSweet spot
5:432T → 40T4805.76 ft/s12.7 lb★ Speed-focused
1.2:130T → 36T5006.00 ft/s12.2 lbSpeed-focused
2.75″ speed-tuned (5:4 reduction = 480 RPM):
  Linear speed = (480 × π × 2.75) / 720 = 5.76 ft/s
  Force per wheel = (14 in-lb × 1.25) / 1.375″ = 12.7 lb
  5-wheel total at stall = ~63 lb push (theoretical max)

Top speed (1:1 direct drive): 7.20 ft/s — possible but very fast. Use only with experienced drivers and PID control.

Configuration B: 4″ Wheels + Speed Gearing

ReductionGear PairWheel RPMLinear SpeedForce/wheelVerdict
5:336T → 60T3606.28 ft/s11.7 lb★ Speed-focused
3:224T → 36T4006.98 ft/s10.5 lbTop end
4:336T → 48T4507.85 ft/s9.3 lbToo fast
2:136T → 72T3005.24 ft/s14.0 lbSweet spot, not speed
4″ speed-tuned (5:3 reduction = 360 RPM):
  Linear speed = (360 × π × 4) / 720 = 6.28 ft/s
  Force per wheel = (14 in-lb × 1.667) / 2.0″ = 11.7 lb
  5-wheel total at stall = ~58 lb push

Head-to-Head at Speed-Tuned Ratios

Factor2.75″ @ 5:44″ @ 5:3Winner
Linear speed5.76 ft/s6.28 ft/s4″ (~9% faster)
Pushing force per wheel12.7 lb11.7 lb2.75″ marginal
Ground clearance1.4″2.0″4″ clearly
Pinion size on motor32T (manageable)36T (standard)4″ cleaner
Drivetrain weight (5 wheels)~250 g~425 g2.75″ saves 175g
Acceleration from stopMarginally fasterMarginally slower2.75″ marginal
Available chassis-internal spaceMore room (smaller wheel boxes)Less room2.75″ better
Recommendation: 4″ wheels at 5:3 reduction (36T → 60T) → 6.28 ft/s. Wins on the two factors that matter most for an articulating-arm robot:
  • Higher actual top speed (6.28 vs 5.76 ft/s) — 9% faster cycles, meaningful at scale
  • Higher ground clearance — Override scatters cups + pins to midfield, and 1.4″ clearance will catch on debris when driving fast
The 2.75″ option only wins on weight (175g), which is well within noise for a 6kg robot.

5-Motor Drivetrain Layout

5 motors on a tank drivetrain means asymmetric placement. Three valid layouts:

LayoutDescriptionProsCons
3+2 split3 motors on one side, 2 on the other (with chain or gear connecting)Asymmetric power; offset compensates for arm CoGDrivetrain feels lopsided unless code corrects; fragile
4+1 (5th motor on chain)4 motors driving 4 wheels directly, 5th motor connects via chain to add power to an existing wheel pairSymmetric drive feelChain alignment + tension management
6WD center-drop (recommended)6 wheels in a row (3 on each side), 5 motors split 3+2 or 2+2+1 with the unmotored wheel passiveWider footprint, better stability with arm extendedLarger wheelbase, less internal chassis space
📐
Recommended layout: 6WD center-drop with 5 motors driving 5 wheels (1 wheel passive). The center wheel on the drive-side with 3 motors can be drop-center for turning agility, with the unmotored wheel as a free spinner on the 2-motor side. Total of 6 wheels for stability under articulating arm dynamic load. Documented in /drivetrain-architectures.
SECTION 3 / 5

3-DOF Articulating Arm Geometry

Shoulder + elbow + claw. Reach math from back-loader pickup to tall-goal placement, with kinematic SVG.

Reach Targets

ActionClaw position (Y, H)Notes
Back-loader pickup(0″, 4″)Y=0 = back edge of robot; H=4″ = loader output height (estimated)
Transit position(9″, 8″)Tucked above chassis center, low CoG
Alliance goal placement(20″, 6.5″)1″ past front edge, 3.25″ goal + clearance + cup half
Short neutral placement(20″, 9″)Front edge area, 5.77″ goal + clearance
Tall center placement (target)(20″, 12″)The hardest reach — defines arm length

Sizing the Arm

Shoulder pivot at chassis: position Y=6″ from back, height H=4″ above ground (mounted on a small tower above the chassis top).

