Battlebots 2022

[bernorange 8346]

The competition is starting to move from garage hobbyists to serious money teams.  No more good natured acceptance of judges subjective opinions.  Challenges and arguments about the rules?  Walter Sobchak approves.

[Prepuce of Doom 20969]

I liked some rule changes (getting rid of the whole crabwalking thing) but others seem a little half-baked. 

We wouldn't need so many changes if they didn't fuck things up all over the place last year. I don't know what changed last year, but it sure felt like there was a lot less common sense and a lot more judicial/administrative interference all of a sudden. 

[bernorange 8346]

1 hour ago, Prepuce of Doom said:

I liked some rule changes (getting rid of the whole crabwalking thing) ...

They actually are explicitly allowing crabwalking now.  They aren't going to end a match now if a bot is able to move at all - controlled or not. 

[NoName 16271]

2 hours ago, bernorange said:

They actually are explicitly allowing crabwalking now.  They aren't going to end a match now if a bot is able to move at all - controlled or not. 

honestly its probably good for TV and ratings - more destruction = higher ratings, right?

[Prepuce of Doom 20969]

2 hours ago, bernorange said:

They actually are explicitly allowing crabwalking now.  They aren't going to end a match now if a bot is able to move at all - controlled or not. 

Right - I wasn't very clear above, but I fully approve. I believe that (aside from a clear knockout) unless a team concedes defeat, the clock should always go the full three minutes. 

Edited October 21, 2022 by Prepuce of Doom

[bernorange 8346]

When I first heard it, I thought, that's going to suck because it just drags things out.  Then I thought, but if the opponents aren't just cruising around the arena waiting for refs to give a countdown, maybe they will actually keep attacking.  So, yeah, it's probably a good change.

I wonder if it will change the dynamics a bit with some bots that hesitate to attack if they think they've won because their internals (drive, motors, batteries) aren't so durable to sustain a prolonged offensive.

[Prepuce of Doom 20969]

No Tombstone this season - apparently Ray had a very serious hand injury and is taking the season off to recover and rehabilitate. 

Some additional gossip throughout the comments - no Uppercut (most members are on a new team), no Yeti, and a few other nuggets. 

 

[Captainant 27311]

25 minutes ago, Prepuce of Doom said:

No Tombstone this season - apparently Ray had a very serious hand injury and is taking the season off to recover and rehabilitate. 

Hate to hear that about Ray, he was a really nice guy to meet in person and get nerdy with lol. However, probably for the better for tombstone. I feel like that bot destroys itself and then fills the box with smoke most matches, and is in need of some redesign. 

[Prepuce of Doom 20969]

I have long thought that Tombstone would really benefit from some kind of automatic, angle/orientation-dependent clutch-based kill switch system that would put the bar into neutral whenever it gets into a bad situation. 

[bernorange 8346]

Pre season power rankings look decent to me.  Every bot seems to be with a spot or two of how I would rank them.

[Captainant 27311]

No spoilers but I like the new rules in action. Fights go on longer and opponents MUST engage, so there's less dodging and avoiding 

[TexLonghorn 5587]

(Sarcasm) I can’t wait to see Witch Doctor earn its place in the seedlings after facing the gauntlet of Slammo!, Rusty, and HiJinx in qualifying rounds. (/sarcasm)