Re: RFC on battlebot idea

Post #34,018 by pwhysall 4/1/02 2:16:57 PM 4/1/02 2:18:19 PM Reply	Re: RFC on battlebot idea Hrm. Based on what I've seen of spinning weapons and bots in Robot Wars here in the UK, it's basically a Bad Idea. Here's why. First up, to make a truly effective spinny thing, you need a powerful motor that's got enough torque to not stop the second it hits something - and you need to put enough battery in the bot to power it. Secondly, control is a massive issue - even when everything's perfect, these things are bastards to drive. If you brought your design to the UK, a flipping robot like [link\|http://www.robotmayhem.com/vip/s4robots.php?id=1001\|Chaos II] (which has high speed, a very powerful flipper and excellent driveability - and a truly gifted driver) or a crusher like [link\|http://www.robotmayhem.com/vip/s4robots.php?id=1575\|Razer] (hugely powerful crushing arm - something like 9000KG of pressure) would basically trash it fairly quickly. I've been watching RW since season one and successful bots have key characteristics: 1. They can either drive upside down or have a SRiMech (Self Righting Mechanism). Or, like Behemoth, just weigh lots and be hard to tip. 2. They don't have complex weapons. Flippers and axes are the best - although the [link\|http://www.robotmayhem.com/vip/s4robots.php?id=1508\|Hypnodisc] bot has a 6000RPM spinning disc and is notable as the only successful robot with a weapon of this type. 3. Traction, traction, traction. You've gotta be able to push the enemy around. 4. Durability is worth more than anything - [link\|http://www.robotmayhem.com/vip/s4robots.php?id=1494\|Behemoth] has basically no weapons and no speed, but it's got huge traction and is basically indestructible. 5. Ground clearance is critical - you need to be low enough to make it difficult for a flipper to chuck you around, but high enough that you don't get caught at funny angles against obstructions, unable to get a wheel to the ground. 6. Speed is cool, but coupled with a dodgy control system it's a recipe for disaster. There have only been a couple of successful, fast bots. 7. Control. All the successful bots seem to be easy and predictable to drive, and their R/C systems are reliable. Check out [link\|http://www.robotwars.co.uk\|The UK Robot wars web site]. Warning - looks like a sack of shite in Galeon, but is functional. Needs Java for an irritating little scroller app in the top left corner. Peter Shill For Hire [link\|http://www.kuro5hin.org\|There is no K5 Cabal] Edited by pwhysall April 1, 2002, 02:18:19 PM EST Expand All History
Post #34,021 by drewk 4/1/02 2:35:03 PM Reply	Different goal Robot wars involves navigating a course. The American [link\|http://www.battlebots.com/\|BattleBots] is head-to-head combat. The biggest difference though IMO is that some of the American bots cost over $20,000 to build. [link\|http://www.battlebots.com/meet_the_robots/meet_robot_specs.asp?id=26\|Biohazard] comes to mind. And things like [link\|http://www.battlebots.com/meet_the_robots/meet_robot_specs.asp?id=617\|Son of Whyachi] have weapons that can take apart reinforced concrete without flinching. In this setup, manuverability takes a back seat to offensive power. All hail the knockout hit. === I can't be a Democrat because I like to spend the money I make. I can't be a Republican because I like to spend the money I make on drugs and whores.
Post #34,704 by tseliot 4/8/02 10:51:20 AM Reply	Designing to win isn't everything, though. For example, we took Rocky Bot Boa to RW:EW, and although it did quite well (except for a questionable judges' decision), it was basically just a big brick of C-channel. It beat every bot out there, but there's not a single builder (or producer) I know who would say "what a cool robot". There was some open animosity against the builder of Rocky for Not Being Creative. One of the most annoying things about building these days is it's getting so boring. We're down to wedges and spinners, and the tech heads of BB and RW (and Robotica, and BotBash, and ...) are doing everything in their power to change that. Go ahead and build your jumper, your spinner (IIRC Mauler 5150 drove this way, you're not alone), your creative masses yearning to breathe free. Just do it on a show with an appearance fee (eg RW:EW), not a contest prize (eg BB). --------------------------------- A stupid despot may constrain his slaves with iron chains; but a true politician binds them even more strongly by the chain of their own ideas;...despair and time eat away the bonds of iron and steel, but they are powerless against the habitual union of ideas, they can only tighten it still more; and on the soft fibres of the brain is founded the unshakable base of the soundest of Empires." Jacques Servan, 1767
Post #34,706 by drewk 4/8/02 11:22:30 AM Reply	If we're going for cool ... My favorite is still [link\|http://stage.onlyagame.org/photogallery/battlebots/images/photo3.jpg\|Mechadon]. Best looking bot yet, but completely unsuitable to combat. === I can't be a Democrat because I like to spend the money I make. I can't be a Republican because I like to spend the money I make on drugs and whores.
Post #34,765 by tseliot 4/8/02 4:20:50 PM Reply	Man, that thing was heavy Trey kinda fudged the weight limits for that one, just because it was So Cool. IIRC it was 425 lbs? We picked it up on the way to BB2K in San Fran; they had to drive it out on a forklift...sharp corners and all that. I don't think it was completely unsuited to combat--remember the Big Fight it had with Trey's Ginsu? The only reason Mark lost that fight was he couldn't get the thing righted when it got knocked on its butt first time. And the only reason he couldn't do that was he had added a steel plate horizontally on the butt minutes before the fight: it made a perfect tripod out of his bot. Cryin shame, it was. Ginsu pretty much destroyed himself wanging on Mechadon. P.S. Look for Mark Setrakian's day-job work in the upcoming MIB II. --------------------------------- A stupid despot may constrain his slaves with iron chains; but a true politician binds them even more strongly by the chain of their own ideas;...despair and time eat away the bonds of iron and steel, but they are powerless against the habitual union of ideas, they can only tighten it still more; and on the soft fibres of the brain is founded the unshakable base of the soundest of Empires." Jacques Servan, 1767

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