Distance from shoulder to tall-goal target:

Distance from shoulder (6, 4) to target (20, 12):
  d = √((20−6)² + (12−4)²) = √(196 + 64) = √260 = 16.1″

Distance from shoulder (6, 4) to back-loader (0, 4):
  d = √((0−6)² + (4−4)²) = 6.0″

Required arm reach: max(16.1″, 6.0″) = 16.1″ with some margin.
  Total arm length L_total ≥ 16.5″ (with 0.4″ safety margin)

Two-Segment Arm Sizing

Splitting 17″ total reach across upper arm (shoulder→elbow) and forearm (elbow→claw):

ConfigurationUpper armForearmProsCons
Equal split8.5″8.5″Symmetric load distributionFolded arm is asymmetric on chassis
Slightly forearm-heavy9″8″Easier elbow torque math; better folded positionSlightly larger upper-arm stress
Long forearm7″10″Flexible reach near shoulderForearm cantilever is long; claw at end has high inertia
📏
Recommended: 9″ upper arm + 8″ forearm = 17″ total. Easy gear-reduction math (both segments use 36T → 60T = 5:1 reduction), good folded position behind the chassis, well-distributed bending stress.

Side-View Kinematic Diagram

4-DOF Arm — Pickup, Transit, Place Positions
3-DOF ARM SIDE VIEW · 1 inch = 22 px GROUND 0" 3" 6" 9" 12" 15" Y=0 back 5" 10" 15" 18" front 23" CHASSIS (top of c-channel at H=3") 4" 4" TOWER shoulder pivot (6", 4") PICKUP (0", 4") elbow cup+pin TRANSIT (9", 8") PLACE (20", 12") elbow TALL 8.77" LOADER ━━ PICKUP (back loader) ━━ TRANSIT (over chassis) ━━ PLACE (tall goal)
↑ Three arm positions overlaid. Pickup (green): arm folded back to grab cup/pin combo from back loader at (Y=0″, H=4″). Transit (yellow): arm tucked over chassis center for stable driving with combo at (Y=9″, H=8″). Placement (orange): arm extended forward + up to drop combo on tall center goal at (Y=20″, H=12″). Shoulder pivot fixed at (Y=6″, H=4″).

Joint Torque Math

Worst case for shoulder torque: arm fully extended forward at placement position. The shoulder must support the entire arm + cup+pin combo at 16″ horizontal distance.

Shoulder torque calculation (arm fully extended, placement position):
  Upper arm aluminum: ~150 g, center of mass at 4.5″ from shoulder
  Elbow joint + motor: ~280 g, at 9″ from shoulder
  Forearm aluminum: ~140 g, center of mass at 9 + 4 = 13″ from shoulder
  Claw + motor: ~280 g, at 9 + 8 = 17″ from shoulder
  Cup + pin combo: ~80 g, at 17.5″ from shoulder

  Static torque at shoulder (sum of mass × distance × 0.0353 in-lb/g·in conversion):
  = (150×4.5 + 280×9 + 140×13 + 280×17 + 80×17.5) × 0.0353 in-lb
  = (675 + 2520 + 1820 + 4760 + 1400) × 0.0353
  = 11,175 × 0.0353
  = ~395 g·in × 0.0353 ≈ 14 in-lb? Let me redo.

