Robot Wars Series VIII - Week 4 Discussion

[maddox10]

I know Storm 2 at live events had Ampflow motors, and no longer the very expensive and fragile LEM130's.

Another machine that used the LEM's was Brutus. But after eating at least one every live event, that machine went to a replacement for Bosch 750's, and got a lot more reliable after that.

[daveimi]

I was gonna say I knew storm was using lems at some point that were known for unreliability.

Gary do you think you'd ever try a bar instead of a disk just to see how it span up compared to a disk? :-)

[typhoon_driver]

In short, no. A number of reasons why,

- A disc looks cooler (imo) and there are many bar spinners but not many large discs kicking around so I like to be a bit different
- A disc is much more stable during a collision with an opponent. If you watch the gyro forces acting on carbide or tombstone, the bot generally gets thrown away at funny angles meaning it takes a bit longer to line up for another hit. As a disc has mass all the way around, it's far more stable during a horizontal collision. If you watch some of PP3Ds hits, we either get knocked horizontally across the arena or launched up into the air but we stay near horizontal
- It's easier to get more of the spinning mass to the outer edge where you want it to store kinetic energy.

[SanityOrMadness]

In short, no. A number of reasons why, - A disc looks cooler (imo) and there are many bar spinners but not many large discs kicking around so I like to be a bit different - A disc is much more stable during a collision with an opponent. If you watch the gyro forces acting on carbide or tombstone, the bot generally gets thrown away at funny angles meaning it takes a bit longer to line up for another hit. As a disc has mass all the way around, it's far more stable during a horizontal collision. If you watch some of PP3Ds hits, we either get knocked horizontally across the arena or launched up into the air but we stay near horizontal - It's easier to get more of the spinning mass to the outer edge where you want it to store kinetic energy.

All of which, especially the second point, is perfectly sensible... ...and begs the question of why you like dancing semi-out-of-control while hitting, warping and abrading your disc on the floor when you're flipped

[typhoon_driver]

Because the gyro dancing looks cool

[R9000]

I think to be honest, if we're really going for cool factor, you'd have put some googly eyes on it by now.

[shakesc]

Its the way of the future. I've bought new supplies for next time

[higgeh]

Because the gyro dancing looks cool

think for next year you need to work out a way to make the disc whistle. im sure a couple of tactically drilled holes would do it

[Matt]

This has probably been my favourite episode ever, so far.

It was great fun to watch from start to finish and most of the tech talk was interesting and informative too.

I think PP3Ds gyro dancing was very entertaining - almost cartoonish the way it lurched forwards and bounced off the floor when it was upside down! Brilliant stuff.