So I have been thinking about this style of competition for a while now. Mostly in the sense of filming on a feather scale for a TV show. However I would like to try it for ants in just a backyard setting to see if everyone likes it and to sort out how the rules should work. I think it would be a fun build day that takes limited preparation on the robot front you just show up for the day, build, then battle.

Aim:
The aim of the competition is to build a robot from a stock set of parts in a limited time period and then battle until one robot is left standing.

Rules:
1. Competitors are given a stock set of parts which can be used for the robot. In addition to these parts builders will be given access to a communal set of parts which can be used. Replacements for stock parts will not be given but the usage and replacement of communal parts will not be limited if there is remaining quantities.

2. The robots must obey standard antweight rule set.

3. Competitors have 4 hours to build the robot from scratch and demonstrate it driving and any weaponry functions at the end of this time. Final adjustments can be made to the robot after this time limit but the robot must not change significantly (this is at the discretion of EO).

Parts:
Stock Parts
- 4 x HXT900 Servos
- 1 x Larger Servo (Possibly kit servo)
- 1 x 3 Cell Lithium battery
- 1 x BESC (May be reprogrammed)
- 1 x Brushless Motor
- 1 x HK 6ch rx/tx

Communal Parts:
- Various wheels
- Plastic - cutting boards, thin poly carb ect
- CF/PCB
- Ti sheet
- epoxy
- hot glue
- double sided tape
- electrical tape
- zip ties
- wires, connectors, solder
- prolly heaps more I haven't thought of

Basically anything can be a communal part as long as you make it available to others on the day and it is not a motor or various electromechanical device.

The deal would be we would standardise the parts list then everyone can bring all of them, or only the ones they are going to use. Eg if you are going to build just a flipper then you can leave out the Brushless motor. And if your flipper runs on just two cells (pulled apart Lipol battery) then you can lose the BESC as well. The only condition is that all parts that you bring cannot be modified before the day. (can't prehack servos and such) This would mean that most things could be reused if they didn't get broken.

Running order for the day:
9-10am: Setup
10-12am: Build session
12:00-12:30 Lunch
12:30 - 2:00 Build session
2:00 - 2:30 Working robot demonstration to qualify
2:30 - 5:00 Battles

Not sure how we would run the comp. Might be better off with just standard double elimination as without spare parts may not be able to keep them running for too long.

Assuming everyone has a HK transmitter the cost of competing would be around $20-40 for parts plus communal parts cost. I think we should be able to do this for basically nothing. If everyone just brings some spares that they have around like wheels and random plastic and stuff. This shouldn't be a problem, I know I have heaps of stuff, but if we are going to put in more expensive materials like Ti and CF then we might have to ask for a few dollars and make sure there is enough for everyone. Only issue I can see is that if someone brings along very specialised parts to be "communal" and then expects to get all of them for their robot. That is not the idea. I am not sure how we would work this, open to suggestions.

Anyway if people are keen to do this sometime in the next few weeks I would like to give it a go.

Steve
_________________
Steven Martin
Twisted Constructions
http://www.botbitz.com

Comment wise, I think leaving Ti and CF out of the equation will help keep the costs down and be less about who could fit the most amount of ti/cf onto their bot (or got to the ti/cf sheet first) Also, I think it would be a bit nicer if we could bring pre-moded HXT900's, would definately save some time on the day and some frustration for those of us who haven't modified 50 of them previously
_________________
https://www.halfdonethings.com/

So if I brought along a 2mm thick bit of aluminium I would need to throw it into to communal pile and hope I can grab it before someone else does?
How about tools? Bring your own?

We could try it with just plastic. And see how it goes. Yes well the idea would be that if it a communal bit of ali you should cut off what you need and then put the remainder back in the pile. I guess you could hoard it if you really wanted and I don't really have an answer to this problem.

Easiest way would be if you are bringing something there must be at least 75g times the number of competitors worth of it. So it is impossible to use it all on your robot.

