Out of control

just wondered and also a recommendation for eos/parents, after watching some footage i filmed at an event it brought back something i was concerned about.

if anyone else has had thoughts about out of control kids in the pits? i always make sure my 9 year old daughter is always kept under control, i appreciate us parents are busy fixing robots etc..but i can see a accident waiting to happen, i came back to my fw robot at one event to find kids picking it up looking underneath it and stuff. would hurt if it landed on the foot!

i agree, i can get abit annotying and in cramped areas a bit dangerous too

One thing I have noticed is that no-one has actually explained to me the rules in the pits in terms of safety.

Maybe there should be a requirement for new roboteers to arrive half an hour earlier than everyone else and undertake an induction prior to their first event. Or at the very least a sheet indicating dos and donts.

Its on the web sites in the event rules but how many kids read them?

Andy

All event organisers give a prep talk to roboteers before any event. This should include health and safety at their event.

I had a slight issue when a few kids where running through the back of the arena when I was filming with the expensive camera equipment at Robots live Leicster.
I just asked them nicely if they could play some where else and that was that.
There are many places where kids can play at events , but I agree the pits shouldnt be one of them.

I noticed a similar situation at Thinktank in December, kids running behind and in/out of the black curtains round the side of the pits. All it needed was for a kid to trip on the curtains and land on a robot or other sinister implement used in roboteering for an accident to occur.

However I dont expect the EOs to constantly be aware of the situation especially considering that theyre busy keeping the event running smoothly and punctually. All it needs though is for us roboteers to be vigilant and help prevent any accidents by warning the kids of the dangers of running about in the pits. Yes theyre kids, its in their nature to be hyper and expend energy but echoing posts above, the pits isnt the place for it.

i agree jamie, i had a hot soldering iron in my hand with a kid consitantly driving a remote control car around me and into my legs. but i am a parent and keep an eye on my daughter at events, sometimes i dont feel its my place to tell off someone elses child

(Message edited by promo robots on February 12, 2008)

I agree with you all there -these things havnt gone un-noticed by event organiser. At Thinktank these people were told alot of times to stop it, but we cant see it every minute of the event. And at Robots live, they were told aswell. There is only so much event organisers can do, i feel the parents should keep their children under control in the pits - im sure it does state somewhere in the rules that no one under the ages of 16 is allowed in the pits without parental control.
The other thing we will be clamping down on is people playing with these K-nex robots in the gangways. It keeps happeneing at all events now and its not just young kids doing it. I have no problem with them playing with them, just not in any gangway in the pits.

Every show, I go through the rules with my 10-year-old son Zack, about not touching robots, not running in the pits, or causing any obstruction or interference to other roboteers in the pits.
If anyone finds him infringing on any of the rules, please let me know as I can guarantee he will be sorry after I have spoken to him. He knows access to the pits is a privilege most people don€™t have, and I can and will remove that privilege from him if he misbehaves.

Thanks

I agree with that Craig, I explained the be careful, no running rule and I believe that my 9 year old abided by those rules, and if he didnt then I wouldnt mind if he was told off, or brought to me for a telling off.

He was a little confused when, after telling an adult roboteer dont worry that you lost to be told in return get lost, but I suppose thats one of the side effect of mixing with loads of adults.

The event guidelines state Children under the age of 16 must be supervised by parent/guardian at all
times. The pit is a working environment - failure to do so could result in disqualification and/or you being asked to leave the pit area.

Well I respect that rule, but constant supervision is a little tricky, although I did have my eye on him 80% of the time.

Simon

Having no children of my own, yet being quite fond of them tykes anyway, I usually do keep an eye out for the little ones. Indeed, it is not my place to tell them off, but I noticed that a polite and gentle rebuke can work wonders. Especially the polite part. Them little buggers never expect it and it leaves them dumbfounded to no end (much to my own mirth of course) !

I heartedly applaud parents that bring their children to their hobbies. Not only may it provide them with some quality time together, but the youngsters can actually pick up knowledge from watching and aiding their parents. And if they do need some play time, ah well, theyre a bit like claymore mines... just point them towards a safe direction and let them happily explode.

That said, it is the responsibility of the parents to state clearly the rules towards their beloved offspring, just as it is the responsibility of the event organisers to state clearly the rules towards the roboteers. But the reverse is also true: one should listen carefully when the rules are being explained. At the briefing we usually get before the event actually starts all safety issues are usually outlined in great detail. Pay heed roboteers of all ages !

i think that the reason younger children run around is usually becuase there isne anything to do. when the event starts they are either controlling robots or watching

Adrian and Craig, never had a problem with your children, and most are well behaved. Like Grant says there is only so much the event crew can do, but we will always jump in if it looks dangerous to anyone.

I am to blame for the whole Knex robot (K*bots) thing, and I will endeavour to bring my K*bot arena to an event so they fight in that and not on the floor :)

Its not soo bad if they are the floor, but only if they are well out the way of people and robots to trip over.
Although a seperate arena the the right place would be better. Ask the organisers at an event if they mind and where they believe is safest for it to be put.

them knex bots r well good

shud make 1 wt drives n a flipper

Ill bring my kit and a division 3 unit along next time :)

(Division 3 are infared controlled motorised units, very popular at K*bot events)

Info about us at http://www.kbotworld.comwww.kbotworld.com

I totally agree that the children must behave in a safe and sensible manner in the pits. My son is 7 and at his first event i asked Pete Lale to take him to one side and have a safety chat with him, this has stuck with him, however he is a child and like all children gets excited.This said if anyone sees him behaving in a dangerous manner please tell him and then me before he has or causes an accident. The threat of being grounded from the next event will scare him witless.
Elisabeth I think it is the kids bringing us along to their hobby, we just fund it.:lol:

its the adults we should be keeping an eye

these big boys with there toys :mrgreen: