Rule 6.3 The Link

i think that mentorn have to look at the way in which the audience enter the stands. if a robot was to exit the arena and, worse case senario, it got through the outer curtain then the only way for the audience to exit would be onto the same floor as that robot. i think the audience should enter the stands from the rear up steps. the stands should also be a few feet off the ground so that an out of control robot wouldnt smash into the front row. i think they should also seriously consider giving the audience an evacuation procedure, like in an aircraft, as unlikely as they are to need it i think the audience should be informed if the worse should happen so that a mass panic doesnt follow. this could be given between battles as there is 15 minutes where the audience are just watching old fights etc.

perhaps also a polycarb fence in front of the audience which is only about 3 ft highish to give some protection, again incase the worst should happen as the current audience have nothing but a few feet of floor in front of them.

A thought

Typhoon has a link fitted on the top of their robot. Why not fit another link on the bottom of there robot which is always left in. It would only be removed if the top link could not be reached. It would cost a slight bit more but not a huge amount and would give extra safety. And i dont see how the two links could bothe be blocked at once.

Also I know its off topic but failsafes dont makt a robot 100% safe. I was driving around with my robot and went into a fast spin (approx 13-14mph) the rx battery poped out of the switch locking the servos in that position. The servos stayed where they were dispite having fs-1s on them. Luckally my robot had no weapons and its only a feather so i could litterally stop it with my foot and pull the link out. I was not happy doing this but i did not see another route as my batts take about 10min to die. So people please do be careful.

Regards
Ian Mc Donald

i think they should also seriously consider giving the audience an evacuation procedure, like in an aircraft, as unlikely as they are to need it i think the audience should be informed if the worse should happen so that a mass panic doesnt follow.

Thats actually a good idea from the show point of view as well, its been discussed on several occasions that the feeling of danger can make the whole thing more exciting if handled correctly.

Isnt any conversation regarding RW a bit beside the point at pressent? I dont think theres to many actually expecting series 8 to happen..

Perhaps Kim has some light to shed on that?

Sam
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In the Dutch events I sometimes try to notify the audience of possible dangers, using posters with warnings, but I was still looking for something better. Garys suggestion has great value, thank you Gary, providing instructions like in an airplane is ideal. I will work on this.

ian, a few problems when it comes to that

1) there is literally no room inside to fit in another link, i think typhoon 2 has to be the worst serviceable robot as everything is literally crambed in. if anything goes seriously wrong inside then thats us out of any competition as it could take half a day just to get to the problem! Anyone who has seen the chassis will know what i mean

2) technically the current link is accecable from underneath, however this would reqire a screw driver

3) if we had to have a link underneath then other teams would have to have the same and i cant see that being too popular

4) the current link we have is a 1000amp aircraft connector costing £1000. another one capable of taking the same current would cost the same.

5) in the qualifier where we were flipped the crew didnt seem to have a problem getting into the bullpen with an upturned typhoon 2 (rather them than me!)

and no problem babeth, i think that crowd safety is a key concern to the future of robotic combat and the issue cannot be ignored any longer.

Ok gary i understand your problem. I have also been told of others. But i was speaking hypothetically (spelling?) an i think in theory that would work

Regards
Ian Mc Donald

na its fine, was just pointing out the difficulties! :)

the current link we have is a 1000amp aircraft connector costing £1000....you lucky swines having the might of the RAF behind you :)

Tom

P.S. I was an air cadet too...Poulton -Le -Fylde squadron 2459 ..my 1st flight in any aircraft was in a Chipmunk from RAF Woodvale near Southport...happy days..never joined the RAF but did get my PPL ...but the usual story of wife/kids/mortgage meant I only had it for 4 years :sad:

Never mind ...(Del boy voice)..one day Ill be a millionaire :)

Seriously though Gary...how much help do you get from the RAF and how much effect has Typhoon and its siblings had on ATC feedback etc? they should class it as a great asset.

Tom

Pitty I never got to see inside Typhoon at S7 it looked a very impressively engineered robot, must have taken a large lathe to make the outer ring. Was too busy fixing ours to pay much attention. It took us 8 hours to tighten one M3 bolt that had come out. Now that was hard to get too. Dont want to have to do that again.

By the way the arena has taken damage so far in the early heats I wouldnt like to know what Big spinners are going to do to it. Would say stronger sides are a must if S8 goes ahead or the more powerful weapons wont be allowed to run which would be a big disapointment.

If I remember correctly Tough As Nails has 2 removable links so that it does not matter if the robot is upside down, you can still pull a removable link out of it anyway. Just a safety precaution. You need to pull out only one of them, the other can stay where it is.