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kkeerroo
Experienced Roboteer
Joined: 17 Jun 2004
Posts: 1459
Location: Brisbane
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Here are some things I don't like:
1.2.5 INNOVATIVE ROBOTS
BattleBots wants to encourage unusual and creative robot designs. College and Professional
Teams can apply to enter a robot that uses innovative and novel design features, even if that robot
does not meet all the requirements in these Rules.
(So what is point of having rules in the first place?)
2.1.1 NON-WALKER WEIGHTS
Non-walking BattleBots Entry Classes are defined by their measured weight, as follows:
a. College-Class Maximum Weight: 120.0 pounds
b. Professional-Class Maximum Weight: 220.0 pounds
2.1.2 STOMPBOT WEIGHTS
A robot that uses walking locomotion may qualify as a "StompBot", and be allowed the following
weights:
a. College-Class StompBot Maximum Weight: 160.0 pounds
b. Professional-Class StompBot Maximum Weight: 300.0 pounds
(Only 2 weight classes?)
2.2.2 SPEED/MOBILITY REQUIREMENTS
A BattleBot has to be able to move at a speed of at least two feet-per-second in an approximately straight line.
(Does this include walkers?)
2.4.1 SAFETY COVERS
Safety Covers are pads or blocks mounted on all external sharp points, corners and edges on the
exterior of a BattleBot, installed such that they will prevent injury to someone bumping or striking
those parts.
(So the robot must be completely covered in the pits?)
2.8.4 WARNING MARKERS
BattleBots using certain components or systems are required to have special color-coded markers
permanently attached and clearly visible on both the top and bottom of the BattleBot. Each marker
has a minimum size of 2 by 2 inches and may be larger. Depending upon the BattleBot’s
configuration, it may require more than one marker type as follows:
a. A BattleBot with a pneumatic system requires Red Markers.
b. A BattleBot using High Voltage Electronics requires Blue Markers.
c. A BattleBot using Lithium-Polymer batteries requires Yellow Markers.
BattleBots Inc. will supply the appropriate markers.
(I guess this is for the arena marshals. Why can't they just be told this before the robots enter the arena?)
3.2.4 RULE CHANGE DATE
Effective July 1, 2009, Legacy Radio Control Equipment will no longer be allowed to be used at any
BattleBots Tournament.
(This means no AM/FM/PCM gear can be used after this date.)
4.2.3 ACTIVATION/DEACTIVATION CONDITIONS
To minimize risk to personnel, the Activation and Deactivation sequences cannot require:
a. More than one person to perform each sequence.
b. A person to place any body part in the path of any weapon system or any other powered part
of a BattleBot that can cause injury.
c. A person to place any body part inside the external frame or shell of a BattleBot.
d. A person or a BattleBot to balance or be balanced in any unstable position.
e. The installation or removal of any panels, covers or fasteners from a BattleBot, other than the
Safety Covers and Restraints.
(This means about 90% of Australian robots wont pass safety inspection.)
7.2.3 MAXIMUM ACTUATION PRESSURE
The maximum pneumatic actuation pressure that can be used aboard a BattleBot is:
a) 1000psi
(So I must put a regulator on my full pressure CO2 system?)
7.5.7 CUSTOM COMPONENTS
Custom-made or custom-modified pneumatic components may be used in a BattleBot's pneumatic
system. The Entrant is required to supply data sheets and/or computations and/or certified hydrotesting
results to prove that the custom component is properly designed and built to have a burst
pressure that is 300% of the maximum pressure that the component will be subjected to during
operation.
(300%!!! How will it ever get to 300% in the robot?)
7.7.1 TANK PRESSURE
Every pressure storage tank is required to have a calibrated pressure gauge which allows reading
the unregulated gas pressure in that tank.
(A gauge on a CO2 tank tells you nothing.)
7.7.5 PRESSURE TEST ACCESSIBILITY
Gaining access to and reading of any gauge/test-point pressure cannot require:
a. More than 60 seconds.
b. Placing any body part in the path of any weapon system or powered part of the BattleBot.
c. The use of external mirrors or other special tools. Use of a flashlight is acceptable.
Each gauge face must be oriented toward the viewing position, so that there is minimum parallax
distortion of the reading.
(this means a gauge must be on top of the robot.)
9.1 ACTIVE WEAPON REQUIREMENT
All BattleBots are required to have at least one actively-powered weapon system clearly designed to
work by either taking control of the opposing BattleBot (e.g., lifting, grabbing), or by damaging
through direct physical contact (e.g., hammers, flippers, spinners, drums).
(Flame weapons are not classed as active weapons. Also no wedges, bricks, thwackbots or "melty brain" type robots.)
9.5.3 MAXIMUM KE WEAPON SPEED
Any KE Weapon on a BattleBot has to be designed and built such that the fastest moving part(s) of
the weapon do not exceed 400 feet-per-second.
(Why?) _________________ Get Some!!!
Secretary of the Queensland Robotics Sports Club inc.
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Fri Oct 10, 2008 7:51 pm |
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Fish_in_a_Barrel
Joined: 30 Sep 2006
Posts: 673
Location: Perth, Western Australia
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I'm not a pneumatics person, but even I can see that some of those rules are counter productive. I lolled at the colours, racing stripes anyone?
The KE speed is stupid, if it is to limit Kinetic energy, then it should LIMIT KINETIC ENERGY. No, BS just provide an MOI and max rotational speed with your robots weapon.
I like most of the active weapon requirement, but think that it should be ammended with the KE energy requirement, and possibly just place a minimum KE required. This would remove the boring wedges and bricks, while still allowing for the highly developed ones. _________________ They say that he crossed the fine line, from insanity to genius.
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Fri Oct 10, 2008 8:49 pm |
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Spockie-Tech
Site Admin
Joined: 31 May 2004
Posts: 3160
Location: Melbourne, Australia
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Rules are one thing, Practical enforcement is another.
Its quite likely that a lot of these safety rules are butt-covering escape-clauses for the purposes of Insurance.
"Oh you just lost a hand to your robot and would like to sue us.. ? Well, according to paragraph 4, subsection 3, your hand should have been covered with a titanium glove and had its movements approved in advance and signed off on by the chief-activation-supervisor after comittee review", so I'm sorry, you broke the rules and therefore dont have a case.. bye
Remember what a famously litigous bunch the yanks can be, and that you're also just as likely to be sued by little johnny-in-the-audiences mum for exposing her innocent little darling to the horror of seeing someone get hurt, and here is my bill for $400k of counselling for him to get over his subsequent fear of butter knifes.
BattleBots rules have always been ridiculuously over the top, specifying what sized wire and nuts you should use to hold down your batteries and lots of other "welll, duh.." comments.. so after getting used to the relative simplicity and sanity of the RFL rules, they are going to look like teaching granny to suck eggs again..
(or, after reading the thread again.. what Nick said ) _________________ Great minds discuss ideas. Average minds discuss events. Small minds discuss people
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Sat Oct 11, 2008 9:15 am |
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