The future of roboting

[craig_colliass]

Re: The future of roboting

Thats a good Idea if you go to the cinema, they are always trying to sell you stuff use the screens to run adverts for any drinks and sweats, also goods form the merchandise stall. I know Mr Stu could do something that could be run at all shows on a loop so it could be started when the fights are not on.

Use what we have to sell what weve got :shock: :shock:

[RogueTwoRobots]

Re: The future of roboting

Not 100% linked to the future of roboteering or how we can improve live shows, but who else has seen the picture links in the Malaysia section of the forum for their Robogamez 2009 event?

Their 'theme' or sub-name for the event is 'Rising of the Silent Tower: Resist or Surrender'
How awesome a name is that for a robot event? As I said in the Malaysia thread, it sounds like its a title for a video game, but using it for naming a robot event just gives a nice little twist to things

It might not be do-able now (or whether there'd be enough interest in it/it would be logistically viable down the line) but having a videogame style themed robot event where the robots have to either work together or fight against each other to complete missions would be cool
Its the sort of thing that would work well more with the all-terrain idea that was mentioned earlier in this thread, so it may not be achieveable any time soon but may as well stick it in this discussion so I don't forget it

EDIT: It would involve having to have some sort of new story for every event so that the audience could follow what's happening, so unless whoever writes the missions was really talented at churning out gripping stories frequently, it wouldn't be a once-a-month thing. But it could be done in such a way that several parts of the mission depend on audience participation, such as gettting them to drive a robot for some sort of sub-challenge

EDIT AGAIN!: Just remembered that this sort of thing happens in the Fanfic section, where they have vapourbot RPGs occasionally. Makes a nice little change to the norm

[knightrous]

Re: The future of roboting

Not 100% linked to the future of roboteering or how we can improve live shows, but who else has seen the picture links in the Malaysia section of the forum for their Robogamez 2009 event?

Their 'theme' or sub-name for the event is 'Rising of the Silent Tower: Resist or Surrender'
How awesome a name is that for a robot event? As I said in the Malaysia thread, it sounds like its a title for a video game, but using it for naming a robot event just gives a nice little twist to things

RoboWars has a similar naming scheme with its events here in Aus. We've had the following names:

RoboWars 1
RoboWars 2: The Wreckoning
RoboWars 3: Judgment Day
RoboWars 4: Carnage Continuum
RoboWars 5: Destination Devastation
RoboWars 6: System Smash

Makes it sound like a chapter in a novel

[muchalucha]

Re: The future of roboting

In the near future it is rumored that 40 MHz systems will be banned , i personally have never used anything but (so i may be subject to bias he he) . All newcomers to the sport of roboting use 40 MHz systems , as for a first robot spektrum systems are wayyyy out of most peoples budget. There is no doubt in my mind that spektrum systems are better , but there is no problems with 40 MHz systems , spektrum systems are just better , and really its down to your budget and personal preference. For one , if 40 mhz systems are banned ill be forced to give up this sport , and so will many others .

[beast]

Re: The future of roboting

as most of us that use spec`s its a recomend but I would never go back to any thing else than 2.4 gig system

[muchalucha]

Re: The future of roboting

if i wasnt on a pocket money budget i would have gone 2.4 gig ages ago , but i just cant afford a spektrum system . would bluetooth still be allowed under 2.4 ghz ?

[beast]

Re: The future of roboting

as long as its safe works and failsafes i cannot see a problem butyou would haveto ask the experts in this field

[muchalucha]

Re: The future of roboting

i was just thinking ,if the worst comes to the worst and 40 mhz is banned , xbee moduels might be a cheap 2.4 ghz alternative

[robotwars]

Re: The future of roboting

i'm all for convincing people to go away from 40.

If there is a safer option available we should encourage it.

I think there even out now . . My local model shop is selling or about to sell 4 channel 2.4 gig cheaper than 2 channel 40 sets.

I've sold plenty of 40 stuff on ebay you can recoup most of your costs towards them.
Any new teams should go 2.4 straight away. :-).

[widow_twanky]

Re: The future of roboting

i was just thinking ,if the worst comes to the worst and 40 mhz is banned , xbee moduels might be a cheap 2.4 ghz alternative

Here's a thread we were looking at:

http://www.rcgroups.com/forums/showthread.php?t=801036

Never really had the time yet to get anything up and running but certainly doesn't look that hard. The Xbee modules seem a bit expensive to me and there are other alternatives which work just as well and are a bit cheaper.

Andy

[craig_colliass]

Re: The future of roboting

My view on the 40mhz and 2.4ghz issue is simple.

1/ The FRA should say in the rules that, 2.4ghz systems are preferred but 40mhz are still allowed for the time being.
2/ 40mhz systems will be phased out in 5 years. This gives plenty of time to find a 2.4mhz unit in the second hand market. If it€™s about an old robot not coming back as a result of this rule, then I would say, if it is not coming back in 5 years it€™s probably not coming back at all.
3/ EO€™s retain the right to refuse any radio system at their events if it is not compatible for them.

I have at least 3 complete systems that run on 40mhz so i would not like to see the rules change too soon. :blush: :blush:

Thanks


Craig

[muchalucha]

Re: The future of roboting

someone (maybe me ) should design a small 2.4 ghz transimmter and receiver pair simialr to the one shown above , a module similar to the xbee units , and microcontroller at both ends would allow for an almost normal 2.4 ghz system , and the signals from ps1 controllers are fairly easy to decode , so these could be used as transmitters.

in fact , i am going to have a play with something like this , ill keep you guys posted n any progress .

[m2xt]

Re: The future of roboting

How is 2.4GHz safer John? So far there has been 2 product recalls on 2.4GHz sets. Safety should not have any reliance on the radio gear, there should be other systems in place that prevent injury. There appears to be a culture growing that is becoming dependant on the advantages of 2.4GHz which is not a certified fail safe system. As far as I am concerned, 2.4GHz has just two advantages and good ones at that: no crystal changes and little aerial needed. There are no safety features that I am aware of on 2.4GHz that cannot be equally achieved on 40MHz unless someone can explain to me what I am missing. The issue now is that 2.4GHz users may not be suppressing the electrical noise and causing interference to 40MHz users which is not permitted under the FRA build rules.

[craig_colliass]

Re: The future of roboting

The electrical noise point is interesting I don€™t have any suppressors on most of my robots. Could the noise be measured at a show and advice on reduction maybe parts sold be done there and then. I for one would not like to think my machine was causing problems for others, I think the main area would in practice be the featherweight robots as there can be so many in the arena together the noise from all those motor may cause problems.

On another note has anyone else had problems getting onto the Technobots web site as for most of the weekend I have had no luck!!!

[muchalucha]

Re: The future of roboting

to be honest , in an average house thee are loads of sources of 2.4 ghz interference , wifi , any wifi compatible device, bluetooth devices , microwaves. And i have never had anyinterferance problems with 40 mhz , ill say it again , 40 mhz is fine , but 2.4 ghz is just a little bit better , and i think that eventually 2.4ghz shoudl be introduced but not for another 10 , or at the very least 5 years.