To the Future

[craig_colliass]

Not much happening on the forum so I thought I would put out some topics for people to think on about the Robotics sport and its future.

Hows the current shows are for the Roboteers , the EO’s and the audience.

If TV wants to do something with Robots in the UK, what are our feelings about how that might change the robot scene?

The idea is for positive feedback and constructive criticism not for grinding old axes but looking forward to the future.

What would you like to be done differently, how can you and I make that happen, remember it is not just the Eos or the FRA that has to do stuff, but we have our part to play too.

[craig_colliass]

It seems I’m flogging a dead horse with this but here goes nothing.

What I want from a TV show if I had the chance to compete in something like this.

Autonomy, I would like Team Saint to be considered as an independent team competing in a sport, rather than a team assembled for the purposes of producing a TV program for a production company. This autonomy would include us holding all rights to our own creations. This is the way things are now and I would not like to see this change, naturally anyone wanting to produce a program would not like to have restrictions regarding this, if that would impede their ability to sell their product (the TV program) nor would I. The contract I signed with Robot Wars is the type of thing I’m talking about. They have the rights to use the robots in their shows and for advertising and promotion purposes. I agree with that but I own the robot!

I would like to see the judging rules complied with at all times, even if it means the producers favourite robot doesn’t make it passed the first round.

House robots I’m not a big fan, I think robots are now exciting enough for them not to be an influence in the outcome of fights. Arena Hazards Oh yes I like the types used in the USA.

Weapon rule, not fussed I think it depends on the robot. There are boring robots with weapons too.

The arena type, I have many different ideas on this, My favourite one is “The Bunker” think of a disused underground car park, the robots are run in this space and the Roboteers have a Polycarbonate bunker in the middle they control the robots all around them.

Remote cameras and lighting so the production team are kept away and safe.

Hazards could be left in the arena or “tools” the robots could use to enhance their attacks.

I think the environment should be significantly different to that we have seen so far. Lets make it street.

This should get some response!!

[maddox10]

With modern camera's and drones any reasonably hard surface can be used as an arena and getting the machines filmed.

[Eventorizon]

Battling 'on location' is something that I rather like the idea of. Inside Battersea Power station for instance, or inside an emptied Robochallenge workshop; something that wasn't designed as an arena specifically but has all the space, strength and a certain level of randomness to it that would create some interesting fighting.

I am also of a mindset to ditch the House Robots and come up with an arena that gives a more balanced or even changing set of challenges. The very first RW arena in 1994 had sliding barriers at either end, imagine that now so you can to robots over them but you have to time your flip and be able to get your opponent in the right position at the right time to do it. I like the idea of the Pins from BB, so all those spinners have something hard and unmoving to ricochet off.

Cluster-Bot rules need changing really, so you have to kill 67% of the robot by weight to win. That way double or triple clusters will have a good chance, even if they might end up like that Warrior Clan minibot :-P

I also think, just like in BB, competitors should be allowed flame throwers. They may not do much 90% of the time, but they look good and can present problems under the right conditions.

Finally... I think that Battlebots and, for the sake of simplicity, Robotwars aught to allow robots to enter each others events, none of this being locked to one event or another. Having the Trophy come under threat from 'foreigners' and having 4 on 4 US vs UK annihilators... insanity would ensue! And being able to see contrasting design styles and philosophies play against each other would be a really interesting dynamic (Notice how all the US bots have one build style and the Euro bots have another)

[JamesDavies]

When I've had a think about it before I've considered 2 ideas.

Either returning like the robogames pilot with Grant from Mythbusters- as a reasonably dry-but-interesting-to-hardcore-fans kinda thing (I would enjoy this but I don't think the general population would particularly).

Or something similar to what Craig said above. I liked the idea of some different "arenas"- sort of "underground" stuff, the sort of things that were on the old robot wars games- old factories, scrap yards, maybe inside an old house or caravan (with some furniture around to produce some destruction). Perhaps we could follow a few teams for a few weeks (scrapheap challenge style) in different heats in these different settings, maybe ending up in a studio arena for the finals. We might even get to see some adaptation for the different settings (and be able to shoehorn in some light engineering info like "bigger tyres be good for off road" ect

Just my very casual thoughts

[suvv]

having thought about this for a while in a field via the power of 4g i feel that the things that would make it more viable for a viewing audience would be firstly to show a class on the tv that is accessible maybe beetles or feathers not just the heavys yer they are the more exciting but the sheer size and estimated cost can put people off ware as a smaller class being popularised outside of youtube would be beneficial to the sport.

