Rule check

Futaba only failsafes on the throttle.

OK, thanks again, that was a quick one. Now for the next...

4.3.
In addition to the main power light (See. Batteries and Power no. 6.8.) showing the main power is activated. It should also indicate if the robot is in €œfailsafe€, €œoff€ or €œzero€ position.

Im not sure I could do this with just a BR6000. How manditory is this rule?

Cheers - Simon

It isnt. On the rules page of the FRA you will see it states this is advisory only. It can de done with the BR6000 btw.


(Message edited by leorcc on October 09, 2007)

Thanks again, is there a pointer to how to make the BR6000 show when its failed safe?

Next rule question - should be a quickie, but I want to make sure that our robot wont get rejected when we turn up at Leicester.

4.6
At least three alternative frequencies of transmitter [TX] and receiver [RX] must be available for each Radio Control [RC] set involved in running the robot e.g. where crystals are used 3 pairs of crystals of different frequencies per TX. If two separate TX/RX sets are used, there must be six different pairs of crystals available.
4.7.
Frequencies must be easily changeable e.g. where crystals are used they must be accessible particularly on RX so a change of channel can easily take place.

I take it that If a roboteer was using 2.4 GHz then these rules wouldnt apply?

Thanks - Simon

The Spectrum uses 2 of the 80 avialable 2.4GHz channels simultaniously. And cant use any of the others in use by other RX/TX recievers. Also, wont interfere with the other systems on 2.4 GHz.

The Spectrums at least, with the BR6000 has therefor 40 frequencies at its disposal. In effect far superceding tthe mandatory 3 sets for other frequencies.

But yes, even if the rules arent blatantly on the FRA forum, the Spectrums are accepted by the event organisers (who, after all are more important)

quote:

is there a pointer to how to make the BR6000 show when its failed safe?
The easiest way of doing it is get a free channel on the BR6000, put a small rc-switch with an led or a ready made RC landing light setup on it, and program that channel to activate the LED when it loses signal by setting a preset failsafe servo setting.

These points are all address in the updated Radio Control Requirements.

Thank you Kane, could you give me a link to the updated Radio Control Requirements?

Simon

These have not yet been released. I am hoping they will be approved on Saturday and the rules should be updated a short time afterwards.

OK Thanks Kane. Well Ill keep going through the rules and ask questions about each rule that I dont understand, if you guys would be kind enough to keep helping me out with explanations.

So the next one is...

6.1.1.5. Batteries must be removed from the robot, inspected and placed into a sealable steel or other suitable heat proof container prior to, and during the charging process. (It is the responsibility of the roboteer to provide this container, which shall be inspected as part of the normal €˜tech check€™.)

So we all know that steel isnt heat proof. I assume that this means non-flammable? Would a biscuit tin do? and Im not sure how I could seal a box that was attached to a charge lead, unless theres something clever going on (charging through induction ;o)

Craig once very kindly showed us the pit area at an event, but my memory is a little bit hazy of the battery charging operations.

I remember seeing a charge plug in the back of Chaos 2, so I assume that in those days the robots were charged in situ. Thats the way I do it with my antweight but I appreciate that safety is paramount.

So what Im basically asking is... How do people actually charge their batteries at an event?

Thanks again - Simon