robot wars

[gondorf]

just a thought but arent the robot wars robots almost the same size as the first robots?

i think that robot wars robots are way too expensive

[Capt.ArD]

those battlebots are made of some heavy-duty stuff. I recall one of the original battlebots champions "biohazard" had 1/2 inch-ish titanium plating on it. they also probably have more expensive parts, and need frequent replacements due to so much intentional damage. I'm sure there are plenty of things under the armor that jack up the price tag.

I really miss those old shows. Battlebots, robot wars, junkyard wars. Fun stuff.

[Greg Needel]

I can tell you from experience that the robots are the same size if not bigger (although there are smaller ones also). While you may think that battle bots is expensive most of the battle bots folks think the same about FIRST. When you build a bot for the most part it will be good for years while FIRST robots have a limited life span. I still think that some people put too much money into their bots for combat it is all relative, Though i have never heard of a FIRST team putting $30,000 into their robot alone.

[gondorf]

i have heard of robot wars and junkyard wars but what is battlebots? i have never heard of it

[mechanicalbrain]

Their motors are also super heavy duty. I think biohazard uses a $800 motor for it's spinning blade! Interestingly enough, a bunch of Battlebots use FIRST parts and a few of the builders used to do FIRST back in the day.

[MikeJ675]

Combat bots can be tiny-
(1lb)
A bit bigger-
(12lb)
even bigger-
(60lb)
or even really freakin' huge-
(488lb walker 'Mechadon' from battlebots)

The top three are mine, the others are not.

Their motors are also super heavy duty. I think biohazard uses a $800 motor for it's spinning blade! Interestingly enough, a bunch of Battlebots use FIRST parts and a few of the builders used to do FIRST back in the day.

Unless Carlos made any changes, he uses S28-400 Magmotors for the drive in Biohazard. Oddly enough, Bio recently came out of retirement for the Combots Cup, which took place a few months ago. Bio's first fight was against megabyte, and Bio left in pieces. Carlo fixed it and fought again later that day. Video will be posted of that fight shortly.

Battlebots and Robot Wars are dead or near dead. The RFL is the new top organization. Competitions nation wide are under the RFL banner, and each year they hold a national championships event(which ran along side the Combots Cup at the Fort Mason Center a few months ago)

EDIT- Here's the video. Working on a best hits of the event movie right now. Biohazard Vs. Megabyte

[mechanicalbrain]

Originally Posted by MikeJ675

Unless Carlos made any changes, he uses S28-400 Magmotors for the drive in Biohazard. Oddly enough, Bio recently came out of retirement for the Combots Cup, which took place a few months ago. Bio's first fight was against megabyte, and Bio left in pieces. Carlo fixed it and fought again later that day. Video will be posted of that fight shortly.

Sorry could have sworn he used the PERM but after going back turns out I was wrong. Another thing to consider is that a lot of these robots are sponsored like us. Still, yeah they can be expensive. I seem to remember reading about a Battlebot mage from a bedframe and had a go kart motor to power it.

[JBotAlan]

Originally Posted by gondorf

i have heard of robot wars and junkyard wars but what is battlebots? i have never heard of it

Battlebots used to be pretty big on the Discovery Channel and others, I think, but I haven't seen it for around 5 years. Come to think of it, I haven't seen any of these recently...wish I could buy them on DVD or something, but there isn't much call for these.

EDIT: Here's their website: http://www.battlebots.com/

[MikeJ675]

Heres a video of some bigger hits with MSI's B*tches as the background music(some swearing, you were warned)

Big Hits

[Justin M.]

I've been involved with combat robotics before I even was in FIRST - in fact its what has got me interested in robotics in the first place...

I've built a bunch of bots, there are a TON of weight classes:

Antweights - 1lb. some of these bots are insane, they can do so much damage and have so much power yet only weigh 1 pound...
Beetleweights - 3lbs.
Hobbyweights - 12lbs.
Featherweights - 30lbs.
Lightweights - 60lbs.
Middleweights - 120lbs.
Heavyweights - 220lbs.
Superheavyweights - 220lbs.+

Actually, combat robotics can be a lot less expensive than FIRST. The electronics are simpler, for even a HW robot can run on Victor 883's for the motor controllers. Most bots run a signal booster attached to the Victors, then controlled with a simple FM or PCM hobby radio system. Also, there are no specific components that need to be used, most builders can pick up parts at Surplus stores, their garage, even Kmart...
And lastly, competitions are a lot cheaper than FIRST, usually between 5-20 bucks depending on the weight class.....

If anyone wants to check combat robotics out, I HIGHLY suggest building an antweight robot. They are very inexpensive, they generally can cost about 600 bucks for an ellaborate robot w/ a radio transmitter, but can cost as low as maybe 2-300 bucks for a simpler one. They also are quite easier to build, as in antweights you can get away with duct tape, loctite, or even hot glue on the components of your robot.....

Check out http://www.robotmarketplace.com they have some nice ant kits and lots of other cool robot things.

[MattD1Drift]

Robot Wars Heavyweights *which are televised* weigh in at 100 kilograms, Aka 220lbs.

[JVGazeley]

The limit was 80kg until Series 4 I think... 100kg after that. Walkers could be double the normal limit. For comparison, FIRST Robots must weigh below about 53kg (if I can recall my Imperial-Metric conversion correctly from last year) which would place them at about the maximum limit for Middleweights.

Mortis and Razer both cost around £30,000 if memory recalls, compared to the maximum cost of $3,500 for a FIRST Robot (See Section 5 rule <R49>)

[Greg Perkins]

Right now, I'm conspiring to build a 12 pound and a 60 pound.

Greg Needel and myself I hope will tackle them after this season of FIRST is over.

[Andy Baker]

Originally Posted by JVGazeley

Mortis and Razer both cost around £30,000 if memory recalls, compared to the maximum cost of $3,500 for a FIRST Robot (See Section 5 rule <R49>)

Not exactly. The $3,500 "cost for a FIRST Robot" is for materials and parts in addition to things provided in the kit. This $3,500 does not include any motors, 4 Victors, 1 Robot Controller, 1 pneumatic system, 2 gearboxes, 1 kit frame (etc., etc.).

I believe FIRST says that there is over $10,000 in each FIRST kit.

Andy B.