definitely ditch the house bots as they are pretty much unnecessary

dont make the battlebots mistake of thinking that it needs eye candy in the form of a clueless blonde who is there to appease the producers belief that people are thick

have a competition based on budget bots with a max spending limit to again encourage creative

keep an active arena but mabey keep it going in the direction of bb and have qualifiers in different areas to allow people who might live a long way away from the south of england have a chance to compete

[craig_colliass]

Some interesting comments keep them coming, please resist discounting ideas based on practicality as this may stop someone with the golden idea sharing it here, I can guarantee the Eos will be watching this thread and reading every word, so the ideas and comments are helpful to the future of the robot building community in the UK.

I think the urban type setting is one of the most cost effective formats as we just have to find some industrial buildings set for demolition. And the robots on the circuit today can operate with little or no modification.

But there are others as well. Night fights, all terrain fights, First person video and many more,

I like the idea of flames too, just imagine Saint or Gabriel with the sword on fire!

Turning to the live shows
These are done by:
Robot Wars
Robots Live
RoboChallange

All the people, in all three I consider to be good friends, I know they would appreciate feedback about how there shows are run and the show format, remember you aren’t likely to get Champagne and a full cheese board at the end of each show! ……………gutted!

Things to consider
Venues, pit facilities, show times, show format, number of fights, VIP tours, accommodation and anything else.
Remember there are limitations on what is practical and cost effective, but all sincerely held views are valid.

[psychostorm]

You weren't there for the FW Champs awarding, Craig. We all got a drop of champagne whether we wanted it or not.

[JamesDavies]

"find some industrial buildings set for demolition"

Or some residential buildings?

"please resist discounting ideas based on practicality"

OK.

Imagine- Saint starts in the kitchen, Thor in an upstairs bedroom, Eruption in the living room. The first 2 minutes would be them fighting their way past beds and tv's and counter-tops and cupboards to get to each other! Then Thor might fall down the stairs. Could be very TopGear-carnage before the fight has even started. Gimmiky- maybe, but fun to watch

[daveimi]

1. Move spinners into their own bracket in the lower weight classes as it's making it hard for new people to get into the sport and stifling creativity. Your options for a beetle are a spinner or a brick. I have a million and one wacky ideas I won't spend cash on to get into the arena as they'll be shredded the first time they see a spinner. Rex Garrod had a good point when he used to say it's good fun getting rolled and thrown about, hammered on a bit etc. but getting completely shredded each time means those on a budget get fed up with it not being a sustainable thing. Knock on effect being fewer people turn up, EO's have less people etc.

2. EO's could possibly be doing more to provide the hard to make bits and pieces, get some cash together for some online shops. They don't have to run it I spose the community could, but there is enough know-how here to provide a regular supply of drill output shaft adapters, bits of Ti sheeting, pre-made removable links etc. and what have you.

3. Some online guides would be good. I know there's a few of these kicking about but some of the more out the way stuff like LiPo ratings and safety, getting failsafing to function correctly, removable links, getting fusing correct.

[tweedermeister]

1. Move spinners into their own bracket in the lower weight classes as it's making it hard for new people to get into the sport and stifling creativity. Your options for a beetle are a spinner or a brick.

I agree with this somewhat, I think it should be split a different way however, with a regular beetle class as it is now and a sportsman style class for trying out different designs and putting restrictions on spinning mass, or rpm to push for more creativity in designs.

[Tashic]

"find some industrial buildings set for demolition"

Could be very TopGear-carnage before the fight has even started. Gimmiky- maybe, but fun to watch

What about robots on a stupidly low budget, no fancy tools and getting parts from your own robots, you have a time limit, and the robots go through a series of challenges

[RogueTwoRobots]

Is it bad that sportsman beetleweights are being touted as a possibility already? I remember a few folk having the idea of building more interesting designs in beetleweights as, with it being a new class, it would take a while to find out what works best and that would allow creative designs to flourish a little, but seems we've reached the high-power spinner v armoured box scenario already. Says me who'll be competing with two BW spinners at the Scottish Kinematic event

[harry hills]

I don't think we have reached that stage at all yet, there's been virtually no legit serious competitions. And it's not like everyone is coming away in pieces every event. If you want interesting stuff, build it and build it strong enough for combat. It is possible to have cake and eat it.

[Niels - Team K.a.L.M.]

The beetles just need an arena that favours all/more weapon types. Like a pit, an oota area and perhaps a drop-off.