BBC Robot Wars

[mickburkesnr]

Thanks Garfie, I've started a topic in another forum as I'm curious as to why you suggested going featherweight. Other newbies may find it useful!

[VibroAxe]

Now the rules for the TV show are updated to 110KG and a few other kinetic adjustments do people expect the live events to update and follow the new ruleset?

[Ds1638]

When do the teams get informed that they have been accepted/ not accepted through the application process ?

[cliveb]

Now the rules for the TV show are updated to 110KG and a few other kinetic adjustments do people expect the live events to update and follow the new ruleset?

That is up to the roboteers at the FRA AGM

[ady]

What's happened to the robotwars to Facebook page it's disappeared?

[supernova]

I think we will know the 1st week of Feb if we have been selected or not, they are cutting it a bit fine.

[LewisJP]

They was still looking for teams as of the 20th. How many have applied from here?

[typhoon_driver]

According to this thread on reddit, a good few have applied

https://www.reddit.com/r/battlebots/...s_2016_thread/

[Garfie489]

How many have applied from here?

Tbh, if your planning on becoming a roboteer you should really be a member of the FRA (especially in the UK) - thus id imagine near all the serious entries are from here :P

[terry]

Hey Clive have you missed anything on your signature !!!

[mickburkesnr]

I think, personally, they're finding the selection process a bit difficult. I received an email yesterday with a questionaire on which "would be used to select the participants". That's on the 25th January, near enough 6 days before the end of the month when they're supposed to make their decision. But now they're wanting to know more about the teams involved, what makes them tick¸hoping to pick up a sob story - as is the case with a lot of televised competitions these days it seems.

I'm not going to fill out the form to be honest, I wanted to take part on the basis of my idea for a robot, not on the basis of how many sugars I have in my tea. Maybe next year!

[Duffman]

But now they're wanting to know more about the teams involved, what makes them tick¸hoping to pick up a sob story - as is the case with a lot of televised competitions these days it seems.

Personally, i think that's unlikely. The BBC have already said that this new series will have more of a focus on the engineering than before; their stated aims include providing inspiration for the next generation of engineers. With that in mind, i think they will look to minimise the 'reality TV' theatrics. I suspect their selection process will be driven primarily by finding interesting machines. I also think they will be looking for a good mixture of machines built by professional engineers, and those built by chaps in sheds using bits of scrap they found in a skip.

This is all my opinion / conjecture, obviously.

[daveimi]

"...those built by chaps in sheds using bits of scrap they found in a skip..."

Damn it I should have applied!

I think they will just want a spread of different robot types, regardless of the team's background. Something like Thor or Big Nipper would get straight in as there aren't many hammers and grabbers about, but I think if all the flipper teams apply they'll end up picking a select few.

[pressure]

I entered the trials for series 7 with Pressure mkII, I was in with two established robots and one newcomer.
The newcomer kept grounding and broke down pretty quickly, Pressure mkII battled on but was beaten by the more experienced team's machines.
Three out of four in each trial were to go through to the show, we're in I thought.
The newcomer was allowed onto the show, instead of Pressure, because "they had amusing costumes"!
The irony is, when they went on the show their robot broke down in the bull pen behind the arena and they never made it into the arena, their robot and costumes were never seen!
TV producers and directors like to make good telly, they don't usually care how they get it, rules will be bent and goalposts moved if it suits them.
I have worked with Robot Wars, Holby City (with robots!), Mechannibles, scrapheap Challenge and Top Gear, I speak from experience.
Mike.

[pressure]

Come to think of it, Top Gear still owes me £200!!!