Talk to the FRA

[anukhet]

Re: Talk to the FRA

If pneumatics freeze over, it's the same as one of my spinner motors overheating and burning out. Either way I believe that should be counted against you in the competition

Agreed, but only if the result from the fight itself is hard to decide. In my opinion if you lose a weapon and still fight on to win convincingly then it's a win - pure and simple.

I also have to agree with Craig with regard to the pit ruling - 30 seconds to get yourself out. Besides, it's good entertainment when it happens.

[typhoon_driver]

Re: Talk to the FRA

Agreed, but only if the result from the fight itself is hard to decide. In my opinion if you lose a weapon and still fight on to win convincingly then it's a win - pure and simple.

i think we are singing from the same sheet. No problem with someone losing a weapon and winning convincingly but then chances are it wouldn't come down to a judges decision in that case.

[anukhet]

Re: Talk to the FRA

You, I and many others agree but the rules need to be clear and explicit nonetheless :wink:

[pressure]

Re: Talk to the FRA

When two or more robots are still running at the end of a fight it always comes down to the judges decision.
Mike.

[john]

Re: Talk to the FRA

why did my post get deleted about asking to get my group name thing changed? thought this was the thread to ask the fra stuff?


doubt anyone will own up

[typhoon_driver]

Re: Talk to the FRA

lol you posted it in the randomness thread

[john]

Re: Talk to the FRA

ha yes gary, someone must of moved it then, sure i posted it here n got the email saying someone replied lol

[Scorpionbuilder]

Re: Talk to the FRA

Hi All

Just a quick post to say thank you very much to you all for your help & opinions on the judging rules. To all of you that have posted or spoken directly to me about this subject, it has given me a very good insight into what the majority would like to see, and has allowed me now to come up with a draft to put to the committee at the next meeting, allowing us to have clarified judging rules with effect from 2011.

Once again thank you all for your help

John

[john_frizell]

Re: Talk to the FRA

I see that As we all know, from 1st January 2011 all featherweights must be run on 2.4GHz transmitters and for some of us, that means our 40MHz units becoming pretty redundant.

I think this is an unfortunate decision which will decrease the chances of newcomers getting involved. If our unique sport is to grow and go forward we need to make it as easy as possible for newcomers to join us. This post is not about me - I have 2.4 GHz equipment and have no problem in complying with this decision - it is about new people trying to decide if they can take the plunge and join us. Restricting equipment to 2.4 GHz is a step toward excluding new people.

For most newcomers everything is challenging and expensive. Free radio gear [27 MHz or 40 MHz] removes an obstacle. We should let them use it, keeping in mind that the first thing most newcomers build is a box with no weapon other than a ramp or a spike.

In the hope of encouraging newcomers I suggest we do the following:

-Agree that if anyone new shows up they will be allowed to operate a featherweight with any sort of radio control, subject to the tech checker agreeing it does not present a hazard, and they will be given 1 year to switch to 2.4 GHz.

-Agree that if anyone new shows up with a robot which passes tech checks [as above] they will be given a 1 year free membership of the FRA.

I would hope that we could apply a common sense interpretation of the above. Existing teams would refrain from presenting one of their members as a 'new' competitor simply because he was not listed on the FRA membership.

We need new competitors. Let's encourage them. If we can all agree on the above we should announce it at competitions to let people know these options are available.

[psycho_fling]

Re: Talk to the FRA

to be fair 2.4ghz kits are now what £25

i think it is probably easier and cheaper to build a fw from scratch with new components than it was when i started the technology has become cheaper and if they buy a 2.4ghz set first off then they won't have to buy another set in one years time.

in my opinion...

[RogueTwoRobots]

Re: Talk to the FRA

I should clarify my comment that John has quoted.

The 2.4GHz compulsory use in featherweights from 1st January 2011 is not currently listed in the rules and I am basing that off what I read in the meeting minutes from (I think) two meetings previously.

Having said that, the date for compulsory use of 2.4GHz in heavyweights was 1st January 2010 but I've seen a heavyweight running on 40MHz this year. It can be in the rules, but ultimately the final decision should lie with the event organsier as its their staff running the event and their arena marshall that's most at risk from the supposed 'dangers' of using 40MHz.

[john_frizell]

Re: Talk to the FRA

if they buy a 2.4ghz set first off then they won't have to buy another set in one years time. Agreed. If anyone is going to buy new radio equipment it should be 2.4 GHz.

But my post is not about that, it is about people who are trying to break in to this wierd and wonderful sport - especially younger ones who may not have much money and may have limited technical expertise. There is nothing like your first fight for developing a long term commitment and we should make it as easy as possible for people to get that first fight. So any radio system should be allowed, subject to the caveats above. If someone wants to armour up a toy truck, put a link on it and show up, we should let them run it. Don't laugh - the first two featherweights to run on Robotwars were both armoured model cars.

[joey_picus]

Re: Talk to the FRA

just to be technical there was the featherweight heat of the first wars - Cunning Plan and Vector Of Armageddon were most definitely not model cars and Bugs was a lot of R/C car parts in a homebuilt chassis :P

I have to agree that 40mhz should not be totally banned though - we shouldn't be turning away people purely because they have the 'wrong' radio and I've yet to be 100% convinced of the alleged safety case for their prohibition (and imo talking about the cost of sets is beside the point somewhat, just my opinion)

[psycho_fling]

Re: Talk to the FRA

when i first started off i used 40 mhz and from the start i had trouble with interference and safety issue of not failsafing etc. but when i bought my dx6 all that stopped and now i don't have any issues and i am confident every time i try or go into a battle it will run as i tell it.

imo 2.4ghz cuts out a lot of troubles and hassle and can make the sport more enjoyable from the start. when i was using 40 mhz i was spending a lot of time trying to get it to work but now i can spend my time on better designs and battling

alex

[RogueTwoRobots]

Re: Talk to the FRA

Ah but suffering such problems with 40MHz educates you in matters such as proper aerial installation, effective routing of wires, electrical noise suppression etc. By going in to 2.4GHz straight away you don't experience these situations therefore you don't get the chance to glean your knowledge on one aspect of robot problem solving. Sure you may be rewarded with interference-free performance in the arena but you don't give yourself that chance to expand your brain

Don't get me wrong, I am well aware of just how effective a switch to 2.4GHz can be, having changed Carcinus over and now converting my two 40MHz radios but I still think there is a place for them in the spobby.

but when i bought my dx6 all that stopped

One comment that has stuck in my mind from the 'Safety issues' thread in the Safety Discussion section was along the lines of 'switching to 2.4GHz doesn't solve the problems and eliminate the interference, it merely masks it'
So all that interference is still there, it's just that the radio system 'overpowers' it