LELE V2 - 1.36kg Beetleweight Combat Robot

1. Introduction & The Team's Evolution

​Welcome to the official build log of LELE V2, a 1.36 kg (3 lbs) Beetleweight combat robot. We are a dedicated team of four student-engineers who have been building and competing in robotics together for the past few years.

​Up until recently, our focus was entirely on the micro-robotics category, specifically the 150-gram Antweight class. In this micro-class, our team achieved incredible success, consistently dominating the arena and proudly securing 2nd and 3rd place podium finishes in the recent National Combat Robotics Championships.

​While the 150g class taught us invaluable lessons in weight optimization, compact wiring, and driving tactics, we felt it was time for a much bigger, more destructive challenge. LELE V2 marks our official leap into the high-kinetic energy world of Beetleweight combat.

​2. The Design Philosophy & Community Inspiration

​In combat robotics, building entirely from scratch without studying history is a mistake. For LELE V2, we chose to analyze a veteran team's older combat robot that possessed a brilliant, time-tested layout. We deeply studied its past battle records, analyzed the telemetry, and identified exactly where its structural vulnerabilities lay under heavy impacts.

​Instead of just repairing the old robot, we decided to perform a complete ground-up re-engineering process. We took the foundational concept and updated it to match modern, brutal arena standards.

Key Design Upgrades in LELE V2:

​Chassis Evolution: We transitioned the frame to house a high-traction 4-Wheel Drive (4WD) system, ensuring that if two wheels are lifted or damaged, the robot can still maintain full control and push power.

​Integrated Protection: The chassis features custom-designed, heavy-duty serrated wheel guards to protect our drive wheels from opposing spinners while simultaneously acting as passive defensive teeth.

​Internal Layout: We fully redesigned the internal electronics bay, incorporating Shock-Absorption mounts to isolate the delicate speed controllers and receiver from high-G impacts.

​3. Detailed Technical Specifications

​To give the community a better look under the hood, here is the component and material breakdown of LELE V2:

​Weight Class: 1.36 kg / 3 lbs (Beetleweight)

​Drivetrain: 4WD powered by four high-torque planetary gearmotors for aggressive pushing capability.

​Weapon Type: High-Moment-of-Inertia Horizontal Spinner.

​Target Weapon Speed: Estimated 8,000 to 10,000 RPM.

​Power System: 4S LiPo battery pack supplying clean, high-discharge current.

​Chassis Material: Multi-layered impact-resistant polymers combined with CNC aluminum structural brackets.

​4. The Ultimate Engineering Challenge: The Weapon System

​In the 3lb class, horizontal spinners are absolute monsters, storing immense kinetic energy. When our blade strikes an opponent, that energy has to go somewhere. This introduces our greatest mechanical challenge: Dynamic Balance and Structural Integrity.

​At 10,000 RPM, if the manufacturing of our weapon blade is off by even a fraction of a millimeter, the resulting centrifugal asymmetry creates violent harmonic vibrations. These vibrations don't just reduce weapon efficiency—they can instantly shatter our weapon bearings, loosen internal electrical connections, and cause the robot to tear itself apart inside the arena without even being hit.

​Furthermore, when the blade strikes solid steel or titanium armor, the counter-shock is massive. The weapon blade must be fabricated from premium, heavy-duty materials with zero internal defects to prevent bending, cracking, or catastrophic failure.

​5. Why PCBWay is Essential to Our Project

​To achieve the extreme tolerances required for an balanced, high-RPM spinner, amateur workshop tools or basic 3D printing simply will not work. This is exactly why we are partnering with PCBWay.

​We are looking to utilize PCBWay's world-class CNC Machining and Professional Sheet Metal Fabrication services. Specifically, we need high-precision milling and cutting for:

​The Main Horizontal Spinner Blade: Requiring flawless dimensional accuracy to ensure perfect dynamic balance.

​The Weapon Support Mounts & Hub: CNC machined brackets to rigidly secure the weapon assembly to the chassis and absorb the massive impact forces.

​PCBWay's industry-leading manufacturing capabilities will provide us with the structural reliability needed to survive the arena and bring home another championship trophy.

​6. Project Roadmap & Next Steps

​Our CAD model is fully finalized, simulated, and ready for manufacturing. Our production schedule consists of the following phases:

​Phase 1 (Current): Securing manufacturing partnerships for high-stress components.

​Phase 2: Chassis assembly, electronics integration, and wiring management.

​Phase 3: Low-speed weapon testing and dynamic balancing adjustments.

​Phase 4: Full-power arena testing and combat readiness evaluation.

​We are incredibly excited to document this journey. Once our sponsorship is approved and the parts arrive, we will post a comprehensive follow-up article here on the PCBWay Community, including a detailed unboxing video, an assembly time-lapse, and live testing footage. Thank you for supporting student innovation and the future of combat robotics!

6. Marketing & Promotional Value for PCBWay

We view sponsorship as a two-way partnership. By supporting the manufacturing of LELE V2, PCBWay will receive high-impact marketing and visibility within the rapidly growing combat robotics and STEM communities:

Prominent Logo Placement: Your logo will be prominently displayed on the main protective armor of LELE V2. Since horizontal spinners generate high-profile, viral battle footage, your brand will be front and center in every slow-motion replay and fight video. The logo will also feature on our official team apparel.

Dedicated High-Quality Content: We will document the entire integration process of PCBWay’s parts. This includes a dedicated unboxing post showing the surface finish and precision of your CNC/Sheet Metal work, a time-lapse of the mechanical assembly, and behind-the-scenes engineering shorts.

Social Media & Community Reach: All content will be shared across our social media platforms (Instagram, TikTok, YouTube) and cross-posted to major combat robotics forums and subreddits, explicitly tagging PCBWay as our official manufacturing partner.

The PCBWay Community Build Log: We will maintain an active presence on this platform, updating this article with telemetry data, stress-test results, and post-event analysis to showcase the real-world durability of PCBWay’s manufacturing under extreme combat conditions.