Featherweight Database

Ok so not a combat robot but a featherweight non the less.

name - rover mini
construction - scrap mdf, wood, polycarb and steel.
batteries - 12v sanyo 2.4Ah racing packs
power - 12v golds on a 2:9 gearing
speed - no idea but it is fast!
speedos - 15amp electronize
notes - an 1/8th scale robot of typhoon rover that we used in technogames. Just like TR it has interchangable rear ends for different competitions and I will be entering it in this years UKRG (assault course, football and sumo).

Pic on profile just before final paint job (its the wee one!)

Looking good Gary :) Im building something similar (in the sense that its adaptable for footy, sumo and assault course) for the UKRG as well, started on a cardboard mock-up shell to get an idea of the shape today, hopefully Ill get it finished in time for July :lame:

We had a flame thrower at a recent event here in Australia. After seeing it I would say it can be done but only with the right people behind the manufacture and controls. Here are links to its 3 fights and the problems I saw with it:

Retread vs Avenger (my robot)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hs3JKJkuG2khttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hs3JKJkuG2k
The builders of Retread knocked a part of the plumbing loose when the put it into the arena. When the fired the flame thrower for the first time in the fight the whole thing went up. Flame throwers need to be more throughly checked and have advanced permission from the EO before being entered so that dodgy things like this dont happen.
BTW, from what I heard Retreads flame thrower was built a few the nights before the event so the EO didnt know it was coming.

Retread vs Sproing
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rBh-QkiBgWEhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rBh-QkiBgWE
No physical damage to Sproing, but every peice of electrical equipment was damaged to some degree. The owner says itll take 20 hours to repair the robot. Those pretty orange flames can do damage.
Also at the end youll notice how long it took to put out the fire. The owners of Retread supplied their own fire extinguisher but didnt check what type it was. Since it was only single use and it had already been opened during my fight they had no working fire extinguisher prepared for this fight because they wernt trained in the use of fire extinguishers.

Retread vs Hellbringer (my brothers robot)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sfG0JsvdFyEhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sfG0JsvdFyE
The judges barely gave it to Hellbringer after giving very high style points to Retread because it had the flame thrower. Im not sure if style should be based on what weapons you have. If it had a spinner would it have scored lower? If 5 flame throwers entered the event would it have scored lower? Seems like a dodgy call to me.


So there are 5 lessons we learnt at one event. Still think its a good idea? I dont.

Im sorry I know its dangerous and a serious subject but someone trying to stamp out a robot fire it hilarious hehe.

Chris - ^_^

The owners of Retread supplied their own fire extinguisher but didnt check what type it was. Since it was only single use and it had already been opened during my fight they had no working fire extinguisher prepared for this fight because they wernt trained in the use of fire extinguishers.

doesnt that just beg the question if flamethrowers where allowed at the event why didnt the event actually provide proper fire extinguishing gear....

and i found the quote in the thread just because mel was whining all weekend about how they wherent supposed to be in the battles and all that garbage...

A flame-thrower will be allowed, provided its not going to set the arena on fire. Remember the floor is traction-painted wood (it has had a new coat of paint since RoboWars III - hopefully a better grip surface) - page 14.

wrt to the calls on the match i cant remember it but wasnt there some stupid as hell scoring system where if one of the three judges strongly felt one robot won it could overide the other 2 judges or something... (points based system)?

LMAO Putting Fire Out By Stamping On It lol!

LMAO...

Wet tea towel guys :)

im surprised andrew wasnt doing it bare foot LOL, he is such a legend (seriously smartest guy you will ever meet).

Im amazed no one spotted the fact that he was securing his flametrowing robot by clamping it between his legs first and disabeling it later.

Hell need more than a wet tea towel for that should it go up from there!

(Message edited by anukhet on April 18, 2006)

Robot Wars as we all know used flames quite a lot especially with Sgt Bash and the flame pit. They, however, also had Refbot and CO2 jets as a means of extinguishing any flaming robots before humans entered the arena. Watching the first clip, Retreads owner/builder/whoever it was that extinguished the flames, jumped in to the arena in the middle of battle to use the fire entinguisher. Surely this presents another safety factor in relation to the active robot - although in the video clip the active robot is under control, if it was to go out of control while the person was in the arena, there is the risk of that person being injured by the out-of-control robot.

Personally I like flame effects, they look good. But they seem to pose added safety risks that require more controlled environments (such as the RW arena) than most live event arenas have just now

My two cents anyway

I dont think its a case of the arenas containing the flame effects, more of the venues themselves allowing them to run. I know the Leisure Centre we used for Robots Live! wouldnt of allowed it, they werent keen on the pyros!

Glen - With the issue of the event not supplying the correct extinguishers. When the EO said that flame throwers were aloud I was the only person who said they were building one. When I pulled my flame thrower out of the compitition 3 week before the event all the organisers asumed there were not going to be any flame throwers and therefore didnt worry about extinguishers. When we all turn up and see the surprise flame thrower cable tired to the top of Retread it could not be the EOs or the venues fault that no proper extinguishers were present because no warning was given to them.

