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Our new fw clusterbot is near completion. just wondered if this is the first, will post some pics shortly once finished. trying to think a name for it, was thinking maybe double trouble. also does it have to have any particular type of link mechanism between the two? i was going to just use a steel rod which would be pulled out before the fight starts.
It has to be able to seperate during the fight.
It must drive in as one ....and as pointed out above seperate under its own power in the Arena.
Id be inclined to put one on top of the other .... and drive the top one off :)
hmmm, bugger, it can drive in as one but i will have to sort a mechanism, i could put one on top of the other if i get stuck! anyone know what gemini used?
(Message edited by ady on August 22, 2007)
Ive been thinking about making a cluster bot too but where is it covered under the rules? Is it an unwritten rule that the robot must drive in as one? What rules are used to decide the winner of a fight? Is a clusterbot out if one robots dead or is it 50% by weight?
Personally I think the robots should be able to drive in separately and there shouldnt be explicit rules about how much of a cluster bot needs immobilising. If a robot can continue with only half its drive working and a dead weapon, then a clusterbot should be able to continue with one of the robots dead.
i wouldnt mind a few things clarifying as i was just going on old rules, that mechanism will be a pain, trying to think the most reliable way to do it
Adrian, we used our robokits as a clusterbot last year at the champs and we just put some gaffa tape ontop to link them together. its just pulled off when one drove away.
The definition of clusterbot derives from the original robot wars rules. But it is not specifically covered under the current FRA rules.
Personally I think a clusterbot is two or more robots designed to work as a team and that they shouldnt need to start as one unit, although it does look cool.
Under the current rules, I believe the intention was to leave it open for inspiration. But if you are planning something weird and wacky, its best to ask first.
(Message edited by kane on August 22, 2007)
cheers kane, i presume fra read the posts could someone from the fra answer my question? i was planning on putting them in the arena as one and driving them into position as one, then at the the time (when you normally remove safety locks from spinners etc) remove the quick release bolt that holds the 2 together.
grant if i cant find a solution i will use that one!!
(Message edited by ady on August 22, 2007)
You could try some magnets on the back of them, ones strong enough that if one of the halfs drives slowly, it will drag the other one with it, but if both try to drive away, they overcome the magnet. Neodymium hard drive magnets are a great thing to try, easy to get and plenty strong :proud: