Talk to the FRA

[RogueTwoRobots]

When is the next meeting planned for? According to the last published minutes it was 7th March but there doesn't appear to be any signs of this happening. Just wondering what the updates were with the proposed beginner's build guide that was mentioned that people were writing articles/sections for. Main reason for asking is that I've had a fair few emails recently asking about the Rex's Robot Challenge issues that I scanned to PC. The website that used to host these is no longer online and while I can link them to my Photobucket account for copies of the issues, they are quite out-of-date in terms of components etc and if I could provide them with a complete, thorough, written-by-pros guide that features information on the latest technologies and components, I feel it would be of more benefit.

Just a couple of other things too. Current build rules are dated 2008 and therefore still allow 40MHz units for all weight classes etc. Maybe needing updated for anyone new visiting the site and having a read of the rules?

Also, from the minutes; A Wiki will be setup to allow members to create and maintain their own part of the site intended to be used to create how to guides, event reports and more.

Any progress on this? I think it would be a great addition and, in relation to the emails I've been getting, it would be a good resource that I could direct people to. The main FRA site has a few sections that haven't been touched in a while; maybe a bit of an update/makeover to tie in with the Wiki page?

Thanks in advance for any replies

[widow_twanky]

Not sure I like the whole 'points' thing for scoring. Personally I think it gives a good indication but then again I do think judges need the discretion to be able make a 'judge'ment on who has won.

ST Hammer for example will as a matter of course hit with the axe on every engagement. That said it doesn't mean that St Hammer is actually attacking or doing any damage. If you work by statistics you can have a fight where it is thrown about the arena but because of the impacts it makes would win.

My opinion, judging of fights should be subjective. I don't always agree with it but there ya go. If you have to dispute it then you've probably not done enough anyway (although we are having a team meeting soon about whether we'll dispute the result with Ripper at Barnsley or simply burn Jonno's tent down at RIAT )

Andy

[razerdave]

You say about St Hammer hitting with every engagement, have you seen how many times it clonks the floor ? :P

I agree that a certian amount of judging should be done but on set criteria, for example, damage is fairly evident, a flipper may get some for taking bits off with the flipper edge or bending up panels (ala Cabrakan), though do you define damage as parts coming off or as dents/holes ?

Aggression is to me a show of force, consistant attacking and not as much conservative measures

Style is hard to judge, things like a rolling self right like Merlin or Storm 2 would say to me thats stylish, because its a combo of function and intelligent driving to get away from a robot and re-couperate, plus I think it looks cool

Control is driving skill, dodging opponents weapons whilst being able to employ your own, tactical driving to get your oppoent stuck in awkward places, etc

Just my 2 cents

[Scorpionbuilder]

Hi All

Some very good questions have been put here, unfortunately I do not yet have all the answers some of you desire. I have today emailed the whole committee regarding these questions (and a few more). I would hope to get answers for you within a few days.

I just wanted you all to know that your questions & comments do matter as without you we are nothing.

John

[craig_colliass]

Many thanks John

Craig

[kane]

Also, from the minutes; A Wiki will be setup to allow members to create and maintain their own part of the site intended to be used to create how to guides, event reports and more.

Any progress on this? I think it would be a great addition and, in relation to the emails I've been getting, it would be a good resource that I could direct people to. The main FRA site has a few sections that haven't been touched in a while; maybe a bit of an update/makeover to tie in with the Wiki page?

Hi Jamie,

The Wiki will be happening soon. As will some other changes. I've been extremely busy lately handing over to my new job and now that is complete I'll have more time to spend on the website and forum.

Kane

[RogueTwoRobots]

Awesome stuff
Apologies if I sounded pushy in my last post, obviously day-to-day jobs are more important so understandably getting time to dedicate to doing stuff for this can be difficult.

Thanks for the reply

[Scorpionbuilder]

Hi All

The current Judging Guidelines from 2004 are as follows:

Damage: It is important that where a fight is judged on damage the judges need to be aware of any existing damage to a robot at the start of a fight. Cosmetic damage will not be taken into account such as scratches to paint or other finishes (polycarbonate etc) and minor dents. Serious structural or mechanical damage will count against a robot. If a robot ceases to function during a fight due to loss of the removable link or any other internal components then it should be counted as damage.

