-
why are these weight classes are not more popular?
(though it was the best place to ask)
i dont see why these classes are not more popular?
you can get the same grunt as a heavyweight without the cost and they are bigger and easier to work with than featherweight.
i just want someone to clarify this really?
-
Re: why are these weight classes are not more popular?
Slightly related question: Could the robochallenge arena run Lightweight spinners?
-
Re: why are these weight classes are not more popular?
they were never popular even during the days of robot wars as they were never given much coverage. All the bots shown on tv were always heavyweights unless you looked to robot wars extreme. battlebots by contrast showed many different weight classes and so that's the reason there are more diverse numbers of bots in the US.
I don't think it's a bad thing. You want to play big, head for the heavyweights, you want to have smaller bots that can be handled by a single person, you go for the featherweights. Dilluting an already small group of people into middle ground weight classes wouldn't do much good imo.
I believe it could under current rules (would need to check) but you'd need at least two machines to compete and robochallenge to host it.
-
Re: why are these weight classes are not more popular?
I see were your coming from but they would seem to have more of the spectacle and impact of Heavyweight without the massive cost of running them.
although, do they cost much less to build and run than heavyweights?
-
Re: why are these weight classes are not more popular?
-
Re: why are these weight classes are not more popular?
I did come up with a set of rules for a 'sportsman' middleweight. As there seems to be alot of feather people wanting to get into the heavyweights, but its too big of a step. Quick rules that i came up with:
Max 400watt drive motors (wheelchairs ect)
LP pneumatics only (regulator mouted directly onto co2 tank)
No Ti
SLA batteries only (maybe allow nicads/mimh)
Thoughts? It would be a way of feather people moving up, without some of the risk and trouble of heavys, by limiting components will keep the costs down.
-
Re: why are these weight classes are not more popular?
If we were able to get these going then I would certainly build one :)
-
Re: why are these weight classes are not more popular?
that would get a few more roboteers into this and it would be quite cheap.
-
Re: why are these weight classes are not more popular?
It is a little bit like Catch 22 there are no fights in this class because no one has working middleweights, and there are no working middleweights because there are no fights in this class !! :shock:
How about Robots Live saying there will be one middleweight fight each show, if there are less than two working at the show the space will be filled with a heavyweight white board instead. :D
I have started making a middleweight but not finished it because there is no one out there to compete with.
similarly I will make a 1.3Kg or what ever the thing is, when the arena is finished and I see someone's robot fighting in it.
I for one think the Middle weight class is a good one for Robots Live and Roaming Robots. as the punters watching them will see robots not much smaller than Heavies a lot bigger than Feathers and they will be a lot cheaper to build than Heavies, and some Feathers.
Alan's idea of restrictive technology at least to start with is a good idea as it will make cheap robots competitive in this class.
I must warn everyone there is always lots of talk around this subject but I have yet to see much movement towards actually seeing Middleweights in the arena I for one am not holding my breath on this thread changing things either. :uhoh: :shock:
A bit negative sorry :uhoh: :uhoh:
-
Re: why are these weight classes are not more popular?
if a few of us started building middleweights, then i think we could get enough to make a middleweight fight viable :)
-
Re: why are these weight classes are not more popular?
the reason i think the class is not as popular is the more expensive bits, eg the speed controler and radio gear the cost is the same, so why not go for broke and build a heavy?
-
Re: why are these weight classes are not more popular?
i think they would be a good step for feather builders, building a 13.6kg robot, then building a 100kg one is a massive jump. something around 50kg would be better so we can get experience building bigger robots.
plus, we might be able to get some bigger spinners in the arena :)
-
Re: why are these weight classes are not more popular?
Speedo like this
http://www.technobotsonline.com/saberto ... 30702.html
For £184 with discount
or wotty 100 for about £200
Wotty 360 for heavy I think I paid about£380
Radio is the same for Ants as it is for super heavies if you use 2.4 ghz
-
Re: why are these weight classes are not more popular?
if a few of us got together and agreed to build some middleweight i think we might just be able to finally start off this weight class.
but, would middleweight spinners be allowed?
