Wooden Robot Class

[razerdave]

Re: Wooden Robot Class

If I wanted to use metal L bracket for upright support, would that be allowed?

[RogueTwoRobots]

Re: Wooden Robot Class

would I be able to put everything in a small hdpe box for protection ( esc's, rx, etc ) ?

By all means have everything inside a metal box. As long as everything protecting and holding your robot together is wood.

I'm contemplating throwing something together if I have time, as I'll be stocking up on some MDF soon to sort out prototypes for a couple of robots. But I'm not sure about the legality of my planned weapon. It's basically the small bar-tooth drum I have that was going to feature in my tutorial robot. The plan is to run it at quite a high ratio so that it's more like an electric flipper than a destructive spinner.

Having read through the thread, it wouldn't be permitted for use in RL and RR arenas but since the current talk is about possibly holding this at a Robo Challenge event, the safety/insurance issue isn't a problem. It then comes down to whether it's fair, so I'm uploading a video from a few years back that will provide the best representation of what it would be capable of, and I'll let everyone decide if it's too much or not. I also don't want to take advantage of the 'don't build to win, build to have fun' emphasis. It would be easier to make the drum as the design's pretty much sorted, but I could sort something else out if people weren't happy with it. Vid to follow.

[mattsdragons]

Re: Wooden Robot Class

providing i get smidsy done in time, ill throw one together

[RogueTwoRobots]

Re: Wooden Robot Class

Okay, that uploaded quicker than expected!

Right, so my proposed design would feature as its weapon, a small bar-tooth drum. It would be hooked up to a Speed 900 running on 19.2V with a ratio of 4:1. This would give a theoretical top speed of 2600rpm, but take something off for friction losses. The drum is an aluminium/steel composite weighing 2kg. Everything else would be MDF.

In the video below, the two Speed 900s are running the above voltage and ratio. A couple of things to bear in mind are that the drum in the video is longer and of a larger diameter, so the drum I propose to use won't store as much energy. Also, the chassis getting tossed about weighs 2.5kg, five times lighter than the weight of most opponents. So I reckon it would be more of a tosser (if you'll excuse the term) than a rip-the-arse-outta-them spinner.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4ARvi7__weE

[PJ-27]

Re: Wooden Robot Class

Glad people are still interested!

I don't want this to descend into another case by case series of questions over what is legal, that's partly what killed it last time.
Just use common sense, and think what's fair.

Unfortunately it's very hard to blanket define what a wooden robot is, even more so without quashing experimentation.

If someone has a neat solution on how to make this definition then please do say. I believe the Aussie's tried a weight rule, whereby a certain percentage of your robots weight had to be MDF, but that has it's own complications.

The underlying thesis is:
- We actually want some destruction, MDF breaks.
- It gives everyone a level playing field if we build with the same materials, it's not a question of who has the deepest pockets.
- MDF is easy and inexpensive to work with so encourages more robot building.
- Have fun! (Although I appreciate humans (especially males) are inherently competitive)

At the end of the day if someone turns up with a robot that is clearly taking the peas with what a wooden robot is, then no one is going to want to fight it and you've wasted your time.

[PJ-27]

Re: Wooden Robot Class

As a footnote, and largely inspired by Dave and Jamie's asking, the Aussies also implemented a community rule, whereby you had to be open with what you're building.

So contrary to the 'case by case questions' point say what you're building (don't ask), use common sense and people will whinge if they feel the need.

Just remember the 'Taking the Peas' paradigm.

[Leonardomayo]

Re: Wooden Robot Class

Personally i'd have no problem with a drum. I'm building a wooden robot to see a bit of destruction coming my way anyway, plus it's going to be made out of wood so it'll pretty much be the definition of a Glass Cannon. I say go for it.
Also with people mainly mentioning MDF, are we purely limited to MDF or are we allowed other woods aswell?

[PJ-27]

Re: Wooden Robot Class

Any wood, but I think few would be advantageous over MDF.

[mattsdragons]

Re: Wooden Robot Class

big question is..... were is this wooden fight happening?

[Leonardomayo]

Re: Wooden Robot Class

While that is true PJ, when I think of a wooden robot I think of something make out of Oak, Pine or Timber , not a box made from Medium Density Fibreboard.

[teamshock]

Re: Wooden Robot Class

Very tempted to have a go at this as I'm sure I've got enough spare parts to make one- not sure if I'll have enough time but if Robochallenge are happy to let them run then I'll see what I can do

[PJ-27]

Re: Wooden Robot Class

Well I don't mean to talk out of place but I mentioned the idea a while back to the RoboChallenge guys and they seemed to like it.

Given that there are potentially 2 RoboChallenge events in April one of which being the Champs, the other more of an Expo I hoped there would be room for a fight in this category. There are always whiteboards at the Champs, and if all those fail you could always enter a wooden robot along with your competitive one at the champs.

3 robots per team, 1 per driver was the rule last year.

Apologies if I'm talking out of terms guys (RoboChallenge) but if you'd like pass your opinion?

[razerdave]

Re: Wooden Robot Class

I am sure you can bring a robot along that you've not entered into the champs for other events. I think Annihilation was entered into whiteboards and driven by micheal when he was also driving Explosion in the UK champs.

[james...venom]

Re: Wooden Robot Class

Its a very interesting discussion. Would be great to see some good spinners against MDF bot and would look great. Details on the Championships and our second event in April will be released this week so keep your eyes peeled.

Why not enter the wood bot into the champs???

[team_orr]

Re: Wooden Robot Class

Im interested in this also, although i definitely dont see my attempt being built in the near future (Need to save up for a ESC for Prodigy). What is the current standing on Spinning weapons? I read earlier that people were contemplating Wood working tools like saw blades and chisels. If we are going by the current FRA rules surely the saw blades will be banned straight of the bat? I personally think it would be okay, just checking before i go out and buy some honking great blade. Oh and what was the limit for RPM?
Jack