BTW, the fully exposed fuel cylinder on Retread was very much againts the rules. Do you NSW boys actually read them?

13.6. Heat and Fire are NOT allowed at this event.

13.6.1. If fire is allowed as an effect, the fuel must exit the robot and be ignited as a gas. It cannot leave the robot is a liquid or gelled form or use Oxidizers.

13.6.2. Fire Fuel types allowed are propane or butane. The maximum quantity allowed is 4oz

13.6.3. The Fuel tank must be as far from the outer amour of the robot as practicable and be protected from heat sources within the robot.

13.6.4. The Ignition system must have a remote operated shut-off that allows the operators to disable it using the radio control system.

Retread was also running a 8oz Butane canister... In all fairness, the lack of adhereing to the rules, Retread should have been DQd...

When we all turn up and see the surprise flame thrower cable tired to the top of Retread it could not be the EOs or the venues fault that no proper extinguishers were present because no warning was given to them.

Surley the answer is simple then. If the EO didnt have the safety equipment in place to safely deal with the risk - the robot shouldnt have been running.

If there were due to be no spinners due to no polycarbonate screening, and one turned up, would they be allowed to run as well ?

Ed
http://www.teamstorm.comhttp://www.teamstorm.com

with 20/20 hindsight that really would have been the smartest thing to do, but then again i dont think anyone pointed out the extinguisher was a one shot deal! iirc there was a big CO2 tank near it for the rest of the fights.

Retread was also running a 8oz Butane canister... In all fairness, the lack of adhereing to the rules, Retread should have been DQd...

oh most definitely it was a complete death trap, but god damn it was so cool XD

Err.. slightly back on topic.. I dropped the 4-bar lifter for the mean time to get something running with the spare parts I have wasting away..

Name: http://dictionary.reference.com/search?q=vexVex

no offense to anyone above, as i must admit to not reading every post, but saying there is no extinguisher available is insane, there was one in every co2 robot, plus any spares.... yes, no nozzle, but they still work.

stamping on the robot??? good god!
i think all this answers why i feel we should NEVER allow roboteers to enter with flamethrowers. event organizers however, should know better, and I look forward to seeing fire effects in arenas, but not in robots.

:proud:

Mr Stu

Not that many CO2 users down under James.

Actualy, I know of only 1, Philip with Marauder.

ah... oops then. by the way, will you please be on msn more often mario, my evil plans do not progress so well without your equally insane input.

You spoil-sport James!!
I would love to build a flame throwing Pillow Torque! :proud:

Dont worry Geoff. :proud:

Mr Stu

You spoil-sport James!!
I would love to build a flame throwing Pillow Torque!

so would a lot of kids!!!
not worried about team scorpion as they would have killed themselves already if they were not careful, but can you imagine if ------- made one? (insert any muppets name)

James, my name only has 6 letters. :proud:

lol :)

Just finished my first featherweight! Its pretty much sacrificial at events, but looks cool and I love battling, so, what the hell! Hope you guys enjoy taking it apart for me! :)

Name: Grave Robbing Space Mushroom
Power: 7.6v 1500mah Technobots battery pack
Drive: 2x drill motors
Armour: 7mm plastic tube with additional aluminium
Weapon: Additional whacker bits (its an axlebot)

Picture as soon as I get one.

A name like that deserves applause LOL
However it may end up as Grave Robbing Space Mush :)

thats jst the starter mines the secoond course for u spinners :P

lol, thanks Karoline. Apparently Im known for my daft names. Ive no doubt itll end up as mush, but its an interesting contraption...
Ill get it fully finished and post some pics ASAP.

If Daves bot is the first course, Joshs is the second course then mine can be the spinners just deserts..! :proud:

Chris - ^_^

(Message edited by robotic_ants on April 26, 2006)

Oh good... Lunch! :wink:

mine is totally tiny only like 180mm long 200mm wide and 75mm high without scoop and an extra 15 cm at the front wen it is on:blush:

Do Scorpians eat mushrooms?
I bet thats the first time that question has ever been asked anywhere!
Why does mine have to be the first course? lol.

Are they garlic mushrooms? Nice starter - yum!

Never mind garlic... Theyll need to be magic!:proud:

So now we know Geoff is a closet hippy :mrgreen:

Love & peace sister! :lame:

Getting a machine ready for the summer events:

(Ill be getting something a little different done for the UK Robotic Games, though that should remain non-combat)

Name: Vertigo (bot may have been sold, but the name lives on!)
Power: 18v 3300mah Ni-Mh Pack
Drive: 2 x http://www.gimsonrobotics.comgimson

Oh yes, pictures on their way. Nice new workshop equipment should speed up this build.