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Must Agree with Ed on this also. It was also mentioned at the last Yorkshire meet and 12.5kG makes more sense if its going to be changed and I for one would support this. Mind you it was also suggested that the gas be included in the weight as some Heavys are using 4.4kG and its only a matter of time before even more is used, I think this needs some concideration also.
The gas weight advantage only lasts as long as the flipping/bashing power.
I dont know where the Americans got their 13,5 kg rule ? It does not make sense to me, it is 29.76237 Pounds so the non-metric argument wont work with me.
12,5 kg does make much more sense because it is half of the lightweights 25 kg. But in the end I dont think we must change our weight limits: 1. they are fine as they are now and 2. why should we adjust to the Americans and Australians ? It is not as if many of them will come abroad on a regular basis and I dont see why we should change our limits by using theirs as standard. To quote an aide of the current US President: we create our own reality #(see quote below), this is the kind of hubris were getting used to but should it govern us ? I agree that international cooperation is needed but why deferr to them when we already have a perfect system in place ?
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# Here is the full quote:
In a disturbing article in a New York Times Magazine, the writer Ron Suskind told of a meeting hed had with a senior adviser to the president. The White House at the time was unhappy about an article Mr. Suskind had written.
According to Mr. Suskind, The aide said that guys like me were in what we call the reality-based community, which he defined as people who believe that solutions emerge from your judicious study of discernible reality. The aide told Mr. Suskind, Thats not the way the world really works anymore. Were an empire now, and when we act we create our own reality.
Perhaps the FRA could advise who has proposed the change and what grounds it is being considered on and surely they have better things to be looking at than this.
Basically stop looking over the pond and start focusing on getting the home ground sorted otherwise there will be even less FRA members to be governed.
Dare I say that at present, there is really only one view that counts on this and thats Roaming Robots. Without them there isnt much else left so if they stick to 12kg (which I hope they do), then 12kg it is.
Paul
12kg is the way to go, I dont think many of us would mind too much about 12.5kg though, and as Paul says, is there an origin to this discussion?
Why changing again? If the US and Australian Roboteers want to build a heavy ,and call it an ant, no problemo for me.If I want to play with them over there, then I will use a machine following their rules.
Weightlimits are a big part of the challenge to build a competitive machine. And changing them is not a solution to make the sport better.
So is also my idea about the rules.
Dont go the formula 1 way. So many restricting rules everyone drives thesame car with other sponsorstickers and thesame components with other brandnamrs.
So if all featherweight builders and Roaming Robots (who run 90% of events) want it to stay, then is there a point in debating it?
If the issue had been raised 3 years ago when feathers were still developing then there may have been a point for discussion, but now there is a large amount of feathers, it wouldnt be right to change. I cant see any any benifits from a rule change. If it aint broke dont fix it!
As paul says there are more important issuses to be looked at, like keeping the sport alive.
too true, 12kg should stay. theres too many changes people will have to make anyway to get them uptoi the limit if its even increased to 12.5kg. My dad spent 4 hrs the other day just to take out just less than one hundred grams from my new chassis, and thats all the fun and challenge of featherweights. people say it will be easier top build at 13.7 or what ever they want, but are heavyweights any eisier. No, infact probably harder!
I do not agree with the statement
Dare I say that at present, there is really only one view that counts on this and thats Roaming Robots. Without them there isnt much else left so if they stick to 12kg (which I hope they do), then 12kg it is.
as Roaming Robots hold the events, they are not the majority of roboteers! and the roboteers should have the say. And if RR were to say something ridiculous(which i know they wont) like changing the weight to 18kg, why should everybody follow that? there are other events that people can attend if they wish to such as BTP and Rc Wars events.(sorry this was not a rant at RR btw)
keep thge weight the same, if any changes should be made rules wise for feathers, make it be more challenging rules, such limiting the power of robots, and armour, and such likes to make people have to use more effieciant methods of doing things instead of just spending loads of money on lightweight components with brute force! This would show the real engineers from the average roboteers and then people will realise that they do not have to cost huge amounts to be good.
My opinion anyway,
Grant
Grant, RR provide the greatest opportunity for fw builders to compete. Im sure Jonno will correct me here if I am wrong, RR is a club and as such members have to abide by RR rules if you wish to compete at any of its events. I have every confidence that Jonno fully considers any rule changes before making deciding on whether they are appropriate to RR. BTP no doubt have their unique rules as does Roger Plant as does the UKRG, if you wish to attend these events, you have to meet that organisers requirements, it matters not what the Roboteer says. Thats not to say that these organisers do not listen to Roboteers but ultimately it is their decision and their decision alone. If they get it wrong, they dont get the competitors and they have an even bigger problem. Yes there are other events but RR still offers the greatest outlet and without them, I think roboting would be far far worse off than it is now.
Paul
At the risk of being accused of multiple posting I think it only fair to add this here.
Where was the first post?
Any possable changes to the weight limit are due to be discussed at the next FRA committee meeting, due to take place on 12/02/05.
We will let you all know the outcome shortly afterwards.
Surely this is a bit short notice for a matter of this importance?
Does the FRA currently have a sufficient percentage of UK roboteers as members to claim the mandate on this decision?
If you want your views on this subject to be taken into account, please contact your regional rep before the meeting. (contact details are on the FRA web-site)
I would strongly suggest that no decision should be made on the 12th. This is not sufficient notice to ensure that all interested parties can submit there opinions.
Part your regional reps job is to pass YOUR views on to the committee, so please use them and make sure that YOU have YOUR say as to how our sport should develop.
I have not yet renewed my membership due to my disgust that the FRA constitution was apparently passed after a hugely inadequate 2 days for members representations. To make a major change to the weight classes after a mere 6 days for members representations would definitely be the last straw for me.
regards
Tim Jones
Tim, from this thread, I do not think any of us have anything to worry about.