Edit: Also I don't know about the hacking prior to the comp. I would just suggest you practice on one before hand. Allowing that opens too many doors as to how far you can go "hacking" the servos before hand. Do you allow speed mods? Is replacing the gears with metal one still modding? Is drilling holes in the plastic still covered as well? Is replacing the electronics with ones which work on higher voltages Ok? Can you swap out the motor.... ect ect. Just buy a spare $2 servo to try it out on leave many less loop holes in the rules.

Steve
_________________
Steven Martin
Twisted Constructions
http://www.botbitz.com

BESC http://hobbyking.com/hobbyking/store/uh_viewItem.asp?idProduct=14870
SERVO http://hobbyking.com/hobbyking/store/uh_viewItem.asp?idProduct=662
or http://hobbyking.com/hobbyking/store/uh_viewItem.asp?idProduct=9549
BRUSHLESS MOTOR http://hobbyking.com/hobbyking/store/uh_viewItem.asp?idProduct=6547
BATTERY http://hobbyking.com/hobbyking/store/uh_viewItem.asp?idProduct=7304
BIG SERVO http://hobbyking.com/hobbyking/store/uh_viewItem.asp?idProduct=10345
or http://hobbyking.com/hobbyking/store/uh_viewItem.asp?idProduct=11856
_________________
Steven Martin
Twisted Constructions
http://www.botbitz.com

How about smaller batteries?
http://hobbyking.com/hobbyking/store/uh_viewItem.asp?idProduct=7302
460mah is pretty damn massive for servo driven bots. Weight could be spent in better places IMHO.
_________________
https://www.halfdonethings.com/

You still need to power the spinning weapons. And I think of it as a bit more of a trade off where if you want to run 3S for spinner you have to account for the extra weight. Where as servo flipper can cut it down to 2S.

What size was glen using in his little bot?

Quantity Stock Product description Price Weight
OK HXT900 - HXT900 9g / 1.6kg / .12sec Micro Servo $13.45 90
OK HKESC10A - H-KING 10A Fixed Wing Brushless Speed Co.. $5.66 33
OK R460-20-3 - Rhino 460mAh 3S 11.1v 20C Lipoly Pack $6.39 72
OK HK-CS929MG - HobbyKing 929MG Metal Gear Servo 2.2kg/ .. $4.21 33
OK TR2204-14T - TURNIGY 2204-14T 19g Outrunner $8.98 45
Total: $38.69 273g

$40 worth of parts.
_________________
Steven Martin
Twisted Constructions
http://www.botbitz.com

Glen was running my 120mah pack, bit small for a spinner. Scarlet/Kruger was running on a 240mah 3S pack with big weapon and gearmotors and never used more then 180mah in even the biggest of matches. 360mah will run for yonks with servo bots and saves a good amount of weight over the 450mah packs in both 2S/3S configs.
_________________
https://www.halfdonethings.com/

Ok well might be a better option then. Is that brushless motor ok, spinner peoples?

Steve
_________________
Steven Martin
Twisted Constructions
http://www.botbitz.com

For the brushless motor side of it, I think the inclusion of any <$10 hobbyking brushless motor to the rules would be good. They are all around the same power/quality, but the varying form factors and winding types would benefit for some different designs that arn't just a bar spinner
_________________
https://www.halfdonethings.com/

Hmmm I would like to keep it simple as possible but we could add that if others feel it is necessary.

I would prefer at least to stick with a similar form factor with variable windings.
_________________
Steven Martin
Twisted Constructions
http://www.botbitz.com

360mah 2S is plenty for any antweight spinner. The KV of that pancake brushless is plenty at that voltage. You're pile of communal parts better have some 150mm rulers in it.
_________________
( •_•)

( •_•)>⌐■-■

(⌐■_■)

YEAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH

After thinking about this a bit more I think the battery capacity can be dropped to the Rhino 3S 360mAh. Also any HK Brushless motor @ <$10 is suitable.

I am going to buy a few sets of parts for my team (dad and gerard are interested) and if anyone else is keen we might look at organising a date at daniels meet.
_________________
Steven Martin
Twisted Constructions
http://www.botbitz.com