Battlebots

They just announced a battlebots 2011 event in miami florida

There is also a 15lb pro class listed.

I thought they made it 15 pounds to avoid pros getting into it?!

So...you coming down?

febuary... definitly not

plus thats right around where motorama and its two hours away now

I may be down. I left Copperhead in FL for that reason. Oh, and that's TOTALLY me in the photo they used. haha

Are active weapons required?
I want this to be made perfectly clear to everyone (last time there was some ugliness)

Is a melty considered to have an active weapon?

Anyone can say...hey I can spin my bot, so its a melty

according to page 25 of the bb HS 120 rules:

A BattleBots Robot contains two basic types of systems:
1) Mobility System: Used to move the robot around the BattleBox.
2) Weapon System: Designed to damage, restrain or otherwise incapacitate an opponent.
9.1.2 ACTIVE WEAPON DEFINITION
A BattleBots Robot must contain at least one Weapon System that meets all the following
requirements:
a. POWERED ACTUATION
Each Weapon System must be actively powered either by an independent actuator, or by linkage
to a Mobility System power source.
b. SEPARATE CONTROL
On the remote controller, all Weapon Systems must be activated or controlled by levers or
switches that operate separately from the Mobility System controls.
c. INDEPENDENT OPERATION
The robot must be able to demonstrate that it can actuate its Weapon System(s) while
simultaneously moving around the BattleBox in a controlled manner in multiple directions.
d. EFFECTIVENESS
A Weapon System can demonstrate that it has sufficient power and/or energy to lift, damage,
restrain or otherwise incapacitate a robot of similar weight.
Note: The BattleBots Tournament Rules contain additional information on the determination of
weapon effectiveness and other Active Weapon issues.
_____________________________________________________________________________________

in my opinion you meet the the independent operation because that is the concept of a melty to be able to spin while translating.

you also meet effectiveness if they are as powerfull as you say they are.

you may be ok with with powered actuation since its linked to the mobility system

the only problem i see is seperate controls.

While I am practically certain that a melty (translational drifter) qualifies as an active weapon (even if it does not technically qualify as having separate controls), I think this needs to be verified.

Other than calling Nola (who will probably say "sure!' to just about anything), does anyone here know what the proper course of action would be?

Maybe just enter it, trash a bunch of bots and the arena and then ask if it qualifies as having an active weapon?....

I think that email and possibly video to the BBots officials and an official response is needed and that is what I recommended to Paul, before attempting to build 1.

Otherwise, enter in the pro class or take it to robogames.

I see Ziggo or Megabyte written all over this thing.....but that's just my opinion...

Also, seeing a 120 ping pong off the walls at the speed of light would have to be a highlight of any event

i love ziggo, the first time i saw it fight was the first time i really wanted to build a combat robot

fwiw

the battlebots/botsiq event will be held at the Coconut grove convention center form Feb 22 to the 27th

It got pushed back a week in order to have it at the CGCC...rather than elsewhere.

So, while the battlebots site doesn't seem to be updated, this seems to be the latest plan

It also means that I can go to Moto and still attend botsiq.....coool....

YES!!!!!

this also means that I might be able to enter my 12 melty as a 15 in the pro class...

just add a 3 pound knocker to it....lol

mind you, there may be nothing left of it after Moto...

plus the 8 x 8 arena isn't a melty goldmine either

OK Dan......

You in for a road trip since it does not conflict with Moto ?????

I have a lot of planning to do here and it is either Battlebots or NRL Finals....

Either way, the money will be about the same....

Maybe a little more help going to BattleBots with RJ being down in that area.

Only thing that scares me is the amount of time between events....

Looks like it will be a busy Spring with
Moto on the 3rd week of Feb....
Battlebots the 4th week of Feb.....
BotsIQ PA Prelims the 3rd week of march......
DTMA 2nd weekend in April....
BotsIQPA 3rd weekend in April...

I'll just put it this way, I will need as much help as possible in order to hit all of these....


FRISCO

If you do commit to Moto and BB, Ihope that you can do any possible repairs in between, if necessary.

I'm down here if there's anything I can do to help....should you elect to attend BB.

Keep in mind that our 15 pound arena down here is only 8' x 8', so it is very small

8x8 is just asking for pinball destruction

with absolutely NO ledge or ejection, it could work either way...BUt I think that with the 1/4" alu kickplate, that the melty would take the arena down quick, fast and in a hurry.

I might actually find out in 2 weeks. there is an event at a local highschool, and I may do a melty demo, vs my 12 drumbot...could be the end of both and save me the trip to Moto