To those who care to read

[leorcc]

To those who care to read

Putting pricetags on robots is something I disliked from day one. Naming prices during live events is even worse, because when prices of robots like Storm II (as a random expample) get mentioned, people in the audience that might be tempted to build one hear that and go oh heck no im not going to put up that kind of money for that.

If someone or some group wants to spend 10k pounds on a robot, I have no problem with that. But for every 10k robot there are 3 2k robots that can beat it. And that is what i like about this sport. The richest teams dont automatically win.

[grant_ploughbot]

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As Leo and ed said, its not about how much money you spend, its what you use and how you use it that matters. Storm 2 is only so expensive because of all the parts that have been made by people other than team storm. 1 inch of expensive titanium costing thousands isnt any better in this situation where spinners arent allowed than 3-4mm steel costing nothing.
If you dont want to build a robot yourself you have to be prepared to spend ALOT of money for something that most people could build for free.

[storm]

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Careful guys..... in life we all turn to experts when our practical knowledge wont do, whether its getting a gas cooker installed or getting a plumber in. To suggest that we did not build Storm II because some parts were manufactured elsewhere isnt fair.

Did you build your batteries (you could have done), did you build your speed controller (you could have done), did you bore our your own rams (you could have done)... the list goes on.

People play to their strengths and avoid the weaknesses. Our strength was ideas, CAD ability and funding. Our weakness was a lack of time and machine skills. Logical solution was to outsource were you have weaknesses.

Be careful before you start attacking people and their approach to a problem (building a winning robot) just because they didnt take the same route as you may have done.

Perhaps we should ban engineers from building robots as they have strengths others dont have ?

Ed (and on behalf of the rest of the team)
http://www.teamstorm.comhttp://www.teamstorm.com

(Message edited by storm on August 10, 2007)

[ady]

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im not bothered what teams spend on machines, when i went to my first event, i saw all these fancy chargers, fans to cool batteries etc....take captain scarlet, prodigy or block of wood for example,i know their only feathers but finishing 2nd,3rd and 4th, in the uk champs. prodigy cost pennies, so i guess did block of wood, and then captain scarlet which is sold in kit form finishing 2nd this year and winning last year. it goes to show that you dont need to spend thousands to do well. i almost enjoyed the fact i could beat machines so well engineered/impressive looking. if i was so concerned about £3000 titanium jaws or thousands of pound storms then i wouldnt enter the event, but surely beating them is a good feeling being on a budget? i dont see nothing wrong with telling the audiance that you spend thousands as it shows your dedicated and serious about the sport your in, BUT it would be nice to say that you can build a cheap robot that can do well also, and maybe give examples at the same time. Im glad this sport isnt like football or F1, where its a case of who has the most money wins, as where would it leave us who dont have as much to spend. you can watch a grand prix, first race of the season and know who will be in the top 4, at least with this sport you have no idea who will finish where, which gives me an incentive to know it could be me and anyone has a chance.

also i have no idea regarding the bickering and what not, between event organisers, but all i do know if it wasnt for people like xfm,robochallenge, rr etc etc.... i wouldnt have anywhere to compete. i see things i dont agree with but without Andy Kane, the fra, this forum etc... i wouldnt be building robots

(Message edited by ady on August 10, 2007)

[ady]

To those who care to read

too late to edit!! im just voicing my opinion freely, and this is how i feel, i have read all the posts and simply posted my thoughts.

i was talking to me wife after driving home from the robochallenge event about this, ok so yes perhaps their is money to be made in holding events, i dont know? but you must still be very committed to have all that hassle and stress running these events. rather you guys than me, sorry!



(Message edited by ady on August 10, 2007)

(Message edited by ady on August 10, 2007)

[leorcc]

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Ed, for the record I used Storm II as an expample for being an expensive robot. I pass no judgement on either you or your team, nor on the robot itself.

What I do object to is making it sound like all robots cost thousands of pounds even though that is not always the case.

[typhoon_driver]

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Putting a price cap on bots eh? Lets have a bit of a reality check.

I will take my new heavyweight as an example.

-Both my eteks were second hand from different sources, do I count them as brand new as both were unused and so declare them as brand new list prices or as the price I paid?

- My custom gearbox cases. I had a CNC mill quote of £1500 so therefore they are worth that. I got them done for a lot less. So which price do I quote?

- My speed controllers. Got them for far less than the new price. Again which price do I say?

- Batteries. Cost me nothing but a new set of hawkers will cost you a fair bit.

To try and cost a robot. It doesnt work.

If someone wants to build something fancy that costs a lot then by all means go ahead. Doesnt make a blind bit of difference in the arena.

Lets keep the comments mature and impersonal.

[swanaldo]

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i paid 10 quid for speedo.....5 quid for ram....5 quid for motors...free armour...nicked at gocart and got the drive...all the other bits cost me 40 quid and i have a fully working battle ready robot that will win the champs for 50 sniffs.

[Guest]

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Shane add that up agin. It comes to £60, not £50. Still, well done for being able to make a bot for that sort of cost.

[swanaldo]

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i lied

[anukhet]

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Gary has hit the nail on the head with Doesnt make a blind bit of difference in the arena.

Thats the reality.

[lex]

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...except of course that Storm 2 and Typhoon, two of the most expensive robots ever made in the UK were the dominant machines in RW7! There are other factors of course; good design, good setup and good driving being the main ones, all of which Turbulance had in spades at last years UK Champs, but financial resources and sophisticated engineering capabilities are a distinct advantage all else being equal. Personally I have no interest in price capping robots and agree with Garys comments on that score- its not feasable even if it was considered desirable.
Im happy to see builders express their enthusiasm and creativity in what ever way suits them best. I like seeing the results of imaginative builders with or without significant budgets and I think the sport benefits hugely from go for broke designs that push the envelope and show what can be done.

[babeth]

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Its the powergames that we dont like.

[typhoon_driver]

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Typhoon, two of the most expensive robots ever made in the UK were the dominant machines in RW7!

Typhoon 2 was actually remarkably cheap and only cost a few thousand to put together. We chased a number of sponsors for most of our parts.

There is also the fact that typhoon 2 was only dominant after the first round of its heat. We lost our qualifying heat and were brought into the TV show as cannon fodder. After a few small problems were sorted it worked well but as I said before, its what happens in the arena that counts.

[david_b]

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Yeah, I think its irrevent in price for a robot. And you got to remember that thousands of pounds is no substitute for skill and experience.