Clyde

Clyde is a 3lb "beetleweight" combat robot that I have been working on with my twin brother Alex Brown since Feburary 2021. Before Clyde entered the beetleweight combat robotics scene, there were no effective flamethrowers whatsoever. The goal of Clyde was to create an innovative flamethrower design that would put on a great show at competitions and redefine flamethrowers from being a purely aesthetic design choice to something competitive. Through years of iteration we achieved this goal, reaching the quarterfinals of the 2023 NHRL World Championship, the largest beetleweight combat robotics competition in the world.

Check out more Clyde fights on our Wiki page https://wiki.nhrl.io/wiki/index.php/Clyde

Clyde V1

Minimum viable product
Used servo-released butane refill cartridge and electric lighter as a basic flamethrower, unable to deal significant damage
Titanium wedge configuration and AR500 wedgelet configuration
Learned basics of robot design, wiring, and failure modes

Clyde V2

Improved control thanks to iterated wedgelet design
Added a computer fan to add more air to get a better fuel-air mixture, raising flame temperature to damage small components like 3D printed gears
Improved bent titanium wedge deflected huge horizontal weapons, but resulted in poor invertability
Learned to use oxy-acetylene torch for wedge bending, importance of fuel-air ratio, and ways to increase manuverability and control

Clyde V3

Blacksmith forge burner design better balances fuel-air ratio and mixes aerosolized fuel and air in mixing chamber
Finally reached high temperatures, able to melt wheels, belts, and electronics!
Refillable butane tank and solenoid release more robust than previous fuel systems

Clyde V4

Refined efficient burner reaches extreme temperatures, able to melt entire robot chassis!
Innovative high-temperature UHMW and titanium wedgelets absorb impact, resist heat, and control other robots
Spring steel reflects heat and protects from our own flame
Unique geometry allows instant self-righting
First flamethrower to ever qualify for National Havoc Robot League (NHRL) Championship this December!

Clyde V5

Reached quarterfinals of the 2023 NHRL World Championship!
Beat previous beetlweight world champion, Droopy
Refined wedgelet and side fork design provides incredible durability and reliability
Hot surface ignitor used as ignition is protected inside the robot

What's Next?

We are currently researching new burner designs, taking inspiration from rocket engines, blacksmith forge burners, and brazing torches. We will prototype and iterate on these ideas, and plan on unveiling a completely redesigned flamethrower system at the 2024 March NHRL competition.