3lb Combat Robot – K-buto 5.0

Who We Are

My name is Danilo Simomura, and I am a member of the ThundeRatz Robotics Team from the Polytechnic School of the University of São Paulo (the #1 university in Latin America).

ThundeRatz has over 20 years of experience in national and international competitions, with more than 190 trophies earned, ranking among the best robotics teams in Brazil. Beyond competitions, we also engage in outreach events at schools and companies, giving lectures and showcasing our robots to inspire interest in science and engineering.

Our team competes in a wide variety of categories such as FairyWeight (150g), AntWeight (500g), HobbyWeight (12lb), FeatherWeight (30lb), and LightWeight (60lb), as well as Sumo 500g, sumo 3 kg, VSS soccer, VSS simulation, soccer simulation 2D, trekking, line follower, micro hockey and hockey pro.

The Project: K-buto’s Journey

When I joined the team last year, K-buto was in version 2.0 — full of flaws and needing improvement. Since then, together with my teammates, I have redesigned and refined the robot. By version 4.2, K-buto was already competitive and capable of winning matches. With a vertical spinning eggbeater like weapon it uses powerful brushless motors for the drive and weapon system.

You can watch K-buto in action here:

But our goal is to go further. To become a champion robot, we were compelled to change it more. Featuring a completely new design: four-wheel drive for better traction and a weapon with twice the inertia of the old version to maximize destructive power. This is K-buto 5.0, the new much more competitive version.

The Challenge

The 3lb combat robot is nearing completion. We have successfully prototyped every part using 3D printing, but one of the greatest challenges we face now is manufacturing its weapon. The design involves a complex geometry, carefully optimized to maximize its moment of inertia and deliver the highest possible impact in combat. We also simulated it to make sure it doesn’t break during the fight.

Unfortunately, our university’s workshop lacks the resources to machine this component, making outside support essential.

Note: YouTube’s processing caused some minor glitches in the video.

As a public college team in Brazil, our budget is very limited, which makes it difficult to access the advanced machining and materials we need. With your help, we could complete this key component and proudly represent our university in competitions.

This is the part that we need: an 82.4 x 29.96 x 59 (mm) alloy steel 4340 component.

We Need Your Support

Your sponsorship would provide the machining and materials necessary to complete this crucial component. In return, we would proudly promote your brand:

• On K-buto 5.0 during competitions
• On our team shirts
• Across our social media platforms and outreach events

Our competitions gather both live audiences and online viewers, giving your brand visibility in the robotics community in Brazil and abroad.

Our Dream

Winning a trophy with K-buto 5.0 is not only my personal dream but also a way to represent our university, inspire future engineers, and strengthen the robotics community. With your support, we can make this dream a reality.

Thank you very much for your consideration. I look forward to the possibility of working together.

Yours faithfully,

Danilo Simomura

Our social medias:

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@thunderatz

Instagram: @thunderatz

Facebook: @thunderatz

TikTok: @thunderatz