FRA urgent announcement

Today 20th Jan 2007, a meeting was held at the FRA building for the presentation of an updated Robotic Event Safety Guideline document.

Present, Robots Live,Robochallenge,Roaming Robots,XFM and FRA executive.

It is normal that a motion be put to the FRA governing body for their approval and after this a date for implementation. (Usually three months)

All the event organisers agreed that safety was of the highest priority and have decided to implement the guidelines with immediate effect.

This is how it effect€™s roboteers.

ARENA€™S WITH A FABRIC STYLE ROOF.

€œSpinning weaponry of any sort is not permitted in a class XX arena, all axe weaponry must have a safety tether fitted in order to run€

It applies to both featherweights and heavyweights.

Event organizers are endeavoring to put on extra events in 2007 for featherweight spinning robots.

Currently there are not any arena€™s or any known in build that will hold a heavyweight spinner safely.

It was also agreed that for 2007 the robot build rules concerning carrying cradle€™s and sharp edge protection would be enforced on a 1strike and out basis.
Roboteers have a duty to be part of the safety regime.

We have been busy preparing the safety guidelines of late and have not sent our usual year end message regarding rejoining the FRA.

Membership fee is still £10 per year.

Our bills to keep the association going have to be paid by 31/3/07. If you have not read our meeting minutes you will not be aware of the fact that if you are a past or existing member the membership fee for joining after the 31/3/07 is £20.
Exclusions to the above are new member teams and roboteers from mainland Europe the membership fee is £10 at any time of the year.

Membership cards will be distributed starting 9/10 Feb at the Robots Live event.

Next FRA meeting sat 24th Feb at Daventry

Our year should be an active one, with more event organiser€™s, more events than ever, in more different locations there is plenty of choice for every one.

Can you please post which Arenas we can use Feather spinners in so we can plan which events we can attend for getting time of work.

Does this mean that feather spinners wont be allowed to compete in Swindon?

It would help with regards to membership fees if you had a means of credit/debit card payment available. Let me know if you want any help setting anything up.

Also if I read correctly the Robo Challenge arena is the only one able to contain featherweight spinners at the moment. Previous of this meeting it was my understanding that most other arenas in current development were to have net roofs - It will be interesting to hear from these organisers whether they will make any changes to accomodate new guidelines if feather spinners are to continue all year round (which could bring up its own pros/cons discussion in itself).

Can every organiser now state in their event announcement what class arena and event they provide?
Im sure our arena is up to all spinners; big steel beams as arena barriers, entry penn with 2 loading doors, 12 mm Polycarb all around and a HDPE roof in the making.

Dutch Robot Games

Morning all,

As Ewan has stated the Robo Challenge arena is the only current arena that feather spinners can be used at. It is likely that a second one is to be built and if the mods required are done there is the potential of the XFM arena. I believe that a number of events will be published as the event organisers are able to arrange them.

Leo, as the event organisers have already adopted the new guidelines it means that any arena with a fabric style roof cannot operate spinning weaponry in any weight category as of yesterday.

Regarding memberships we need an application form as well to confirm your details have not changed. with the small amount fo transactions it is easier if it is a cheque and post or cash at an event.

For the DRG it would be best if you had the document to comment on. This will be sent as soon as is able. For more information contact info@fightingrobots.co.uk

im starting to wonder myself if i should join as a member this year as i have a spinning feather myself and the latest post has me wondering what to do. i dont see much point in paying membership when im really limited in events to attend.

XFM support the FRAs desire to improve safety at events and we already have a number of improvements to implement that the FRA has highlighted.

However, we did not agree the changes raised at the meeting as suggested above, we stated that we would take time to consider the proposals and would respond accordingly.

Currently XFMs view is that it is not economically or technically viable to upgrade our arena structure in line with these proposals (10mm walls and 5mm poly roof) and we are considering our position.

The FRA did not release any details of the guidelines prior to the meeting (despite XFMs request) and we were not keen to make an impulse reaction on the spot. Whilst this means a delay in deciding XFMs intentions, I trust roboteers will respect this stance and give us time to decide the best way forward for us.

Please bear with us whilst we look at the options open to us - and all options are being looked at, from ceasing XFMs events to limiting what we do.

Ed, Rick and Anne
http://www.extremefightingmachines.comhttp://www.extremefightingmachines.com

Membership of the FRA is not about just attending events.
What you need to be a member for is,

The ability to post on this forum (it costs)
The regulated set of robot build rules,event safety guidelines throughout the country. (it costs)Insurance.

Imagine five different event organisers with five different sets of build rules, with five different sets of safety standards.

Adrian the choice is yours but you certainly do not pay FRA membership to attend events.
The event organisers prefer you to have FRA membership as it gives them extra insurance and piece of mind.The FRA would not entertain claims from non members for use of our rules and regulations.A mixture members and non members at an event could be potentially a legal minefield

The Robo Challenge arena meets the current saftey standards set by the FRA which allows us to run full combat events with spinners.

We are currently planning more full combat live events to stop the spinners out there rusting in the garage & will be announceing our Robo Challenge events shortly.

Kind regards

James Cooper
Robo Challenge
events@RoboChallenge.co.uk