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Ed, for the record I used Storm II as an expample for being an expensive robot. I pass no judgement on either you or your team, nor on the robot itself.
What I do object to is making it sound like all robots cost thousands of pounds even though that is not always the case.
Putting a price cap on bots eh? Lets have a bit of a reality check.
I will take my new heavyweight as an example.
-Both my eteks were second hand from different sources, do I count them as brand new as both were unused and so declare them as brand new list prices or as the price I paid?
- My custom gearbox cases. I had a CNC mill quote of £1500 so therefore they are worth that. I got them done for a lot less. So which price do I quote?
- My speed controllers. Got them for far less than the new price. Again which price do I say?
- Batteries. Cost me nothing but a new set of hawkers will cost you a fair bit.
To try and cost a robot. It doesnt work.
If someone wants to build something fancy that costs a lot then by all means go ahead. Doesnt make a blind bit of difference in the arena.
Lets keep the comments mature and impersonal.
i paid 10 quid for speedo.....5 quid for ram....5 quid for motors...free armour...nicked at gocart and got the drive...all the other bits cost me 40 quid and i have a fully working battle ready robot that will win the champs for 50 sniffs. :)
Shane add that up agin. It comes to £60, not £50. Still, well done for being able to make a bot for that sort of cost. :)
i lied :)
Gary has hit the nail on the head with Doesnt make a blind bit of difference in the arena.
Thats the reality.
...except of course that Storm 2 and Typhoon, two of the most expensive robots ever made in the UK were the dominant machines in RW7! There are other factors of course; good design, good setup and good driving being the main ones, all of which Turbulance had in spades at last years UK Champs, but financial resources and sophisticated engineering capabilities are a distinct advantage all else being equal. Personally I have no interest in price capping robots and agree with Garys comments on that score- its not feasable even if it was considered desirable.
Im happy to see builders express their enthusiasm and creativity in what ever way suits them best. I like seeing the results of imaginative builders with or without significant budgets and I think the sport benefits hugely from go for broke designs that push the envelope and show what can be done.
Its the powergames that we dont like.
Typhoon, two of the most expensive robots ever made in the UK were the dominant machines in RW7!
Typhoon 2 was actually remarkably cheap and only cost a few thousand to put together. We chased a number of sponsors for most of our parts.
There is also the fact that typhoon 2 was only dominant after the first round of its heat. We lost our qualifying heat and were brought into the TV show as cannon fodder. After a few small problems were sorted it worked well but as I said before, its what happens in the arena that counts.
Yeah, I think its irrevent in price for a robot. And you got to remember that thousands of pounds is no substitute for skill and experience.