BotFest pilot (29th July 2018)

From the robotwars101.org forum

After running a social on Merseyside a few months ago, myself and a friend have decided to start running a series of events, starting with the Ants and then hopefully including the Beetles later on (time/space/money permitting). To work out the format of how we would like to run this (and, of course, to have a competition as well at the same time http://robotwars101.org/forum/images.../icon_wink.gif ), we are running a pilot of this.

Signup closes on the 3rd of June at 23:59 with the event taking place on the 29th of Juiy 2018 from 2 - 8pm. The venue is the following:

St. Lukes Church
Poulton
Wallasey
CH44 3BD

The church is easily accessible via the M53, by train there is a walk of about 10-15 minutes and there are also local bus routes as well.

Signup form: http://teamkaizen.ocracoke.org.uk/botfest.php

We'll be following a slightly modified set of AWS rules, the variations include but are not limited to:

• Weight variance is 5% but we do expect roboteers to adhere to the 150g rule where possible.
• A team may enter up to a maximum of 3 robots of either a Roller or a Walker type.
• A maximum of three team members is permitted.

Hope to see you there!

NOTE: This carries on from the Merseyside/Cheshire/North Wales social thread. If you have already signed all of your robots up, you do not need to sign that robot up again but if you have another entry you like to enter and haven't signed up with, then you do need register it.

Got myself signed up, so hopefully I'll be out there!

Awesome, glad to hear!

I've extended the signup date to the 30th of June to allow for any late entries so if anyone has not signed up yet, there is plenty of time to do so.

I've hit a slight snag. My battery was meant to arrive yesterday and still hasn't come. Now it's a very quick job to hook it all up (there's space and mounting holes for it already, 15 minute job at the very most). Buuut just in case it doesn't arrive by tomorrow (which will leave me with a battery that makes me 90 grams overweight) does anyone have a spare they'll be willing to lend/sell me?

Many thanks.

Theo, what you need? I have a 2s lipo for each bot (my third went up in smoke) I can let you use the one from the bot that isn't fighting if that helps any? I know it isn't ideal, but at 350mah they last very well anyway, just need to make sure it's within your fuse limits.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Theo

I've hit a slight snag. My battery was meant to arrive yesterday and still hasn't come. Now it's a very quick job to hook it all up (there's space and mounting holes for it already, 15 minute job at the very most). Buuut just in case it doesn't arrive by tomorrow (which will leave me with a battery that makes me 90 grams overweight) does anyone have a spare they'll be willing to lend/sell me?

Many thanks.

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As discussed on Discord. I'll bring my set of spares, then if you have none, they'll still be 3 batteries between us, two spares plus the one in 'Send Help!'. With a charger, i think we'll be fine with 3 between us.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Retroman

just need to make sure it's within your fuse limits.

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are fuses required in antweights / this competition? I didn't find anything about it in the AWS rules, or the amended set BotFest sent out - so i didn't add one to mine

I only have a fuse because it's LiPo, I thought it was a standard ruling across all classes? It helps that it's also my removable link.

I have a charger in my box too, I'm sure between us we can sort something out.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Retroman

I only have a fuse because it's LiPo, I thought it was a standard ruling across all classes? It helps that it's also my removable link.

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There was no fuse and a LiPo when i bought this AW, so i assumed it was fine due to not finding anything in the antweight world series rulebook.
I use a literal switch as the on/off.

Maybe I've misunderstood something then, either way, I got a fuse in mine, I suppose it can't hurt. Better safe than sorry.

I tried an on/off slide switch and the only one I had was too big, took up way too much room inside.

Antweights and below tend to follow the RW101 rules rather than FRA rules.

According to the FRA rules you do need a fuse, and as you say - it doesnt really hurt. Issue with using a link in Ants personally is they are incredibly fiddly. Again, doesnt hurt - but the rulesets run at AWS ect arnt as restrictive.

Ah, look at that, every day's a school day. Cheers for clearing that up for me, I must've mixed the 2 up in my head somewhere down the line.

Just wanted to say a massive thank you to Michael for putting on Bot Fest! Loved every second of it! Can’t wait for the next one now! Also need to say another thank you for all the help RetroMan gave me trying to get my Bots in order! Shame Baby Bronco was more of a Beetle weight than an Ant in the end hahaha but next time I’ll put him on a diet and get that weight down! Haha

Everyone was really helpful and was great to chat to people who knew a lot more than I about everything Bot-oreintated! Can’t wait to see the videos now :)

Bad Wolf

Just got back home, hooray for slow coaches back to Yorkshire!

