UK Kilobots - 1.362kg (3 lbs) Combat Robots

[psychostorm]

Re: UK Kilobots - 1kg Combat Robots

Gary i really like the active weapon idea too but there could be some cool thwack bots and stuff. I kinda just wanna see a mini saint... I dont think many people will build just a box on wheels.
we need some people to build vert spinners, crushers, flippers, lifters, and axes, would be nice to see a clusterbot too.

What is the point of creating visually interesting robots when someone is going to create some dull off - box with an overpowered flywheel and destroy it?

Nail that question and the sport is sorted.

[dgr]

Re: UK Kilobots - 1kg Combat Robots

What is the point of creating visually interesting robots when someone is going to create some dull off - box with an overpowered flywheel and destroy it?

Nail that question and the sport is sorted.

You are completely missing the point of this sport! The sport would be sorted if no-one caused anyone with a good looking robot any damage? That's the POINT of this sport! If you don't want damage, don't join in!

I don't see the difference between engineering a featherweight weapon and a heavyweight weapon apart from the size difference

Gary, you've seen my featherweights....lol. Engineering weapons in general is not my strong point. However, I'd be quite happy with the rule in this new weight category cos it's easy enough to put a weapon on robot weighing a kilo.

[gravity]

Re: UK Kilobots - 1kg Combat Robots

I don't disagree that robots like the saint are entertaining to watch I just dont want to see another weight limit filled with your standard 4wd rammer bots. I think you could get around it by stating that robots must have an active weapon or a visible static weapon that is in the spirit of an active weapon (more than just a box on wheels)

The spirit part could be left down to the discretion of judges or fellow combatants.

The Saint is easily enough the excempt to the rule (is that a word?), because I love seeing it in action, because thats what it does ! Action ! Bouncing and dancing all over the place while whacking every inch of the floor, the walls, and sometimes even other robots
Thats what people like to see not a bunch of boxes zooming over the floor bumping into eachother...

[psychostorm]

Re: UK Kilobots - 1kg Combat Robots

You are completely missing the point of this sport! The sport would be sorted if no-one caused anyone with a good looking robot any damage? That's the POINT of this sport! If you don't want damage, don't join in!

Damage does come into it but trivializing like that you may as well say the POINT of boxing is to knock to your opponent into a coma!

It isn't, it's to win the fight, in both cases. A fight win was, back in the day, determined by style, control, damage and agression. How much effort was put in, how many opportunities were missed, how skillful people were with the controls, damage done and taken. Now I can't particularly much say any of the other three categories matter anymore.

Not only is this sport in general a sheer learning curve for a lot of newcomers, there are veterans out there who have machines that can pretty much insure they leave with the parts they started off with.

[dgr]

Re: UK Kilobots - 1kg Combat Robots

Damage was ALWAYS the overriding factor from the very beginning of Robot Wars. If someone caused more damage to their opponent, they won the fight.
Anyway, I don't really get your point. You say damage is now the only factor in battles, yet we have much LESS damage now than they did on Robot Wars, due to the lack of full combat events. If you can name me one robot from a veteran whose machine has destroyed its opponents without having any defeats or damage done to itself in recent years, I'd love to hear it, cos I sure as hell can't think of one! No-one is guaranteed to leave with all the parts they started with, this statement just simply isn't true.
We NEED more full combat events. I reakon 99% of the people who play this game would agree with that statement. The featherweight UK championships in Newcastle last year were fantastic because the spinners finally got to come out to play. My robot was terminally KOed in its first fight and came last out of all the competitors, but you don't here me complaining cos I expect the damage.
We need a weight class that can be full combat all the time, not just under special circumstances. This could be it, like antweights, but without all the drop-off zone stuff that makes people favour wedges.
And I go back to my original comment, if you don't want damage then don't build a robot!

