Robot base unit

The base unit of the robot is a compact and sturdy transport vehicle. The base unit can be operated by itself and can carry up to 500 pounds of accesories and other gear and can tow over 1000 pounds. The base unit comes with its own set of batteries that power the motors that move the robot. This is separate from the power supply listed below so that no matter how much you drain the batteries that run your accessories, you can still drive the robot.

Frame
The frame is made of high-strength aluminum. It is engineered for much more abuse than the typical operating conditions, so you'll never need to worry about the frame.

Our "standard' robot frame measures 32" long by 15" wide by 10" tall. This size was used for a few reasons. The length is the longest the robot can be and still fit in the back of a mid-size SUV without folding down the seats. The width (plus 5" on each side for tires) is the widest it can be and still fit comfortably through exterior doors (when at the beach, you can bring it in your condo to charge it). The height is the shortest the robot can be and still hold the motors, drive train components, batteries, and other electronic components.

Drivetrain
Our robots are all-wheel drive, with the left and right sides powered by separate electric motors. This design is very simple (which is a good thing when it comes to moving parts) and provides for great reliability.

Steering
Unless customized, your robot will use "skid steering." This is the same type of steering a tank uses. This design allows the robot to be turned in a complete circle without moving forward or back. It allows for very precise control.

Accessories
Accessories are the most highly customizable part of the robot. Your accessories are entirely up to you (check out the Customizations page for ideas), but here is a list of the most common ones.

Mounting rails	These provide you with areas to which to attach your gear. The rails include hooks and fold-out shelving so that you can attach and strap down your chairs, tents, bags, and whatever else you might want to carry.
Sound system	The sound system can range from mild to wild. Want a small stereo so you can listen to the television in an outdoor environment? We can do that. Want a twelve speaker setup that will rattle the fillings out of the teeth of your friends? That's more like it! Our standard sound system is somewhere in between, though it leans more towards the tooth rattling side. Keep in mind that the sound system is a major drain on your batteries. The wilder you go, the more battery power you will need.
Cooler	A cooler is a great accessory for the beach and for tailgating. Our most common configuration has a 48-quart cooler on a slide-out drawer just above the robot frame.
Television	The television is the heart of a good tailgating experience. Use whatever television you want; we'll figure out a way to mount it. Flat-panel TV's work the best, though, because of their light weight, slim profile, and convenient mounting. Keep in mind that the television is a bigger battery drain than even a sizable sound system. See our FAQ section for more information on which TV technology will work best with your robot.
Satellite dish	If you have a television, a satellite dish is usually a good idea. You'll need to have an account with one of the satellite TV providers to receive your programming.
Generator	Planning on using your robot all day but don't want the weight, size, and expense of the batteries it would take to power that? A generator is often a great choice to reduce the number of batteries you will need. Honda and Yamaha both make excellent 1000-watt generators that are more than powerful enough to run the accessories listed here for 10+ hours on a tank (one-gallon) of gas. The main drawback to a generator is that they make noise, while battery power is silent. Also, some tailgating areas and many beaches do not allow the use of generators. Before deciding on a generator, make sure it is ok for you to use it where you plan to use your robot. Also make sure that you the generator you choose has an acceptable level of noise.

Warranty

All of the products that we build have a parts and labor warranty of one year. Everything that we don't build is covered by warranties from the individual manufacturers. For example, if a chain breaks, we will fix it under warranty, but if your TV quits working, you need to use the warranty that came with your TV.

The warranty of customizations will be worked out when we discuss your ideas. The design of the base unit has been perfected and tweaked over several years to the point where it's rock-solid. If you want something crazy like a 6-legged walking robot (which we've never made, but will gladly do so), it would be tough to get everything perfect right from the beginning. Just understand that your model would likely require some tweaking that wouldn't be covered under warranty. However, if your customization doesn't present any tough engineering challenges, like if you want three TV's instead of just one, we will provide a normal warranty.

After the warranty period, we are still happy to fix anything that might go wrong with your robot. It doesn't matter what happens - maybe you run your robot over with your car - we still take great pride in the rock-solid construction of your robot, and will repair it at extremely reasonable rates. Repairing your car will be up to you because your robot won't go down without a fight!