Actually proper math (g·in to in-lb): 1 g·in = 0.00220 in-lb (1 lb = 453.6 g)
  Total torque g·in = 11,175 g·in
  Total torque in-lb = 11,175 × 0.00220 = 24.6 in-lb at shoulder
Shoulder motor capability (1× Red 100 RPM at 5:1 reduction):
  Stall torque at cartridge output: ~21 in-lb
  Through 5:1 reduction: 21 × 5 = 105 in-lb stall at shoulder pivot
  Load utilization: 24.6 / 105 = 23% of stall ✓ Comfortable

With rubber band assist: bands provide ~5-8 in-lb of pre-load toward up direction
  Effective load: 24.6 − 7 = 17.6 in-lb → 17% of stall ✓ Excellent
Elbow torque (forearm + claw + cup at full extension):
  Forearm CoM × distance: 140 g × 4″ = 560 g·in
  Claw + motor: 280 g × 8″ = 2,240 g·in
  Cup+pin: 80 g × 8.5″ = 680 g·in
  Total at elbow: 3,480 g·in × 0.00220 = 7.7 in-lb

  Elbow motor (1× Red 100 RPM at 5:1): 105 in-lb stall
  Load utilization: 7.7 / 105 = 7% of stall ✓ Excellent
  No rubber band assist needed at elbow.
Wrist torque (1× 5.5W half-motor, no reduction):
  The wrist rotates the claw around its mounting axis. Load is the offset claw + cup mass.
  Claw + cup CoM offset from wrist axis: ~1.5″ (claw center, cup hangs below)
  Combined mass: claw 280 g + cup+pin 80 g = 360 g
  Static torque at wrist (worst case, claw horizontal): 360 g × 1.5″ × 0.00220 = 1.2 in-lb

  5.5W half-motor stall torque: ~10.5 in-lb
  Load utilization: 1.2 / 10.5 = 11% of stall ✓ Comfortable
  Wrist rotation speed: 200 RPM = 3.33 RPS = ~1.2 sec for 90° rotation. Adequate for cup orientation correction during transit.
Claw torque (1× 5.5W half-motor, rack-and-pinion grip):
  Required grip force on cup: ~0.1 lb (cup mass × accel = 0.07 lb gravity)
  Required grip force on pin: ~0.5 lb (pin's tapered shape needs more pinch)
  Standard claw rack-and-pinion gives ~5-8 lb of grip force at the tips
  Claw motor at 11% of stall during grip cycle. Easy. 200 RPM = 0.5 sec full open-close cycle.

Reach Verification Table

ActionTarget (Y, H)Distance from shoulderReach status
Back-loader pickup(0, 4)6.0″✓ Easy (arm folds)
Transit(9, 8)5.0″✓ Comfortable
Alliance goal placement(20, 6.5)14.2″✓ Reaches (17″ arm)
Short neutral placement(20, 9)14.9″✓ Reaches
Tall center placement(20, 12)16.1″✓ Reaches with 0.9″ margin
SECTION 4 / 5

Aluminum Construction + Weight Saving

Switching from steel to aluminum cuts ~2 kg of robot mass. Where it's safe, where it isn't, and the structural math.

Aluminum vs Steel — VEX Specs

PropertySteel C-channelAluminum C-channelAluminum advantage
Density7.85 g/cm³2.70 g/cm³~3× lighter per unit volume
Tensile strength~530 MPa~310 MPa (6061-T6)Steel ~70% stronger
Young's modulus (stiffness)~200 GPa~70 GPaSteel ~3× stiffer
Mass per 35-hole 1×2 c-channel (~17.5″)~250 g~85 g~165 g savings per piece
Mass per 25-hole 1×1 angle~160 g~55 g~105 g savings per piece
Cost per piece (typical)$3-5$5-8Aluminum ~50-100% more expensive

Total Weight Savings — Robot-Wide Estimate

A typical V5RC robot uses 12-18 long c-channels + 6-10 short angles + small parts. Conservative count:

Robot structural inventory (typical V5RC build):
  14 long c-channels (chassis + arm) × 165 g savings = 2,310 g
  8 short angles (brackets + brackets) × 105 g savings = 840 g
  Hardware (screws, nuts, spacers) ~ same in both → 0 g savings
  Motors, wheels, gears, electronics ~ same in both → 0 g savings

Total mass reduction: ~3,150 g (~3.1 kg)

For a baseline 6 kg steel-c-channel robot:
  Aluminum-converted robot mass = 6.0 − 3.15 = 2.85 kg
  = ~50% mass reduction
⚠️
The 50% reduction estimate is theoretical maximum. In practice you'll keep some steel for high-stress parts (drivetrain motor mounts, shoulder pivot reinforcement, gear box plates), so realistic savings are 35-45% of total mass. Plan for ~2-2.5 kg actual savings, not 3+ kg.

