Clarification required on walker rule

[Igor]

Does the rotating crank in a Jansen linkage count as a "rolling mechanism" under FRA rules?

[Will]

I would have assume not as they only have 1 degree of freedom. The rules stipulate 2 degrees of freedom i.e. 2 independent joints. The linkaqges in the Jansen linkage control it to a single degree. That said I'm sure you could get close to the line once, e.g. a very insignificant second joint for a dummy 'ankle', but thats not really in the spirit of it.

[Igor]

The plan is to mount the motors on drive 'pods' along with the legs rather than on the body of the bot. The pods can then be twisted (motors as well) like the front wheels of a car. This will allow the legs to yaw as well as pitch giving a second degree of freedom.
What worries me is the latest Robot Wars rules describes robots with rolling and sliding mechanisms as shufflers but have a shuffler allowance. SPARC rules prevent unrestricted rotary motors altogether.

Although the FRA rules are clear walkers have linear actuators and shufflers have cams, crank based drives aren't clear.

At first sight, my design appears to qualify as a walker under FRA rules (moveable legs, 2 DOF) but might fall foul of the rolling and sliding rule. I thought the rolling rule was there to prevent drillzilla style cam based drives qualifying as walkers but I'm beginning to wonder if it's broader than that and includes crank based drives as well.

Also, would twisting count as sliding?

I'm aiming for beetleweight as a proof of concept.

[typhoon_driver]

No point asking here. Email the robot wars team at robotwars@mentorn.tv and ask

[Igor]

Thanks, I've sent them an email.

I might just build my bot anyway as I'm curious to see if it would work.

[TomcoDesigns]

hello,

Any update on this?

[Igor]

Sadly, nothing back from Mentorn so I've started a build "at risk" that it won't qualify as a walker

http://www.fightingrobots.co.uk/thre...c-beetleweight

[Garfie489]

Email this address, its the roboteers specific one

robotwarstechnical@mentorn.tv

[Igor]

Thanks,

New email sent

As this will start off as a beetleweight, is there an equivalent FRA email address for technical questions? or would a Mentorn ruling cover FRA beetleweight competitions as well.

I appreciate the robot wars and FRA rule sets are very similar but are slightly different (e.g weight allowances on walkers and shufflers)

[Theo]

Basically, if any part of it rotates, it's a shuffler. Anarchy's mechanism, drillzillia, Ansgar, Son of Whyachi, etc are shufflers. Anarchy was considered a walker, but they've pretty much tightened the rules a lot more because of SOW to the point where they're so slow and delicate, it's impossible for them to be competitive.

[Redirect Left]

Email this address, its the roboteers specific one

robotwarstechnical@mentorn.tv

Not sure how eager / quick to reply they'll be. What with the new series already filmed, and its probably too soon for them to know if it'll be recommissioned. I was present at the filming earlier this month, and Dara did repeatedly ask if they'd be back, with another eliminated competitor saying they'd be back without being prompted. Being a positive person, I'm going to hope that means they know already...

[Garfie489]

As this will start off as a beetleweight, is there an equivalent FRA email address for technical questions? or would a Mentorn ruling cover FRA beetleweight competitions as well.

The FRA rules state explicitly that it requires 2 degrees of freedom to classify as a walker. If you have any specific questions its best to ask the EO of the event your attending or a recognised Tech Checker.

[Igor]

I've now received a reply form Robot Wars.

Although each leg would have 2 degrees of freedom, it is the continuous rotation that qualifies it as a shuffler. As Robot Wars qualifies robots with rolling or sliding mechanisms as shufflers, It looks like continuous rotation counts as a rolling mechanism and so only gets the shuffler allowance under Robot Wars rules and no extra allowance under FRA rules.