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Reading back I used removable links as an example but it might appear i meant that as the only obstacle. I in fact mean all safety measures, not in the least the protoype ruling we have here in europe. This allows us to use custom built rams and buffer tanks and what not.
Leo-For freindly melees and white board fights i wouldnt mind if that did happen and i was fighting an overweight bot (as often happens over here) BUT when it comes to a proper competition, rules are rules and not to be broken!
Its not fair that someone gets an extra HUGE 1.5kg ontop of our 12kg! If weights were not united, then its upto the builder to build a machine to the rules of that country! Thats how it should always be
im suddenly liking 15kg :) cant think why :)
Leo makes a great point, removable links vs keyswitches, hydraulic and pneumatic pressures, and battery voltage. I understand the reasons for wanting to standardize weight, but our 12kg robots with only 1000psi gas must be as capable as 15kg robots with 3000psi (i know its not that simple, but you see where im going) Likewise, a 12kg robot with only 36v allowed will have similar power to weight ratio as the same machine with 48v, ish....
If we are to consider making our machines heavies, maybe we should also look at allowing higher pressures/voltages? Im not trying to upset the discussion, as a world unified as always a great thing, but our rules are very different at the moment.
Building a featherweight to the proposed 15kg class and RFL rules allows me 5000psi hydraulics and 48v to power the pump..... does anyone in this country want me to actually build that?
i want to see you do it!
Not nessassary fight with it though (and aslong as its not all held in by the trusty gaffer tape :) )
But as James states, other rules need to be looked at asap too. 13.6kg i think is a little high still, but it can be done.
James and others make a great point. It would be fantastic if the FRA and the RFL can agree to one rule set.
I would love to bring my bot to the UK and Europe. Unfortunately, in Australia use the US rules for featherweights which would preclude me from your comp.
I cut my robot teeth reading UK websites and received much advice from the members of this and other forums. I hope one day to meet you in the arena.
I simply could not afford to build a new bot just for one trip to the UK.
Most of the UK rules are based around safety and legal aspects.
For example, the 1000psi limit is based on HSE recommendations and is also a practical limit of CO2.
The hydraulic limit is safety based.
Having unified weight classes would be the first step to having truely international competition.
If our pneumatic and hydraulic rules are based on safe industry standards, what on earth are the Americans based on? :crazy:
As much as I am in favour of truely international competition, Am I the only person to remmeber the time Heavys were 170lbs and feathers were 25lbs?
What would be the point of changing everything we have now to unify, if the RFL are only going to change their weight limit in about 2-3 years time?
Guys,
You are totally missing the point! This discusion is about trying to arrive at an agreement on WEIGHT.. Forget the finer points of the build rules..Thats for another debate!
So come on, drop this c**p and concentrate on the job in hand.
Prof. Calkins has worked bloody hard to get this far. I think his last post with the feathers ammended to 13.6Kg and the Raptors back to 6kg is a perfectly acceptable solution.
If you guys still want to still build 12Kg feathers...Go ahead, and if we decide to accept these new standards at least youll know your machine will be in weight!
What we need are answers to problems, not constant nit-picking over things that can be delt with once we get the main points sorted.
Geoff Smith
Chairman, Fighting Robot Association
Well, Im perfectly happy with the proposed ammendments.