Tin Pot Challenge Cup

[PJ-27]

Re: Tin Pot Challenge Cup

We hit several hurdles with the Wooden Robot Class.

Lack of events was the biggest, then imposing and defining limits was the next. A spend limit is a near impossible thing to regulate.

You're right though there was a mention of a Finish rally class with low cost cars.

http://www.topgear.com/uk/videos/captain-fast

6:05 in.

All the ROBOTS in EVENT are given a nominal and equal value, let's say it's £150, then at the end of the FIGHT you can go to any other competitor and say I want to buy your ROBOT, and he or she has to sell it to you. It's to stop people spending too much money, getting sponsorship and taking it all too seriously!

Nice idea, but it Racing it's largely about Driver skill, so equal cars is a desirable thing, just look at F1. Whereas in Robots, robot design and innovation is probably the largest thing, being a good driver is just another advantage.

[Max]

Re: Tin Pot Challenge Cup

Personally I wouldn't want to sell my bot for £150 even if that was all the components were worth. Mainly because of the time that goes into it.
Also, why make the robots Lightweights? If they were featherweights then you could use it in main events as well and the robots would be cheaper and easier to make. People are also more likely to have spare parts for feathers lying around than Lightweights.

[Ozzy]

Re: Tin Pot Challenge Cup

Why not make it a Battlerat style category (sort of like thecompetition at Brentwood). The size and weight of the robots (4kgs i believe) would surely keep costs down as the would be no room for big, expensive parts.

[typhoon_driver]

Re: Tin Pot Challenge Cup

Featherweights used to be the start up weight class. Then it was kilobots. It doesn't take long for any weight class to become exceptionally competitive.

And yes a 4kg class could become very expensive.

[Bodge Job]

Re: Tin Pot Challenge Cup

I think that a lightweight class size would be best as I think feather weights are to small and restrictive, and I think all robots being built of scrap would a good idea, means people gave to use there scavageing skills (although useing stuff that had been bought for something else shouldn't count eg someone can't make it all out of that huge sheet of titanium they had lying around) just a thought

[typhoon_driver]

Re: Tin Pot Challenge Cup

Too small and restrictive? You have every kind of design of weapon allowed in the featherweights from spinners, pneumatic and electric flippers, lifters, rammers, axes and crushers. The heavyweights are the dull weight category in comparison.

All that I can see this class ending up as would be hardox box vs hardox box. There is little point in trying to dilute down the number of machines in different weight categories. Attempts were made before to bring the lightweights and middleweights back. They were never popular during robot wars so they are unlikely to be popular in the future.

The wooden idea I liked because it was easy to understand and there was a basic rule set in place and the majority of folks in the featherweights have spares that could easily be used to throw a machine together. However lack of events did hinder it.

[PJ-27]

Re: Tin Pot Challenge Cup

Machines made out of scrap?! What a most excellent idea!

Maybe the wooden robot idea isn't dead yet.

[craig_anto]

Re: Tin Pot Challenge Cup

The idea is, that it's a challenge, building or entering a feather you made of scrap is a bit easy,
Lightweights offer a different challenge to a feather, you can almost use heavyweight parts in a lighter chassis or you can use beefy feather parts with a thick chassis.

Some might build fat feathers, some will build skinny middle/heavies but the idea is to build something new from something old. Remembering that wedge bots, spinners are banned and robots must have an active weapon.

I'm leaning towards the idea of scrap bots rather than price limit and I potentially have an event in late July/early august. I work abroad most of the year so would defiantly be a summer event most likely outdoors. Event will be in Burntwood Staffordshire.

As far as I'm concerned you will either be interested in participating or you won't be, either is ok it's a personal choice, I'm building my bot around Easter time.

[Bodge Job]

Re: Tin Pot Challenge Cup

Yeah scrap bots would be better than a price limits as price limits prevents the use of multiple expensive weapons (like pneumatics) and there could just be a ban on excessive milling and any work with CNC to prevent stupidly powered flippers and stuff. And do all spinners have to be band or could low speed, small diamiter ones be alowed? Because I would have thought that they could be used with out polycarb as they would carry little more KE and little more danger than axes and flippers?