Aggression: Where a robot continually attacks its opponent, particularly where the attacker appears to be inferior technically to its opposite, for example a lightly armoured robot attacking a powerful spinning disc equipped robot.

Control: Where a driver demonstrates a good level of precision in his driving, for instance an attack is started on an opponent who tries to veer away but the attack is taken to full contact. Or conversely an attack by a robot is attempted but due to good avoidance by its opponent the attack fails.

Time faults: It is not permitted to hold or restrain an opponent for more than 30 seconds, for example where a hydraulic crushing weapon grips its opponent, or one robot pins its opponent the arena side or floor. If 2 or more robots become entangled or a crushing or gripping weapon is employed and becomes trapped within another robot then the competitors should make the timekeeper aware, the fight should be stopped and the robots separated by the safest means. The fight should then restart for the remaining time unless it is less than 10 seconds. The fight will then be judged to the point where the robots became trapped.

Knockout: Any robot that remains stationary for more than 30 seconds without being in contact with another robot will be deemed to have been knocked out. This rule will also apply to any robot that becomes trapped by any part of the arena.

Clusterbots, those that have 2 or more independant fighting segments, if one segment becomes immobile and or is completely damaged the complete machine will be deemed knocked out.

Out of the arena events, when a robot is thrown out of the arena. The bout will stop immediately, it is normal to awarded the bout to the robot that is still in the arena. Under certain circumstances when deemed by the judges that the robot still in the arena is semi-immobile or very badly damaged the judges may award the decision to the other robot.

Close decisions: If a decision is very close the judges may require that both competitors demonstrate that their robots work correctly by performing a figure of eight movement covering at least half the length of the arena and that their weapons, where fitted, still work.

The Judges decision is final

To me these rules seem pretty good, they could possibly do with a little bit of tweaking here and there. We have copied these here for you as they stand so that any suggestions or comments about them can be made, allowing us all to be happy with the ruleset that we end up endorsing.

we look forward to your ideas & suggestions

John

[Scorpionbuilder]

Hi all

You've seen the guidelines, here are my personal recommendations for how they should be altered. I have given them fair consideration & have used the information that I have gained from talking to yourselves at events and reading questions some of you have put on the forum.

Time faults: It is not permitted to hold or restrain an opponent for more than 30 seconds, for example where a hydraulic crushing weapon grips its opponent, or one robot pins its opponent the arena side or floor.

My recommendation:

Time faults: It is not permitted to hold or restrain an opponent for more than 30 seconds at any one time, for example where a hydraulic crushing weapon grips its opponent, or one robot pins its opponent to the arena side or floor.

Knockout: Any robot that remains stationary for more than 30 seconds without being in contact with another robot will be deemed to have been knocked out. This rule will also apply to any robot that becomes trapped by any part of the arena.

My recommendation:

Knockout: Any robot that remains stationary for more than 30 seconds without being in contact with another robot will be deemed to have been knocked out. This rule will also apply to any robot that becomes trapped by any part of the arena, thiis includes the pit: if a machine is put in the pit & is unable to extract itself within 30 seconds it will be deemed to be knocked out.

Out of the arena events, when a robot is thrown out of the arena. The bout will stop immediately, it is normal to awarded the bout to the robot that is still in the arena. Under certain circumstances when deemed by the judges that the robot still in the arena is semi-immobile or very badly damaged the judges may award the decision to the other robot.

My recommendation:

Out of the arena events: When a robot is thrown out of the arena the bout will stop immediately, the bout will then be awarded to the robot still in the arena no matter what its condition.

Finally I would like to see the following added:

It is preferable for all competition bouts to have 3 judges whenever possible.

I hope these are clear enough for you all, if any of you have any problems with the changes, or the guidelines as they stand, let us know, otherwise we will be looking to make this document the official FRA judging rules.

Thanks All

John

[beast]

My recommendation:

Time faults: It is not permitted to hold or restrain an opponent for more than 30 seconds at any one time, for example where a hydraulic crushing weapon grips its opponent, or one robot pins its opponent to the arena side or floor.

i would like to see if this happens at least one of the robots should go to the centre of the arean (well apart) from, each offer (ie like boxing etc) befor another attack is commenced.