Rule 6.3 The Link

[typhoon_driver]

Rule 6.3 The Link

i think that mentorn have to look at the way in which the audience enter the stands. if a robot was to exit the arena and, worse case senario, it got through the outer curtain then the only way for the audience to exit would be onto the same floor as that robot. i think the audience should enter the stands from the rear up steps. the stands should also be a few feet off the ground so that an out of control robot wouldnt smash into the front row. i think they should also seriously consider giving the audience an evacuation procedure, like in an aircraft, as unlikely as they are to need it i think the audience should be informed if the worse should happen so that a mass panic doesnt follow. this could be given between battles as there is 15 minutes where the audience are just watching old fights etc.

perhaps also a polycarb fence in front of the audience which is only about 3 ft highish to give some protection, again incase the worst should happen as the current audience have nothing but a few feet of floor in front of them.

[team_ireland]

Rule 6.3 The Link

A thought

Typhoon has a link fitted on the top of their robot. Why not fit another link on the bottom of there robot which is always left in. It would only be removed if the top link could not be reached. It would cost a slight bit more but not a huge amount and would give extra safety. And i dont see how the two links could bothe be blocked at once.

Also I know its off topic but failsafes dont makt a robot 100% safe. I was driving around with my robot and went into a fast spin (approx 13-14mph) the rx battery poped out of the switch locking the servos in that position. The servos stayed where they were dispite having fs-1s on them. Luckally my robot had no weapons and its only a feather so i could litterally stop it with my foot and pull the link out. I was not happy doing this but i did not see another route as my batts take about 10min to die. So people please do be careful.

Regards
Ian Mc Donald

[shredderteam]

Rule 6.3 The Link

i think they should also seriously consider giving the audience an evacuation procedure, like in an aircraft, as unlikely as they are to need it i think the audience should be informed if the worse should happen so that a mass panic doesnt follow.

Thats actually a good idea from the show point of view as well, its been discussed on several occasions that the feeling of danger can make the whole thing more exciting if handled correctly.

Isnt any conversation regarding RW a bit beside the point at pressent? I dont think theres to many actually expecting series 8 to happen..

Perhaps Kim has some light to shed on that?

Sam
http://www.shredderteam.comhttp://www.shredderteam.com
http://www.robotcrusade.comhttp://www.robotcrusade.com

[babeth]

Rule 6.3 The Link

In the Dutch events I sometimes try to notify the audience of possible dangers, using posters with warnings, but I was still looking for something better. Garys suggestion has great value, thank you Gary, providing instructions like in an airplane is ideal. I will work on this.

[typhoon_driver]

Rule 6.3 The Link

ian, a few problems when it comes to that

1) there is literally no room inside to fit in another link, i think typhoon 2 has to be the worst serviceable robot as everything is literally crambed in. if anything goes seriously wrong inside then thats us out of any competition as it could take half a day just to get to the problem! Anyone who has seen the chassis will know what i mean

2) technically the current link is accecable from underneath, however this would reqire a screw driver

3) if we had to have a link underneath then other teams would have to have the same and i cant see that being too popular

4) the current link we have is a 1000amp aircraft connector costing £1000. another one capable of taking the same current would cost the same.

5) in the qualifier where we were flipped the crew didnt seem to have a problem getting into the bullpen with an upturned typhoon 2 (rather them than me!)

and no problem babeth, i think that crowd safety is a key concern to the future of robotic combat and the issue cannot be ignored any longer.

[team_ireland]

Rule 6.3 The Link

Ok gary i understand your problem. I have also been told of others. But i was speaking hypothetically (spelling?) an i think in theory that would work

Regards
Ian Mc Donald

[typhoon_driver]

Rule 6.3 The Link

na its fine, was just pointing out the difficulties!

[teamchip]

Rule 6.3 The Link

the current link we have is a 1000amp aircraft connector costing £1000....you lucky swines having the might of the RAF behind you

Tom

P.S. I was an air cadet too...Poulton -Le -Fylde squadron 2459 ..my 1st flight in any aircraft was in a Chipmunk from RAF Woodvale near Southport...happy days..never joined the RAF but did get my PPL ...but the usual story of wife/kids/mortgage meant I only had it for 4 years :sad:

Never mind ...(Del boy voice)..one day Ill be a millionaire

Seriously though Gary...how much help do you get from the RAF and how much effect has Typhoon and its siblings had on ATC feedback etc? they should class it as a great asset.

Tom

[big_nipper]

Rule 6.3 The Link

Pitty I never got to see inside Typhoon at S7 it looked a very impressively engineered robot, must have taken a large lathe to make the outer ring. Was too busy fixing ours to pay much attention. It took us 8 hours to tighten one M3 bolt that had come out. Now that was hard to get too. Dont want to have to do that again.

By the way the arena has taken damage so far in the early heats I wouldnt like to know what Big spinners are going to do to it. Would say stronger sides are a must if S8 goes ahead or the more powerful weapons wont be allowed to run which would be a big disapointment.

[babeth]

Rule 6.3 The Link

If I remember correctly Tough As Nails has 2 removable links so that it does not matter if the robot is upside down, you can still pull a removable link out of it anyway. Just a safety precaution. You need to pull out only one of them, the other can stay where it is.

[typhoon_driver]

Rule 6.3 The Link

the RAF doesnt provide too much for us, its actually BAE systems that provide us with alot on the mechanical side along with other sponsers whove helped us out with numourous things such as batteries etc (o and stu we did have to buy the 2 vantecs!).

the large outer ring was machined for us by BAE out of a solid 1 ton block of steel and they made our titanium cone for us........it really does help if u know the right people!

to start with Tom the ATC were really behind us etc and we had a publicity person that took pics etc at extreme 1. however this year the ATC basically ignored the fact that we had got in etc, someone lost their job over that one i believe. During filming we actually stay in the ATC hut just to the side of the main gates to RAF Newton. This is because we always bring along a group of supporters (this year called the scream team, im sure alot of u know what i mean)

Because of robot wars, i have met THE top officers in both the ATC and the RAF and i believe that the queen will know of our escapades and may be watching in February as our officer in charge of the robot wars project, Mr bennet was asked to right 250 words which will be included in the yearly report about the RAF to the queen. Not so sure thats a good thing!

[Guest]

Rule 6.3 The Link

Arise sir Gary

[jim]

Rule 6.3 The Link

Gary - if you think Liz will be watching, could you get her to write a quick letter to the British Broadcasting Corporation asking why they didnt see one of the RAFs battles as important enough to screen?

[chompalot]

Rule 6.3 The Link

Hi
when I insert my removable link into my robot the main batteries operate a relay which switches on the power to the receiver. I do have a seperate switch for the receiver but that can only switch it on and off if the link isnt in. the switch is there in case the main battery voltage drops below the level required to keep the relay on so the robot remains in control. does this mean my robot would not pass the safty checks?
I cannot see the reason behind having a seperate switch to remove power from the receiver. The removable link is there to remove power from the weapons and drive so whats the point? Also if you remove power from the receiver you almost certainly remove power from any fail safe devices which are likely powered from the receiver.

so is this a sensible rule?

[Guest]

Rule 6.3 The Link

if its an issue of one switch on a safety system... why not?