[typhoon_driver]

Re: UK Kilobots - 1kg Combat Robots

f you can name me one robot from a veteran whose machine has destroyed its opponents without having any defeats or damage done to itself in recent years

terrorhurtz vs kan opener a few years back at the UK champs in Wales (just to be a pain in the arse) :P

[Kenny]

Re: UK Kilobots - 1kg Combat Robots

i agree with dave here we should make this weight class full combat all the time and also we aren't making open walls, a pit etc so a push bot wouldn't be right good in a fight anyway, the assault course we are allowing the robots to be mod'd in anyway (but still be in the rules) like taking the armour off and putting bigger wheels on and so on, to be able to go up ramps and over different surfaces, the course will be timed lowest time will get most points and also we are looking at putting short cuts in like swinging doors and things like that and will be changed every event so a route can't just be remembered

[craig_colliass]

Re: UK Kilobots - 1kg Combat Robots

Guys guys this talk is too much! You don€™t have to worry about the weapon, no weapon thing this is wiped away by one simple fact.
Robots eventually €œEvolve€ to suite the environment, the key is not the rules, what to allow or reject, but the arena type, if you want spinners to reign in this weight class, make sure all arenas are full combat with no pit, flip out zone or any other distraction. Then its quite simple if you want to win build a robot with a weapon and it would probably be a spinner! If you want diversity then change the stakes, introduce a different environment and the battle results will change.
If someone brings along a boring box put it up against a spinner then it won€™t be boring any more.

[dgr]

Re: UK Kilobots - 1kg Combat Robots

f you can name me one robot from a veteran whose machine has destroyed its opponents without having any defeats or damage done to itself in recent years


terrorhurtz vs kan opener a few years back at the UK champs in Wales (just to be a pain in the arse)

That's just a single fight though Gary. Yeah, sure there have been single fights where someone has destroyed their opponent with no damage to themselves, but there's no one who it happens to every single fight, who is guaranteed to come out working, as suggested.

[RogueTwoRobots]

Re: UK Kilobots - 1kg Combat Robots

So, what are people using for motors/wheels/batts etc?
I guess I should probably experiment myself, seeing as with ants, feathers and heavies everyone pretty much knows the best parts to use whereas ideal components for this class have not yet emerged obviously. Will be interesting actually to see what motors, speedos and battery types come out as the best for cost/effectiveness to weight as machines develop.

I'm thinking of using this robot as a bit of inspiration:
http://www.wa4dsy.net/robot/trisector-robot

and then scale it down and alter it a bit so I'm not completely stealing a design. I don't have the tools to custom make gearboxes to the degree of quality he does but I quite like the way it looks

[craig_colliass]

Re: UK Kilobots - 1kg Combat Robots

I was wondering about these motors at 6v
http://www.technobots.co.uk/acatalog/info_1451_019.html
This speedo
http://www.technobots.co.uk/acatalog/Sh ... r_530.html
the wheels i don't know but probably small ones!!!
Weapon 4 100mm dia disc

[dgr]

Re: UK Kilobots - 1kg Combat Robots

I have those motors, and that controller, have used them in ants on 7.4v.

[calumco]

Re: UK Kilobots - 1kg Combat Robots

those motors and the speed controller are fine, im using the 30-1 motors, u can also buy the motor holders aswell, aswell as wheels which go straight onto the shaft

http://www.technobots.co.uk/acatalog/Sh ... s_420.html - bottom of page for wheels

http://www.technobots.co.uk/acatalog/Sh ... rs_81.html part number 1451-100 for the motor holders

although on the motors you've chose im not sure if the holders would fit onto them because the little gear box is twisted and not inline with the motor if u get my meaning

[RogueTwoRobots]

Re: UK Kilobots - 1kg Combat Robots

I looked at those motors but I'm not sure if they're a little underpowered or undersized for a kilobot. So any experiences/ideas of how they might perform would be appreciated
The only experience I have at that weight range is super-antweights, just using servos and receiver battery packs. So I'm trying to imagine something four times the weight of that. Servos might cope but would be slow to move unless speed-hacked.

I was also looking at the Technobots range of MFA motors, like the ones used in Zeobots/Battle Ratz but some of the smaller versions. I remember seeing a few machines using them at the UK Robotic Games back in 2006 for the 3kg sumo class and they were quite a good speed with what seemed like decent torque. Haven't looked properly into the weight of them yet, but compared to those 6V ones Craig linked to they'll obviously be heavier. Also means the possibility of going overweight more easily, as the bigger motors will need bigger batteries.

But if those small motors can cope with the weight, could mean plenty of weight for a decent chassis and weapon. Several things to consider *ponders*

EDIT: Just seen Calum's post, so if they are fine then that could be a six-wheel-drive lightweight chassis sorted :-)

[dgr]

Re: UK Kilobots - 1kg Combat Robots

I think those motors would be a little bit weedy under a kilo of weight. I mean, if someone's using them and they're fine, then I'll go with that, but I managed to damage one of the gearboxes just by trying to get the wheel off the axle once, so I'm not sure if they'd do. Maybe if you had six...lol