MovieChat Forums > BattleBots (2015) Discussion > I think we just saw the end of drones

I think we just saw the end of drones

posted 8 years ago by drunkbear
15 replies | jump to latest

They're too hard to control, too light to pack any real weaponry, and all you need to keep them off your bot is a frigging lawn rake. You don't even have to swat them with the rake; just mount it upright and drive as normal. Sooner or later, the drone WILL collide with it.

I AM intrigued, though, by the idea of launching nets and so forth at spinners, to gum them up. If you've ever hit a piece of downed fence wire with a lawnmower, you know how quick it shuts them down.

- What are you gonna do, when the world catches on?

[–] mr_greylon 8 years ago

You don't even have to swat them with the rake; just mount it upright and drive as normal. Sooner or later, the drone WILL collide with it.

Pretty much. If there's a drone that you may be slightly worried about (and I still haven't see one that you should be), just attach a pole that sticks three feet up. The drone can't center unless it stays above the pole, which renders it useless.

Of course, that goes with the notion anyone should worry about a drone, which no one should right now. Maybe in season 3 some restrictions will be lifted from the drones to give them a chance to be useful.

I do commend BB for at least giving the drones a shot though. Not every change is a good one.

If you buy a ticket for a remake, you are the problem, not Hollywood.

[–] joen0411 8 years ago

I learned a little more about the drones and what is allowed. They have a 10lbs limit, mostly for safety concerns with the drones that shoot flames. If they address the safety concerns they might allow heavier drones. But I'd still be doubtful of their effectiveness. We haven't seen flames cause any damage from a main bot with a few exceptions. Even Mega Tento's plastic shell didn't suffer from flames, at least not that I could see.

Chrome fly had an interesting choice for its drone's weapon, a large magnet. The idea being it would drop it on the opposing bot and disable the electronics. This didn't work in CF's fight against Bucktooth Burl in qualifying round, the magnet failed to connect. But it was an interesting idea

Someone will need to come up with an effective weapon (not flames), have excellent flying skills and not sacrifice the main bot's strength. And avoid the rake :)

Until then, drones are for show and not even good for that.

[–] LAV25USMC 8 years ago

Drunkbear

I AM intrigued, though, by the idea of launching nets and so forth at spinners, to gum them up. If you've ever hit a piece of downed fence wire with a lawnmower, you know how quick it shuts them down.

Good thought but entanglement weapons are not allowed in the rules though. Last year Complete Control tried to circumvent this rule by having a net inside a wrapped box. The fight was stopped after the spinning blade of the opponent wacked the box and got entangled (Ghost Raptor perhaps??).

A drone using flame cannot stay over a moving bot long enough for the flame to be of any real effect.

On another thread I mentioned the only way I could think of (there certainly others) would be to mount a sturdy metal spear or bar to a drone and kamikaze it into the drivetrain or a critical spot in a spinner to jam it. If drones are limited to 10 lbs. then that may not work either.

[–] mr_greylon 8 years ago

A 10 pound limit? Yeah, that's worthless. Those drones are so light, any contact is going to send them crashing, which is what has happened to every drone after first physical contact.

IIRC, the current maximum combined weight is 250 pounds. They should at least allow drones a 50 pound limit. The bulk of the bot is still on the ground, but at 50 pounds, they may have enough weight to not go crashing with every glancing blow. Note: 50 pounds is just throwing out a number. I have no idea what kind of power a 50 pound drone could wield. But clearly, 10 pounds is too light.

If you buy a ticket for a remake, you are the problem, not Hollywood.

[–] drunkbear 8 years ago

There are radio-controlled gas-powered helicopters that are very accurate, in the hands of a practiced pilot, and comparatively sturdy. If they based the drone guidelines on the specs and capabilities of a good r/c chopper, I believe you could create an effective drone.

- What are you gonna do, when the world catches on?

[–] information_police 8 years ago

Effective doing what, though? How do you get a drone to inflict meaningful damage on another bot?

"Smokey, this is not 'Nam, this is bowling. There are rules. "
-Walter Sobchak

[–] drunkbear 8 years ago

Yes. Drones that could inflict effective damage on a bot. Those r/c copters are capable of dropping smoke 'bombs;' a good heavy drone should be able to drop effective flaming 'bombs,' which would shower an enemy bot with a burning magnesium powder.

- What are you gonna do, when the world catches on?

[–] information_police 8 years ago

Only propane and butane can be used to generate flames, not burning magnesium (although I like your style). I haven't seen a drone inflict damage with the allowed burners.

http://battlebots.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/12/BattleBots-Design-Rules.Rev-2016.2.pdf

"Smokey, this is not 'Nam, this is bowling. There are rules. "
-Walter Sobchak

[–] drunkbear 8 years ago

The suicide drone was something I also considered, but I was thinking along the lines of something that could drop onto the other bot and then self-immolate. They'd have to firmly attach themselves to do any damage, though, and I bet most of those bots' outer shells are made from high-grade aluminum, to save weight.

- What are you gonna do, when the world catches on?

[–] Bookmanmovielover 8 years ago

lol I thought the rake was a bad idea. I was sure the rake teeth or blades were too flimsy and would bend instead of taking down the drone. Boy was I wrong. The rake was knocked it down alright. I think that was on of the best battles ever.

<“Every man of courage is a man of his word.” - Pierre Corneille>

[–] mr_greylon 8 years ago

One of the most entertaining, for sure.

If you buy a ticket for a remake, you are the problem, not Hollywood.

[–] LAV25USMC 8 years ago

One of my top 5 for sure.

[–] Legendary_Badass 8 years ago

A rake just sent drones back 10 years.

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[–] !!!deleted!!! (12526472) 8 years ago

The drones are a nice idea, like the robot with human-like robotic arms in ep1, but the technology is years away from being effective!

[–] joen0411 8 years ago

I doubt anyone will make another human shaped bot for a while. Unless Skynet decides to enter a Terminator for next season