Brand new and rare

[Danny B]

After running Mecha Sombra at a few events, I'm really pleased I've managed to settle into the robot combat crowd. But I have a feeling that I now want to try something new. As much as I love my current bot, I want to do something more complex, not just as a challenge for myself but as a treat for audiences too.
I decided I wanted to make something which would be both entertaining to watch and unique, that needn't necessarily be hugely damaging. So after weeks of brainstorming, sketching and scouring the net for available components, I've decided to make a type of machine hardly ever seen nowadays; A walkerbot.

What I have in mind is something of a lightweight cross between Anarchy and Killertron. A well protected chain-driven leg system to drive it, and a counterweighted 180 degree motor-driven axe for a weapon.
I'm not necessarily worried about having a destructive or fast machine, just one that can hold it's own in non-spinner events (which are the only ones I attend at this point) without being utterly destroyed. All more fun for people watching!

[Danny B]

Have decided on 2 x 350w scooter motors for the drive. They're powerful, easy to mount and compatible with technobots sprocket and chain systems. And although quite heavy, I can use them thanks to the extra weight allowance.

Concept art for the external design below. The idea behind the 2 large 'fins' on the top is to absorb impacts and to help the bot roll when self-righting. (sorry for the low quality image, I don't have any fancy art apps)
Robot1.png

[RogueTwoRobots]

Danny, just re-read your first post. You're planning on using the Anarchy method of walking, yeah? If so, you won't have any extra weight allowance, that mechanism no longer fulfills the walker criteria.

"2.2 Legged Robots [Walkers] can weigh up to twice the specified weight in all classes. A walker must employ moveable legs to support its weight. Each leg must have at least 2 degrees of freedom. Robots with rolling or sliding mechanisms will not be classified as walkers."

[Danny B]

What I planned was to have the legs 180 degrees out of phase with each other so that they met at the halfway point without the bodywork ever touching the ground. I'd always have 4 legs supporting the entire weight, I was only referring to Anarchy in terms of the way the legs move. Does it still not count?

[psychostorm]

2 degrees of freedom is two separate axis. up/down, forwards/backwards.

[Danny B]

Oh, I see. I thought it meant 2 degrees as in the angle, I thought that seemed strange. So do the axis have to be independently controllable for it to count?

[Eventorizon]

Yes, you need to be able to control each axis on each leg separately OR they muct be mechanically independent. I think the latter is a better way of saying it as most walking machines, like hexapods, have their movements pre-programmed and you can edit them mid fight, but if you needed or wanted to you could make each servo move separately, where as a cam/mechanically linked system is fixed and can only do 1 movement.

[Danny B]

Ok, as it stands I have 2 options:
1. Try to create a much more complex walker than I intended, or
2. Simplify and reduce this design to bring it within the standard weight limit.

Personally, I'd prefer to take the second option. Like I originally said, I'm prepared to sacrifice some performance for entertainment's sake.

[Team-101]

I think you will find that Anarchy does comply! This rule was present when Anarchy competed and was accepted by Mentorn who brought the rule in to remove robots like Drillzilla. Each leg is driven by two axis , one drive the leg up and down and the other forwards and back, OK this could be argued to be 1 DOF, depending on how picky you want to be. But each leg also had independent suspension allowing the leg to slide vertically to allow for floor, adding another DOF, that independent.
I believe the rules are very vague and open to interpretation, that said I don't think I will be bringing Anarchy back.

More likely something along the lines of the all the other slightly boring boxes, flippers and spinners. It hardly seems worth the effort of trying to make something different! But then that's possibly why Robot wars is no longer on TV!

Mike.

Team 101
Coming back soon!

[craig_colliass]

Under the current rules this is a shuffle bot!
Total number of parts in the mechanism is unknown but exceeds 700.

best of luck with the project guys, looking forward to not being the only one with a walker at events.

[Team-101]

Well that just proves that the interpretation of the rules is incorrect!
WALK
verb

gerund or present participle: walking

1.move at a regular pace by lifting and setting down each foot in turn, never having both feet off the ground at once.

The walking mechanism was sufficient to please the Guinness book of records, when they presented Scuttle with the world record for "fastest walking Robot" 2001!

As above the rules are there to stop the use of DrillZilla type systems that are nothing like that of Anarchy or Pilgrim!

[Danny B]

I have to say I agree with Mike on this one, if it really is Mike. I looked back over the rules and nowhere was it specified that the up/down and forward/backward movement of the legs had to be independently controlled. If that is the case, I struggle to think of any competitor in UK robot wars history that would qualify today.

[Team-101]

Well its not Mike Troll

[Ellis]

If from this we can get a rule change to make "walkers" a less silly task, that would be great. That or fill in the grey for other forms of walker. I think a 25% or 33% weight advantage for shufflers is perfectly reasonable and does nothing but encourage diversity. Wiping them out completely is extreme. It's not like everyone has the ability to design and build a shuffle mechanism that can match wheels, and if they can, then well bloody done.

[Flag Captured]

I can see the flaws in having a full 100% weight allowance for shufflers - you could probably attach a couple of legs to some wheels and then give yourself a shell spinner heavier than most robots are, whilst I do agree it encourages diversity in order to get that reward of extra weight, I think it'd be silly to give shufflers the same weight allowance as true walkers (the latter being as far as I'm aware significantly tougher to implement...) - As Ellis says, about 1/3rd would allow a featherweight shuffler to be about 18kg, and about 130kg for heavies which is enough to get some benefit through bigger weapons or whatever, but not so much that it's balance-breaking. Would still be cool as a demonstration though, even if it wasn't tournament legal, under the current rules... of course, you'd have to check with EOs first but still.