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Arena Standards
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Abregado



Joined: 30 Jan 2005
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Arena Standards

Evening Forum peoples

My name is Ben Buckton and i was wondering if anyone who has constructed an arena could tell me what materials they used. The RFL standards only specify that it must use 10mm polycarb in order to be safe for use with heavy weight robots.

So does this mean that i can use 80gsm paper folded using ancient origami techniques for the frame as long as it has polycarb sheeting mounted on it? Would structural pine or hardwood be appropriate? Also what is considered a rooved arena? Steel caged, or polycarb sheeting? Must it me fan forced ventilation to be considered ICE safe?

Post Sun Jan 30, 2005 2:46 am 
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Philip
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Hi, Ben. Are you thinking of building an arena? Please let us know of any plans you might have.
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Post Sun Jan 30, 2005 8:44 am 
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Spockie-Tech
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Hi Ben,

There are no hard and fast rules when it comes to building an arena for two reasons..

1, no-one wants to take liability for saying "build it like this and you will be safe", then be blamed if something breeches the arena.

2. Each Event-Operator has to decide for themselves (and their insurance company if insured) what constitutes a "safe" arena.

At a back-yard event with builders and featherweight robots only, you can probably get away with less than if you are running a public attendance event allowing heavyweights or ICE powered bots.

The FRA in the UK has published a set of guidelines with different "grade" arena's here.. http://www.fightingrobots.co.uk/documents/event_safety.pdf

Note that they are a little extreme in that by their standards noone in the world has actually built a proper grade 1 arena yet !

SideTracked have a consulting engineer who specialises in approval of fairground type rides and public entertainment construction approve their arena design. If you have public liability insurance, you will need to check what form of approvals / certification they require to be happy.

The first sidetracked arena used pine between adjacent wall sections and was floor-to-roof. The next version was 100% steel with large locking pins holding the walls together. It uses 6mm polycarbonate held into steel angle iron with load-spreading bars. The roof is a heavy dual layer nylon-ish net.

Ventilation for ICE-Rated arenas is obviously important, but the sticking point preventing them from being used at SideTracked so far has been the pit-area. The insurance company doesnt like the idea of custom-made machines with tanks full of petrol being refilled, emptied, and worked on, soldered, drilled etc around lots of sparking wires and motors in an enclosed area with no trained fire marshalls standing by at all times.

So it all depends on where you are planning on holding your events and how much you have to lose as far as protecting yourself from damage claims goes, that determines just how many I's and T's you need to dot and cross in the construction of your arena.
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Post Sun Jan 30, 2005 9:07 am 
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Rotwang
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Joined: 15 Jun 2004
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Hi Ben
It’s more a matter of what your insurance company requires.
The arena at Sidetracked has been checked by the appropriate engineer and deemed acceptable and if you copied it that would probably be a good start.

Back yard competitor only events are a different thing, the fact that you are asking this sort of question does rather suggest that you have a public venue in mind? Can you at least give us a clue where in the world you are?

Gary

Post Sun Jan 30, 2005 9:08 am 
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Abregado



Joined: 30 Jan 2005
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Thanx for the info guys. The documentation you sent me was very informative, although it is funny that they have laid ground rules for arenas that are not even contructed yet.

I live in Glen Waverly but am currently staying on Phillip Island to work. I was doing some research for Daniel Marshal who is contructing an arena in Rye.

Id really like to meet up with some of the local veterans from meblourne when i get back there in a few weeks time. Whos from around there anyway? How many people travelled from interstate to compete at Sidetracked?

Post Sat Feb 05, 2005 2:48 pm 
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Knightrous
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I've travelled interstate twice to SideTracked, and once to Marayong. I live up in QLD.
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Post Sat Feb 05, 2005 4:24 pm 
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Spockie-Tech
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Well, funnily enough I live in Glen Waverley, dont know if I'm counted as a 'Vet or not Wink but you're welcome to pop over and chat one evening..
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Post Sat Feb 05, 2005 9:12 pm 
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Fish_in_a_Barrel



Joined: 30 Sep 2006
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Is the arena at sidetracked insured through sidetracked or is there particular event insurace?

Also a small side question: Is robowars an official organisation, (eg. does the organisation have insurance?) or is it just an online forum? I presume, since there are no joining fees, that robowars can't offer insurance?

Post Thu Nov 23, 2006 2:47 pm 
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Glen
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nope, its just like the fiat forum wont offer you car insurance Razz
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Post Thu Nov 23, 2006 5:24 pm 
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Spockie-Tech
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SideTracked the Venue has *public* liability insurance. Competitors must sign disclaimers as adults accepting responsibility for your own actions.

RoboWars is just a name we operate events under. It is not an official organisation, and has no members or insurance, which doesnt bother me, since I have no assets of note for anyone to take Wink

If people want legal safety nets, please find another event to play at, or be prepared to pay *big* $$ to play. Insurance for such a small group of people doing such a hazardous activity would be near impossible to get.

I personally dont see why an individual voluntarily choosing to do something dangerous and exciting should even think that someone else should pay if they get hurt doing it.
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Post Thu Nov 23, 2006 5:37 pm 
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Fish_in_a_Barrel



Joined: 30 Sep 2006
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Location: Perth, Western Australia


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Thanks, just for a bit of backround, I used to work in an indoor rock climbing gym, and I'm a member of the Climbers Assoc. of WA, so I know my way around an insurance form.

I was just clarifying where I stand in regard to a Perth arena. I know that I'm responsible for my own actions, but there are a lot of people who aren't willing to be responsible for their own stupidity. I realise that this is, and probably will be for a long time, a big issue, but I'm just trying to stay on the right side of it.

Post Fri Nov 24, 2006 9:26 am 
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Spockie-Tech
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Thats good then.

If you can get a venue that already has public liability insurance and it used to handling the public and has all the facilities like food, water, toilets, parking, staff etc onside, that make sputting on an event a lot easier.

You wouldnt believe the backwards somersaults with a half twist through hoops I had to do to get the government sponsored Brisbane RoboWars event to happen. "Cover your Arse" must be printed in invisible ink on every document they produce I reckon.

We need someone else to put on some nice public events as well.. Even if its in WA, I might make the journey.. I'm tired of being an event promoter.. I want to focus on the competition again ! Rolling Eyes
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Post Fri Nov 24, 2006 10:32 am 
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dyrodium
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Joined: 24 Aug 2004
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Laughing We tried to do the annialator but no one ended up coming down... Confused
If someone in syd could be convinced to have a public event I think that would be cool, but it's exactly what you said that makes it tough to do.
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Post Fri Nov 24, 2006 10:47 am 
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Spockie-Tech
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I was looking forward to the annihlator, but the MSMEE show that had been arranged 2 years prior unfortunately clashed with it, then there was all that hoohaa about settling on a new date and it sort of died. Oh, having a clear idea of how the event is going to be run in advance might help too.. Wink

Perhaps we can get together at RoboWars and hash out a date where people could make the trip for mid next year ?
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Post Fri Nov 24, 2006 11:17 am 
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dyrodium
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Sounds like a plan.
By the way, would anyone mine taking some time to write up a post explaining how robowars 07 is going to work?
I'm after all the info I can get as it's my first time up, and i'm sure some new people would find info on how to get there, what the pit regulations, possible rules etc. Very Happy Might want to start a new robowars thread or stick it in the current one. Looking foward to it thats for sure! Very Happy
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Post Fri Nov 24, 2006 11:29 am 
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