LIGHTNING robot
& SCRAPHEAP CHALLENGE Roadshow
& Cyber-Dave
ROBOTS DIARY 2006
Latest news at top of page.
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LIGHTNING robot & SCRAPHEAP CHALLENGE Roadshow & Cyber-Dave ROBOTS DIARY 2006 Latest news at top of page. |
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Click HERE to go back to 2005 diary. HERE to go to 2007. This year: Robot Lightning has not got any more Robot Wars to film as the show is finshed (although the re-runs will go on for ages). Look out for repeats on cable channels etc. For live events/tickets check out the FRA: www.fightingrobots.co.uk Robot Cyber-Dave is the groups other robot project now. Being made by Teams Lightning, Steel Avenger, Plunderbird and Chaos 2. The humanoid robot is at: www.cyber-dave.co.uk
18th Dec - Chatted with Mike. Cyber-Dave is now in the workshop where some of the others work during the day, so I hope that sometimes bits will be added to Dave (although 'real' work must come first of course). They seem to have a very understanding boss, which is good for the project. We would have had an annual get together but some of us (me included) haven't the funds this year. Happy New year to you all. Hopefully Cyber-Dave will see you in 2007.
6th Dec 2006 - The original Dave Arm was run up at an office party. I don't think it went as far as to serve drinks but a video and pictures will soon be available on the main Cyber-Dave web site (link above). The neck mechanics are still being worked on. Currently Dave is headless but soon he will be mated to his body and new arms. Also we've been invited to apply for the next series of Scrapheap Challenge. They do not currently know what the challenges are, which is a shame as that might inspire us all. It is a lot of hard work and a show we've already done. An interesting challenge is what is needed - 'Where's my motivation darling?'
3rd Nov 2006 - Bearing blocks being fabricated for the neck. Soon Cyber-Dave's head is to go on permanently.
7th Oct 2006 - Sorry, our presence at the show below was cancelled due to other team commitments.
1st Oct 2006 - Robot Cyber-Dave will be making an appearance at the Robot Chariots event in Colchester on Oct 7th. Several of the team will be there. This is an engineering event for youngsters. Also the robot has been moved to a workshop where three of the team can work on him in their spare time more easily. Progress on Dave has been a bit slow recently due to team members being busy with work plus they are making other projects including Mike's robot Angler fish and Laurie is trying to get his second CG feature film released, called 'Monsters of the Id'. More at www.monstersmovie.com
1st Sept 2006 - Well filming is over and we can now add Scrapheap Challenge to Robot Wars and Techno Games. We did better than we were expecting but I cannot reveal how well. The show is transmitted in the Spring of 2007 on Channel 4 in the UK. Look out for the special Roadshow episodes after the main series. Ours is the Welly Wanging one. Fun was had by all and it was nice to see old friends and make some new ones. We are team Romford Roboteks with the Lightning Trebuchet.
30th Aug 2006 - Filming 'Scrapheap Challenge Roadshow' at the Great Dorset Steam Fair, the biggest of its kind in the world. www.gdsf.co.uk Due to be shown in April 2007 after the main 'Scrapheap Challenge' show. There will be (I believe) two 'Roadshow' style programmes.
28th Aug 2006 - Team 'Romford Roboteks' welly wanger 'Lightning Trebuchet' is finished. Managed to throw a welly 31 meters today, even with a pink coloured boot! It was fairly consistent too apart from when the wind blew (on one occasion it flew back 4 meters). The snake/raptor head looked good on it and gives it some character. Ready for battle in two days time....then we have to hit targets rather than go for all out range. Should be fun.
27th Aug 2006 - Did some more tests today and got much better results. Spent nearly all day on it. Found out too how much the wind effects it. Painted it up, and tomorrow we will do more tests and make final tweaks to the design, including putting a big robot head on the front of the machine. Should look good at least!
25th Aug 2006 - The Scrapheap web site has details of the next challenge, so I guess it is okay to say - it is a machine designed to throw a Wellington Boot at various targets. A 'Welly Wanger'. There will be bound to be various styles of machine from Ballistas and Catapults to Trebuchets and new designs. We came up with a variety of initial ideas - a spinning wheel design from me, a water cannon from Richard and finally we've settled on a Trebuchet design. To see which design wins you'll have to watch the show in the Spring of next year. I cannot give the result before it has aired. Mind you I don't know it yet myself - it is to be filmed next Wednesday. If we have time we'd like to build a head for the machine too. A sort of battle head. Should look the part at least.
