What is a walker?

**ewan** · 15th April 2013, 16:18

Surely it's obvious why the rule was changed - 100% bonus was too much for a machine like Anarchy (given they weren't even close to their 200kg potential). A middle-ground bonus for 1DOF cam mechanisms would make sense though.

A 2DOF beetleweight walker would be very easy at the moment, just base it on any number of (usually six legged) kits: http://www.active-robots.com/robots/bipeds
For a combat machine I imagine at least six legs would be needed for sufficient stability.

**ewan** · 15th April 2013, 16:29

Here's what one of the most basic 2DOF six-legged kits can do: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=beIyKFXB4Os

Details here: http://www.lynxmotion.com/c-145-ah2.aspx

If you were clever you could have one motor operate all leg forward/back movements on one side and another motor for the other side. You'd still need motors/actuators for each leg to achieve up/down movement as well though

**craig_colliass** · 15th April 2013, 17:36

Originally Posted by ewan

Surely it's obvious why the rule was changed - 100% bonus was too much for a machine like Anarchy ..

Obvious! Not to me Anarchy was so good ...........................IT LOST!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

**ewan** · 15th April 2013, 17:53

It really wouldn't have taken many changes for it or a similar machine to be dominant at 200kg, I believe this is the reason why Robot Wars rules changed between series 6 and 7 (do I remember that correctly? so many years ago!). It's become a cliché now but the relatively easy to build 1DOF drive plus full-body-spinner combination emphasises how a 100% bonus would really be too much.

**ewan** · 15th April 2013, 17:57

Oh how could I forget the US example of the Heavyweight 'Son of Whyachi' http://www.teamwhyachi.com/sow.htm which won Battlebots in 2001 with a 1DOF shuffler mechanism and a massive fbs style cage. Battlebots changed their rules after that

**typhoon_driver** · 15th April 2013, 18:29

I am in complete agreement that 100% is too much for a 1DOF walker. As stated earlier, 25 or 30% increase for that mechanism would be fair. You are essentially getting your motion for free in the weight allowance. The above hexapod would be tricky initially to build but you could put a big disc over the top of it and have a serious contender

**Bacon Wizard** · 15th April 2013, 20:13

Originally Posted by craig_colliass

Obvious! Not to me Anarchy was so good ...........................IT LOST!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Anarchy is one of my other fave bots in the UK ever actually. But even if current regs allowed that style of build, I definitely feel that it should have been disqualified for running on its gear-train once the legs were gone. A walker should ONLY walk.

**ewan** · 15th April 2013, 20:23

Anarchy didn't do that, I think you're thinking of the much smaller Scuttle?

**craig_colliass** · 15th April 2013, 20:24

'Son of Whyachi' is, and has always been, a shufflebot in my opinion. This thread is dealing with walkers. so I can't see it has anything to do with this subject, however it is a great robot.

History has shown the best walker with 1DOM was below average on the score card.
the robots with 2DOM didn't make it across the arena.
I believe the 2DOM is a bad rule, born out of prejudice, and fear of what could happen but never has.