-
Re: why are these weight classes are not more popular?
Ive said before if any Middleweights turn up, we will get them a fight. I've got a middleweight i built years ago (2004 maybe) took it to a couple of events but never had any one to fight, so its sitting in the shed. So if anybody else can get one built i'll dig mine out.
We wouldn't allow spinners in our arena, the RoboChallenge arena wouldnt be big enough, as middleweights are going to be nearly the size of heavies.
-
Re: why are these weight classes are not more popular?
i do genuinely think we could get this class going if we try :)
-
Re: why are these weight classes are not more popular?
who would be up for building a middleweight if we gave a set date for a middleweight fight?
-
Re: why are these weight classes are not more popular?
I seem to remember me and Tom Wilkinson tried to get one going a while back, actually the old Mythras shell is probably light enough to be entered as a middle...hmmm...
-
Re: why are these weight classes are not more popular?
Could get together a couple of people to build 2 similar middleweights and run them as a clusterbot in the heavies.
-
Re: why are these weight classes are not more popular?
Quote:
Originally Posted by Anttazz
Could get together a couple of people to build 2 similar middleweights and run them as a clusterbot in the heavies.
unfortunately if you did that the cluster wouldn't be allowed to fight the high powered flippers (most heavys)
-
Re: why are these weight classes are not more popular?
-
Re: why are these weight classes are not more popular?
because there was an accident with tanto jnr (middleweight) where it was fighting heavies and because it was half the weight it went twice as high and it came out of the arena or something.
-
Re: why are these weight classes are not more popular?
viewtopic.php?f=240&t=3295
This is Angel the Middleweight I was making It was to be another Saint type robot!
-
Re: why are these weight classes are not more popular?
Ahh I see, that is a shame but safety first I suppose. Really you only need one complete middleweight to turn up to a Robots Live event and as Alan says, there would be a fight, which is at the very least a chance to see how well they go down. Also by the sounds of it a number of bits mentioned in the reduced budget/capability list would be usable in a heavy if it all falls on its face. I'd probably have a number of the bits needed to build one actually, I have motors, SLA's ESC's that will eventually go in Scar that would do it as well as all the stuff I can take out of the feathers.
Do you think the likes of Jamie, Gary, Liam and ourselves (as well as any other Scots who fancy it) would fancy building a Team Scotland middleweight for RL Edinburgh? :lol:
-
Re: why are these weight classes are not more popular?
I've thought about trying to build something for the heavier classes before but it was always a bit of a non-starter due to a lack of money, time, facilities and resources. That might change when I get my workshop set up but I think the biggest class I would go for is middleweights.
Would be good fun doing that Tony :)
But I'd not be able to contribute anything in time for RL Edinburgh; I thought there was tonnes of time but I've since realised there are only six weekends to go and I've got to get Carcinus and Grond built for then, while hopefully also repairing Drumroll to static spec. Fun fun :proud:
-
Re: why are these weight classes are not more popular?
If you can get a couple to turn up, they are welcome to a fight. It wouldn't be a good idea to put Middles (especially if restricted) in with the heavies, at the end of the day they are never going to threaten a heavyweight and it has a risk with the 'super' flippers such as Kronic, IA ect.
The idea would be to have these as there own class, where everybody starts on a level playing field, the restrictions would stop experienced teams coming in with basically condensed heavies and dominating. I know alot of peole want to get into heavies, but wheelchair motors and electric lifters are never going to cut it, Middles seem like the next best thing, and provides an ideal stepping stone into the heavies. A competitive middle could be built for a few hundred pounds, a heavyweight your looking 2 grand.
-
Re: why are these weight classes are not more popular?
