Featherweight Database

Robot Wars as we all know used flames quite a lot especially with Sgt Bash and the flame pit. They, however, also had Refbot and CO2 jets as a means of extinguishing any flaming robots before humans entered the arena. Watching the first clip, Retreads owner/builder/whoever it was that extinguished the flames, jumped in to the arena in the middle of battle to use the fire entinguisher. Surely this presents another safety factor in relation to the active robot - although in the video clip the active robot is under control, if it was to go out of control while the person was in the arena, there is the risk of that person being injured by the out-of-control robot.

Personally I like flame effects, they look good. But they seem to pose added safety risks that require more controlled environments (such as the RW arena) than most live event arenas have just now

My two cents anyway

I dont think its a case of the arenas containing the flame effects, more of the venues themselves allowing them to run. I know the Leisure Centre we used for Robots Live! wouldnt of allowed it, they werent keen on the pyros!

Glen - With the issue of the event not supplying the correct extinguishers. When the EO said that flame throwers were aloud I was the only person who said they were building one. When I pulled my flame thrower out of the compitition 3 week before the event all the organisers asumed there were not going to be any flame throwers and therefore didnt worry about extinguishers. When we all turn up and see the surprise flame thrower cable tired to the top of Retread it could not be the EOs or the venues fault that no proper extinguishers were present because no warning was given to them.

BTW, the fully exposed fuel cylinder on Retread was very much againts the rules. Do you NSW boys actually read them?

13.6. Heat and Fire are NOT allowed at this event.

13.6.1. If fire is allowed as an effect, the fuel must exit the robot and be ignited as a gas. It cannot leave the robot is a liquid or gelled form or use Oxidizers.

13.6.2. Fire Fuel types allowed are propane or butane. The maximum quantity allowed is 4oz

13.6.3. The Fuel tank must be as far from the outer amour of the robot as practicable and be protected from heat sources within the robot.

13.6.4. The Ignition system must have a remote operated shut-off that allows the operators to disable it using the radio control system.

Retread was also running a 8oz Butane canister... In all fairness, the lack of adhereing to the rules, Retread should have been DQd...

When we all turn up and see the surprise flame thrower cable tired to the top of Retread it could not be the EOs or the venues fault that no proper extinguishers were present because no warning was given to them.

Surley the answer is simple then. If the EO didnt have the safety equipment in place to safely deal with the risk - the robot shouldnt have been running.

If there were due to be no spinners due to no polycarbonate screening, and one turned up, would they be allowed to run as well ?

Ed
http://www.teamstorm.comhttp://www.teamstorm.com

with 20/20 hindsight that really would have been the smartest thing to do, but then again i dont think anyone pointed out the extinguisher was a one shot deal! iirc there was a big CO2 tank near it for the rest of the fights.

Retread was also running a 8oz Butane canister... In all fairness, the lack of adhereing to the rules, Retread should have been DQd...

oh most definitely it was a complete death trap, but god damn it was so cool XD

Err.. slightly back on topic.. I dropped the 4-bar lifter for the mean time to get something running with the spare parts I have wasting away..

Name: http://dictionary.reference.com/search?q=vexVex

no offense to anyone above, as i must admit to not reading every post, but saying there is no extinguisher available is insane, there was one in every co2 robot, plus any spares.... yes, no nozzle, but they still work.

stamping on the robot??? good god!
i think all this answers why i feel we should NEVER allow roboteers to enter with flamethrowers. event organizers however, should know better, and I look forward to seeing fire effects in arenas, but not in robots.

:proud:

Mr Stu

Not that many CO2 users down under James.

Actualy, I know of only 1, Philip with Marauder.