Pit Rules

[Team Invade]

I was surprised to hear at the Heavyweight UK Championships that the 30 seconds allowed to get out of the pit had been changed for that event.

At the 2012 Featherweight UK Champs the judges were quite clear that you could get yourself out of the pit.

When enquiring I was told that it is a grey area and that it has never been written down. In my opinion this is not correct, it does not matter that it is not written down because it is implied by the fact that it has been in operation for many years.

I am not against change but have great concern over the motivation behind it. I believe this is being driven through behind the scenes for the benefit of particular robots and not for the benefit of the sport and spectators.

I am putting this is the mix before 2013 in case it appears again without any discussion.

[robotwars]

Re: Pit Rules

I'm with you Adrian !! Totally disagreed with a rule being made just before the start of a UK champs. I've never been asked if I aggreed that you have to touch the pit bottom to be classed as in the pit and you couldn't get out.


The FRA however have the right to make the rules at their own champs but since RR has been told we won't be hosting the FRA champs again I don't need to worry about it.

The RR rule is 30 seconds. Doesn't matter who you are, you have 30 seconds to get out. Quite simple.

And for several reasons.

1 audience get confused after a robot gets out and then wins a fight only to be old they had actually lost, it's much more entertaining if they get out, the crowd love it!!

2 people have adapted robots so they can get out of the pit, fair play, why penalise them!

John
Www.RoamingRobots.co.uk

[razerdave]

Re: Pit Rules

I think at either UK champs you should be given time to escape the pit, but maybe less that 30 seconds (if it takes longer than 10-15 then they are probably stuck.

Jonno: That one is Micheal not Adrian .
Also, not able to host a UK champs? I would presume this is because of the configuration of your arena not being within the arena guidelines?

[craig_colliass]

Re: Pit Rules

Taken from the FRA Competition Regulations

Knockout
Any robot that remains stationary for more than 30 seconds without being in contact with another robot will
be deemed to have been knocked out. This rule will also apply to any robot that becomes trapped by any
part of the arena or arena hazards, including the pit. Clusterbots, those that have two or more independent
fighting segments, if one segment becomes immobile and or is completely damaged the complete machine
will be deemed knocked out. Robots in the pit at the end of the fight shall be deemed knocked out.

[Team Invade]

Re: Pit Rules

Actually it's from both of us Dave

[robotwars]

Re: Pit Rules

I knew I'd read somewhere about the pit, even more dont aggree with changing a rule on the day of a competition.

As for the champs ...

The FRA recognise that I run a different type of show to Robots Live, and so do I !!

My focus is on entertainment, value for money ( just put my ticket prices up again as the quality of show has improved again ) and it is a business and I'm driving it forward commercially my own way! The curtain, the wire ropes, the loading pen, merchandise, major damage are just a handful of things we've done to provide the best show possible for the most important people, the audience roboteers should feel proud to be part of such a show !!

Someone described RL as events ran by roboteers for roboteers but i dont aggree, we aren't any different and 10 years of keeping the history of a champion proves that !! , yes the format hasn't changed in RL, and RR is so much different now !! But I hope that roboteers feel they are coming forward with us, I know a lot do, and there are maybe a few who are still loyal to RL after the big split but commercialism doesn't have to be a bad thing if it secures a place for us to play robots and you never know get it back on TV !!

I'm comfortable with the decision, I've done it for years, lost a lot of £££ because of it, and true jonno style, I've got something VERY special lined up for 2013 which will have an impact to our future which is much more important to me.

Ive handed over the reins to Alan and the FRA and will still be doing my own big competition in 2013 don't worry! :-)

John
http://Www.roamingrobots.co.uk

[razerdave]

Re: Pit Rules

Well Jonno I can assure you as long as you still do events I will still keep coming back .

Kane, if you read this, can we have a clarification on what will be the norm or will it be put to a vote from the roboteers/comitee members ?

[craig_colliass]

Re: Pit Rules

Hi Dave
I think the rules as published on the FRA website are clear, perhaps I'm wrong but.

Any robot that remains stationary for more than 30 seconds without being in contact with another robot will be deemed to have been knocked out. This rule will also apply to any robot that becomes trapped by any part of the arena or arena hazards, including the pit.

This is about as succinct as possible.

[razerdave]

Re: Pit Rules

True, but because it was stated in the rules and then changed for a big competition, I just was curious if there was a change to these rules in the pipe work.

[swanaldo]

Re: Pit Rules

Someone described RL as events ran by roboteers for roboteers

That was me.

[robotwars]

Re: Pit Rules

LOL

[james...venom]

Re: Pit Rules

I believe this was discussed and agreed along with judging guidelines after this years fw uk champs by everyone? We have said for a long time that we didn't feel allowing the robots out of the pit is acceptable as it favours flippers.

After what I felt was a wrong decision at the champs I felt it needed addressing. Lets not forget that this has been the rule since rw began and only changed because RR thought it was entertaining which is fine for whiteboards however a champs is a sport.

Allowing robots out the pit has caused incorrect decisions and confusion many times in a sport situation. It's a given that flippers will get out so are not counted out where as all other robots are out. This also happens when a flipper is on its back. When venom is on its back the timer starts.

We also want to promote diversity in robot designs so anything we feel gives a particular robot an overwhelming advantage we look at how we can address it.

[cliveb]

Re: Pit Rules

As far as I can remember the only FRA meeting this year was at Whitwick and as this was before the f/w UK Champs any change to the pit rule was not discussed by the members.

So it therefore cannot have been debated by the members and as such the FRA rules as per the Ruleset should have been applied,for the H/W Championship,regardless of any personal belief.

[swanaldo]

Re: Pit Rules

It robbed us of a competition win at Brentwood a few years back. I have always favoured the rule if your in the pit your out. It's how it was and its how t should be. RR changed it for their own entertainment simple as that. By the looks of it RR will do their own thing regardless as usual without the guide of the FRA so saying wether it was discussed or not is irrelevant. Jonnos previous post proves that by his attitude putting the audience first. Putting the audience first in the 02 champs instead of employing the 30 second rule and helping Thor off the wall because ( and I quote Jonnos words) the crowd were getting bored. Where was the precious 30 second rule there.

At Robotslive 1 of the first questions I asked Alan was if he was using the 30 second pit rule that RR use and his reply was a simple no.

The 30 second pit rule * and it should stay as it was .... Your pitted your out.

[psycho_fling]

Re: Pit Rules

edited