I know what you mean, would be pointless and pretty boring for drivers and spectators. I was thinking that with a Team Scotland that all of us are within an hour or so from a central point and between us we could probably build one for pretty much nothing from parts that can be borrowed from other machines, and held together by spare chunks or metal/plastic bits of turbine just like my featherweight :D .
I know it is far too late in the day to be considering it but thought it would be funny, especially if we all collate and build our own respective bits and whack them all together in one afternoon before the show.
Maybe next year :lol:
-
Re: why are these weight classes are not more popular?
Well I have all the parts I would need to build a basic middleweight bar the speed controllers. Got a couple 13Ah hawkers, some wheel box units I made for my first heavyweight that use the iskra 800w motors and enough material to make up a chassis i'm sure. Just never really had the drive to bother making anything with them. Wouldn't mind trying to build a kinetic energy axe (flywheel stores energy, transfers it into an axe) for a laugh.
What date is it in june again?
-
Re: why are these weight classes are not more popular?
just seen it's the 19th, might be pushing it but i'm sure we could throw something together if you were up for it tony and Jamie?
-
Re: why are these weight classes are not more popular?
I would be Gary :) Sounds like you have most of the bits sorted anyway. I'm away the weekend before EL Edinburgh but other than that my weekends are flexible for availability.
The ESC's i'm on about are those ones I spoke to you on Facebook about, 4QD NCC-35's and a control unit,pile of wires etc. Jamie had a read through the 4 or 5 manuals that came with them I think so he should be able to tell us how they work :lol: . Don't know if they would work on those motors or not, you may know better than I.
Kinetic energy axe sounds pretty funny too, much better than another £$%^&*($%^&*%^&*(^% flipper :D
-
Re: why are these weight classes are not more popular?
tell you what, lets do some chatting off the forum about it, you on msn? I'm at xzibit206 'at' hotmail.com
Alan would you have any issues with the potential of a kinetic energy axe weapon similar to the idea that ewan is testing out atm? Say a 2 to 3kg spinning mass completely enclosed so that if something does go wrong inside the bot it is all contained?
Also would anyone else be up for getting a middleweight bot to the comp in June in Edinburgh? I realise it's short notice etc being around 6 weeks away.
-
Re: why are these weight classes are not more popular?
My main focus will be on getting the featherweights running for it but I could probably spare a weekend to offer myself as an extra pair of hands to help construction. Not really got much to offer in the way of parts; a Bosch 400 is about the most suitable thing I currently have but that's getting chucked into the feather :)
-
Re: why are these weight classes are not more popular?
I am indeed, i'll add you in a second. I think Alan said he had a middle, and possibly Craig would be able to complete Angel if he had reason to i.e. if it had a chance of a fight. See if the English can come up with anything :wink:
-
Re: why are these weight classes are not more popular?
i doubt i'll build a middleweight anytime soon, i've got a load of bosch 400's but all my time/cash is being used on other things at the moment. might sell the bosch 400's so if anyone's interested let me know :crazy:
-
Re: why are these weight classes are not more popular?
bosch 400 in a feather?! What do you have planned?!
-
Re: why are these weight classes are not more popular?
-
Re: why are these weight classes are not more popular?
No problem with the kinetic axe. I don't know what other middles will make it to Edinburgh, mine won't be ready, i don't think i'll have room to bring it up either (ive already got to bring 5 heavies, 2 boxers, mechanoid, dalek, walker, house robot, few feathers, not to mention an arena and all that goes with it!). I understand Craig isn't coming, a long way for a one day event :).
-
Re: why are these weight classes are not more popular?
if no others are able to make it then we could put it on the back burner or just build it anyway for the hell of it :)
-
Re: why are these weight classes are not more popular?
At the FW champs Craig was saying his robots might be there even if he isnt thats why I mentioned it :)
-
Re: why are these weight classes are not more popular?
If I'm sure other people will build one then I will build a pneumatic flipper middleweight, hopefully after a feather flipper :)