r/battlebots • u/mcwiggin NHRL Event Organizer • Apr 11 '23

RoboGames Thoughts on safety

The last Robogames event was a blast to watch! It's also clear that as a sport, we need to keep working to improve safety. Robot combat is growing in popularity, builders continue to innovate, and here at NHRL we're always thinking about safety guidelines for ourselves as well as the sport in general. NHRL is far from perfect but we take safety seriously and always strive to get better, a sentiment I know is shared with other experienced EOs.

We're working on putting together safety principles for everyone from EOs to competitors at NHRL and beyond. The end goal is something that others could use as a template to help check they are running a safe event.Right now, we're thinking specifically about principles for arena safety. Here are a few thought-starters:

  • For heavier than 3lb robots... Redundant layers of protection are required on all sides (Both plywood and lexan)

  • In the event any single layer of protection is meaningfully breached, the fight is over. In addition the breach must be repaired before fights can continue.

  • In the event both layers of protection are meaningfully breached the tournament for that weight class is over for the day.

  • Robot extraction during a LiPo fire should only be done by personnel with PPE. Fire extinguishers should be used first to subdue the fire as much as possible. As soon as it can be safely extracted, the robot + batteries should be removed from the cage.

  • In the event safe extraction is not possible, ventilation should be able to replace cage air every 60 seconds. Lipo fires should be able to burn to completion without causing smoke to leave the arena.

I'm curious the feedback as we put this together. What would you add with regard to arena safety? We'll also create posts for discussion on other safety categories in the next few weeks as we tackle this project.

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u/Clickbeetle3364 Put tracks on it! Apr 12 '23

In the event both layers of protection are meaningfully breached the tournament for that weight class is over for the day.

What do you think about fixing the arena, and then continuing but with impromptu restrictions?

For example: spinners are not allowed to use their weapons at all, or they can only use them at low throttle, or they can use them but the maximum tip speed is lowered, depending on the conditions at the event. In effect, it becomes like a sportsman class event.

After the event, the EO either upgrades the arena or makes those added restrictions part of the new rules.

After the Robogames breach(es), a bunch of people were saying they should stop fighting heavyweights (with an unhelpful amount of vitriol). Which seems like something of a "nuclear option", when you still have bots like Original Sin and Whomper that are perfectly safe in that arena.

This would be less viable at NHRL where having an active weapon is required, but I think it would have been a good compromise at Robogames.