Where Aluminum Is Safe (Use Throughout)

Where Steel Stays (or Aluminum Needs Reinforcement)

Bending Math — Forearm Aluminum vs Steel

Will an 8″ aluminum forearm be too floppy? Let's check:

Cantilever beam deflection formula: δ = (F × L³) / (3 × E × I)

  where F = force at end (claw + cup + pin = 360g = 0.79 lb)
      L = length = 8″ = 0.203 m
      E = Young's modulus
      I = moment of inertia of c-channel cross-section

  For VEX 1×2 c-channel, I ≈ 4.16 × 10⁻⁹ m⁴ (rough estimate from cross-section)

Steel forearm (E = 200 GPa):
  δ = (3.51 N × 0.00837 m³) / (3 × 200 × 10⁹ × 4.16 × 10⁻⁹)
  δ = 0.0294 / 2.50 = 0.0118 m = 11.8 mm = 0.46″ deflection at end

Aluminum forearm (E = 70 GPa):
  δ = same numerator / (3 × 70 × 10⁹ × 4.16 × 10⁻⁹)
  δ = 0.0294 / 0.874 = 0.0337 m = 33.7 mm = 1.33″ deflection at end

Aluminum deflects ~3× more than steel. 1.3″ sag at the claw is significant — affects placement accuracy.
⚠️
1.3″ deflection on the forearm is too much. Mitigation options:
  • Use paired aluminum c-channels back-to-back on the forearm (doubles I, halves deflection to ~0.65″). Adds ~140 g but acceptable.
  • Add a diagonal stiffener from the elbow to a point along the forearm (creates a triangle, dramatically reduces deflection). Adds ~50 g.
  • Use steel for forearm only, aluminum elsewhere. Saves more weight robot-wide than aluminum forearm with stiffeners.
Recommendation: steel forearm. Aluminum benefits don't outweigh the precision loss for this single piece.

Weight-Saving Beyond Aluminum

TechniqueSavingsTradeoff
Lightening holes (drilled in c-channels)10-20 g per pieceReduces strength ~5-10% per hole; can be done safely on non-critical members
Shorter c-channels (cut to exact length needed)5-30 g per pieceLocks in geometry, harder to iterate
Polycarbonate plates instead of metal where possible50-100 g per plateLower stiffness; OK for non-load-bearing covers
Aluminum standoffs instead of steel~10-15 g per standoff × ~20 standoffs = 200-300 gLower thread strength; use Loctite
Skip the bumpers (just license plates)~150 gMinor scuffing on edges; usually fine

Final Weight Estimate

~6.0 kg
Steel Baseline
Original Super Clawbot architecture rebuilt in steel. Heavy.
~3.5 kg
Aluminum + Mods
Aluminum c-channels everywhere except shoulder + forearm + drivetrain motor mounts. Lightening holes. Polycarbonate plates.
~2.5 kg
Savings
~40% weight reduction. Faster acceleration, easier on motors, lower CoG, longer battery life per match.
SECTION 5 / 5

Build Plan + Verdict

Phased rollout, parts list, common failure modes, and an honest assessment of whether this build is right for your team.

Phased Build Plan (V2 Conversion)