Had lots of fun at what for me was my first AW event, i hope everyone enjoyed it as much as i did.
Hopefully the pilot will be considered a success, as i'd be more than happy to return back for another one!

Unfortunately 'Send Help!' got quite a bit of damage, all by the same spinner. Next time before i heartily agree to a whiteboard match against a spinner, i'll be sure i have a better bot up to the task next time!

Attachment 8325 Attachment 8326

At least now, it might finally get the help it asks for. The strip of acetate on the front certainly made it difficult to get under from that angle, shame about the rear!

I've already got some ideas for what to bring next time...

I agree, this has been a fantastic event, arguably my favourite. Something about the smaller nature simultaneously steps up the cameraderie and competition; I feel more motivated than ever to build a better robot now I know what the competition looks like. Massive thanks to Jon for that fantastic 3rd place playoff (gg), Adam for the spare battery, and of course Michael for making this all happen. Look forward to the next one! And be prepared......

I shall also chime in my thanks! A fun event well organised. Great to see you all. Hope to add a second bot for the next one.

big thanks from me, too! nice to be among roboteers with similar levels of experience, although that does mean i can't blame experience for my many losses. :P

will definitely sign up for the next one if it's not too far away

Another thanks post!

Thoroughly enjoyed the event, met some amazing people, and can't wait for the next event, Team Kaizen did a great job of keeping us rabble in check, there were plenty of fights and some decent banter.

Makes me want to build a 'proper 2nd and come back and try again.

Well, that was quite an event, wasn't it? :P

A massive thank you to everyone who participated in the pilot, it was really encouraging to see people come along to this, actively enjoy themselves and then be happy enough to post that they were :D I've not had a chance to go through the footage taken but I expect I'll have Heat A at least done by the end of the week.

I know a few people asked about when the next one will be. I've not really thought that far ahead but given the positive response here, I'll give some consideration as to the date of the next one.

I'm quite looking forward to the videos. :)

The venue was quite cool. Plugs, kettles, loos, a chippy in walking distance, and practically on the M53! Shame about the fire alarm, but it makes it memorable, eh? :p

I agree, the venue is very good, and plenty big enough too...

Yeah sorry about the fire alarm... I think that may have been my fault...

And as for videos, I'm pretty excited too, be cool to watch it again from a different angle

I'd have to second the event location, was certainly ideal and easy to get to, even for me coming from Yorkshire! Certainly be nice if we ended up back there.

I second this - It was a lovely and large venue which was so easy to access. The M53 was completely deserted (but £2.99 for a Pepsi Max at the service station, are you taking the piss?). It was a great atmosphere and perfect for an audience next time, if you think it's at that stage

Well it took a bit longer than I thought it would take (real life has a habit of getting in the way) but here are the videos from the pilot. Again, massive thank you to everyone that took part! There isn't anything definitive yet but we may run another BotFest event again at around the end of November time, keep an eye out for that.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bfao...ature=youtu.be

Hi Michael,
Will the second event include beetle weights (maybe non spinners)?

Hi Cliff,

It is unlikely I am afriad as I don't have anywhere to build or store a BW arena at the moment so the next event will more than likely be a AW only event again (subject to change of course). I suspect I will have somwhere for next year.

Could we bring bigger ones along to display again? Or would you rather maximise pit space? I may have a passable beetle finished by then you see...

And anyway, have watched footage through, it's brilliant! Thanks again for a good event and a good video, put me down for the next one too!

Actually I can bring along my complete middleweight if there's an audience, something on display for them to oogle at

Heavier weight robots are permitted for static display in the same manner as last time in so much as cradles/sharps protection would be mandatory. Beetleweights... I need to test running Shu! in it but in theory, I'd be OK with demonstrations of non-spinner robots within the AW arena as is. The issue is that with the roof on, the arena is 30cm tall.

good grief - my driving is terrible! :p

Looking forward to the next one. I'll try and practise in the meantime. :roll:

Looks great. Definitely want to attend the next one.i have a working beetle untested in battle and 80% of an ant. Which I could got working if I had a goal.