24th Aug 2006 - Film crew at 'Scrapheap Challenge Roadshow' in the workshop at Richard's home. Everything worked well. We were filmed putting various pieces together. The machine even run up. We all did interviews to camera. Was good fun and the RDF film crew of Tom and John were really nice. Looking forward now to much more work over the weekend and plenty of testing.
21st Aug 2006 - My sons Laurie & Jonathan came with me (Laurie) today to see the Scrapheap build so far. Richard demonstrated the 'firing power' of the Top Secret device. First test it had done so far. I cannot divulge what happened or I'd have to kill you! On another subject, I also doubled the range of Robot Wars Lightning by getting rid of one of the aerials. The redundant one was creating interference - Faraday Cage effect. Lightning is still working well after being left alone for over a year! If only people were like that!
17th Aug 2006 - The build is coming on well. Motor in place and part of a firing mechanism. The TV channel is coming to film the build process on 24th, with the competition happening itself on the 30th with about 16 teams competing in 4 target and range events.
1st Aug 2006 - We have been picked for Scrapheap Challenge Roadshow TV show. Filming will take place at the Dorset Steam Fair www.gdsf.co.uk on 30th Aug with some filming of the construction taking place before that. To be shown (I think) on Channel Four in the UK. About eleven teams will compete in a 'special' throwing and aiming competition. I don't want to spoil it for you. But it should be fun. We are now called Team 'Romford RoboTeks' for this event.
July 25th - Richard from Team Lightning got a call from Channel 4 about getting a team together for 'Scrapheap Challenge Roadshow'. The idea is to invent a machine that throws something (sorry - can't give the game away just yet). So we've submitted a design for approval. Team will be Laurie, Richard and Richard's daughter, Stephanie. If we get picked. I'll keep you posted. Something to write about at last.
9th - Robonova is for sale at www.technobots.co.uk and Paul here is very helpful and easy to chat to. Soon they plan to release components that can make Robonova autonomous too for those of you that wish that. More info at the Hitec web site at www.hitecrobotics.com which includes a dance routine on video. Tips on how to build Robonova at www.robosavvy.com Robo-One competitions are big in Japan and for 2010 a trip to space for a Space fight between two robots is planned. 15Kgs of satellite space has already been booked I believe. True!
June 12th - Discovered Robonova small Humanoid Robot at www.active-robots.com This 12 inch high biped can do a variety of life-like moves under IR control. Designed for Robo-One competitions or to just enjoy as it is, this kit costs about £700. Might seem like a lot but check it out and be amazed. Two video clips - one playing football and another just doing some amazing moves.
Apr 23rd - Manningtree Vehicle Show event. We didn't take Lightning as this was a last minute decision to go for me. Many teams were there - Kat, Kapow, Arnold Terminegger and family, Steel Avenger, Iron Awe 3, and Chaos 2. Weather was wet and prevented the robots from running. My sons Laurie and Jon had fun selling a few Lightning items and raising some pocket money, some of which ironically went on other roboteers items! Robot Dave made his first public appearance.
Apr 5th - George has been working on the neck mount and John is doing even more wiring. Looks like the veins of the robot. Picture on the main web site link above. Many robot teams are appearing at Manningtree on Sunday 23rd April - check it out if you can.
Mar 21st - John has been wiring up Cyber- Dave around the shoulders. Picture on his web site above on the 2006 diary page.
Feb 17th - Here are some stills from the DVD I am making. These are from our last meeting.
CYBER-DAVE with Laurie Calvert and Ian Swann. Then Jacky Willoughby compares the small model.
George Francis works out electronics positions. Mike Onslow relaxes. If you are new to this project click on the link above to discover which Robot Wars teams these people are from.
FEB 8th - I went to see George's robot fish at the London Aquarium. I was hoping to see Mike too as he is fabricating skins for these creatures. They can navigate and detect their surroundings. Clever stuff.
JAN 14th - Shoulder mechanism altered to get the joints in a better position. Things moving along now.
Laurie of Team Lightning |
