Encouraging International Competition / Harmonizing Rules

[stu]

Tricky subject there Eddy. Like Alan said above, alot of people have spent alot of time and money getting their robots down to 12kg. Also it is widly known a Feather Weight is 12kg, and has been since RW UK first started. I know which side of the fence i will be on if that disscussion takes place.

Ian those switches WERE allowd in RW, un till about Series 5 i think it was - they banned them as there were many times in the area where a switch broke and could not turn the robot off to be taken to the pits safely. Removable Links all the way. Dont like it, build a link which does not fail or fall out - many teams have done this, see no reason why not everyone else can.

Mr Stu
FeatherWeights.org Crew

[fwsorg]

I have received several emails on the subject, and there seems to be a fialrly common concensus.

Re: radio swapping- this seems to have gone down quite well- quite a neat solution. It could also work two ways should we cross the pond. Im going to look into getting a radio with a frequency module so that I can be US-proof.

Links- a no budge zone it would seem- The piece of mind and safety advantage offered by a link is far superior to a switch. I dont think theres much room for manouver on this one.

Weight Limit- it is a lot easier to make a 12kg robot 13.36kg (30lb), than a 13.36kg robot 12kg. In the immediate future, should we have feather events with a substantial no. of US feathers, I think we should have a 30lb weight limit- I think geoff put it best: It would mean adding 1.36Kg to a 12Kg machine (not hard to do)!

In the long term, if events start becoming more international, then I would propose we increase the weight limit, or at least meat somewhere in the middle. The arguements Im beginning to hear for keeping the 12kg weight limit are identical to the ones wheeled out when the heavy weight limit went up to 100kg from 80kg- and that has been a definate success, despite everyone saying it would bring about the end of the sport. Of course Im thinking far off here- were no way near this stage yet, but increasing ties with other countries is no doubt a good thing in my opinion- Belgium and Holland are testiment to this- the standard of the dutch robots is terrifying! A standard set of rules for the world would be a good thing I think. That leaves the option open of traveling to events all over the world- imagine if you were going on holiday to america, and you found out that there was a motorama or nerc or bot bash by the sea or what have you only 20 minutes away to be held whilst youre there- I know I certainly wouldnt
be able to resist the temptation to pack the featherweight!

[geoff]

My appolgies...Clearly my maths is slipping..30lb = 13.60Kg
So I have just found you all another 240g!!

[stu]

LOL!!!!
Well the post about the FRA Word Championship states the FRA rules will be in use. After talkng to a few people, the rules will not be changed. Power lights are needed (not hard) a removable link is needed, there safer, and weight classes stay the same.

Mr Stu

[fwsorg]

Sure sure- FRA rules for this event. Im thinking more long-term here- certainly there are issues with changing FRA rules to do with the insurance that covers the rules. Out of interest, how often will the rules be up for review?

[shredderteam]

It may have slipped peoples notice, but the FRA rules are actually far closer to the American RFL rules than anything produced prior to them.
This was done very deliberately in order to make cross Atlantic competition easier.

Nearly all of the rules that have been modified for the FRA were modified either because of the difference in laws over here, or because the solution they are using has already been proved unsafe via issues with past events.

Ill answer the main points raised at the start of the thread:

1. Weight classes do need to be standardised over time, but Id suggest the 12kg limit is the far easier one to stick to.

2. The radio frequencies is none negotiable Im afraid, the ones we are using are the only ones legally available in this country.

3. The power light indicator section of the rules is due an update in version 1.2, the failsafe indicator is being moved to advisory status and only the main power light will be mandatory.

4. Removable links are again none negotiable; there have been far to many situations where the keys have snapped. Popping of links is not an issue from a safety point of view, its just irritating for the builder.. the onus is on the builder to make sure it doesnt happen.

Hope that helps

Sam
FRA safety executive

[geoff]

Sam,
Whats the problem with a temporary weight change on the feathers to help out our friends across the pond? Seems a little mean to me. as you know I fully support the light/link/radio policy as these are directly related to safety, but whats 1.6Kg between friends? Hardly a safety concern, could we not call it a guesture of goodwill?

[typhoon_driver]

why not go half way and call it 800g?

[s8nsmum]

I agree with Geoff, bring it on, overweight or not, well still take em. Grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr

Joe Townsend

PS. Can I still add extra armour? Please.......