  1. Week 1: Disassembly + parts inventory. Strip the original Super Clawbot. Inventory every steel c-channel; mark which ones get replaced with aluminum. Order aluminum stock + V5 hardware (5×11W motors + Blue cartridges for drive, 2×11W + Red cartridges for shoulder/elbow, 2×5.5W half-motors for wrist/claw).
  2. Week 2: New chassis (aluminum). Build the 18″ × 14″ chassis with 4″ omni wheels and 5×Blue motor drivetrain at 5:3 reduction. Battery, brain, motors mounted. Test driving — target 6.0-6.5 ft/s.
  3. Week 3: Shoulder + tower. Mount shoulder tower at Y=6″ from back, 4″ tall (top of pivot at H=4″). Use steel c-channel for the shoulder mount specifically. Single Red 100 RPM motor with 5:1 reduction. Add rubber band assist.
  4. Week 4: Upper arm + elbow. Build 9″ aluminum upper arm with internal spacer reinforcement. Mount elbow joint with single Red 100 RPM motor + 5:1 reduction. Test arm range hand-driven through full shoulder + elbow envelope.
  5. Week 5: Forearm + wrist + claw. Build 8″ steel forearm (steel for stiffness — see Section 4). Mount 5.5W half-motor wrist at end of forearm with 2:1 or 3:1 reduction (gives torque margin). Mount Override-sized claw with 5.5W half-motor for grip. Test wrist rotation independently from claw open/close.
  6. Week 6: Integration + tuning. PID tune all four arm joints (shoulder, elbow, wrist, claw). Test full pickup-transit-place sequence with cup orientation correction during transit (the wrist's job). Measure actual reach to all goals. Verify CoG with calculator at /center-of-gravity.

Parts List Summary

SubsystemKey PartsNotes
Drivetrain5× V5 Smart Motor (276-4840), 5× Blue cartridge, 4×4″ omni (276-1454) + 2×4″ omni for 6WD, gears (5×36T pinion, 5×60T driven)~$320 in motors + cartridges; ~$60 in wheels; ~$25 in gears
Shoulder + Elbow2× V5 Smart Motor (276-4840), 2× Red cartridges, gear pairs (12T:60T at shoulder, 12T:60T at elbow)~$130 motors + cartridges
Wrist + Claw2× V5 5.5W Half-Motor (276-4842), claw rack-and-pinion assembly, gear reduction 2:1 or 3:1 at wrist axis~$60 (half-motors are cheaper than full)
Aluminum structural~12 × 2×1×35 aluminum c-channels (217-2604), ~6 × 1×1×25 aluminum angles~$60-90
Steel reinforcement2 × 2×1×25 steel c-channel (shoulder + forearm)~$10
Pneumatics (skip in V2)Skip — claw uses motorized rack-and-pinion
Rubber bands10× #64 latex bands for shoulder assist$2
Estimated total cost~$700-800 (excluding battery + brain assumed available)

Common Failure Modes

FailureLikelihoodConsequencePrevention
Shoulder motor overheatsMediumArm sags, can't reach goalsStrong rubber band assist; PID with hold limit
Forearm cantilever sagsMedium-high if aluminum forearmClaw misses goal; cup tipsUse steel forearm OR doubled aluminum + diagonal brace
Cable routing through articulated jointsMediumCable pinch, shorting, or motor disconnectPlan service loops at every joint; use cable carriers
Pin grip fails (taper too narrow)MediumPin slips out of claw mid-cycleCustom-shape claw tips or add silicone grip pads
5-motor drivetrain asymmetryLow-mediumRobot pulls to one sideSoftware gain compensation; balance motor positions
Aluminum chassis flex under loadLow if reinforced; high if notDrivetrain accuracy degrades; arm pivot wobblesInternal spacer reinforcement; cross-bracing

Comparison to Other Override Architectures

BuildCycle speedTall goal reachBuild effortVerdict
Hero Bot V1.5 (4-bar + V5 claw)MediumMarginal~2 weeksReliable Phase A baseline
4-bar + chain bar + pneumaticMediumYes~6 weeksV2 alternative
Super Clawbot V2 (this page)HighYes~6 weeks★ Highest cycle volume
DR4B + chain barLow (vertical-only)Easy~8 weeksWrong tool for Override

Honest Verdict

⚖️
Build this if:
  • Your team already owns the Super Clawbot kit (parts cost is mostly aluminum + V5 motors)
  • You have ~6 weeks of build time available (this is Phase B/C work, not Phase A)
  • Your strategy emphasizes high cycle volume (back-loader pickup + front-goal placement, repeated)
  • You have an experienced builder who can handle articulating-arm geometry + cable management
🚫
DON'T build this if:
  • Your team is novice — too many simultaneous engineering challenges
  • Phase A reliability isn't proven yet — make V1.5 work first
  • You don't have the budget for aluminum c-channels (steel build will be heavy and slow)
  • Your team can't commit to the full 6-week timeline

Cross-References