When we got Buoyant down fom his place hanging from the ceiling, we assumed that we just had to charge his batteries and we would be off :) However, things didn't go according to plan. See Buoyants development section for details.

After the adjustments and my socks had dried out, we set off to Birmingham University after charging Buoyants batteries. Not at all confident since we hadn't had a full test with the replacement motor controller, just a bench test. However, time had run out and it was sink or swim time.
Upon arrival we had to register, get a tech check done and hand in our transmitter. Then it was off to the pits to be allocated a table and settle in until it was our turn to compete. This gave us ample time to go round and scope out the competition and have a look at the entrants for the other competitions.

Debs fell in love with this entry from the Safety Hamsters team, although she never discovered his name.

Whilst we waited for our turn we had a chance to watch the other events and catch up with the other roboteers and crew.

Here's the walker robot entry from our mate Trevor (he of Mighty Mouse fame). I'd like to build a walker for next years competition. Its a lot harder than it looks, but I have some ideas already, and Debs is roling her eyes :)
One of the swimming under water entrants, I think he was called Carp Vader? There wasn't as many entries for the swimming events at UK Robotic Games as there were for Technogames. It's a shame as the swimming has to be one of the best events to take part in.
A Biped walker, one of the hardest events to build for, that could be the reason there was only one entry for this event. Click on the picture to see a small clip of Roadrunner in action.
A six legged cow,and didn't it go well, although one of its flashing eyes dropped off in the middle of a race :) I've still not figured out what the copper disc is for.

Ant weight combat - always fun,hasn't quite got the same feel as heavy weights smashing into each other, but non the less very entertaining

Below some of the competition, both the entries below came from Park High School

Debs and Rex Garrod - discussing "The Secret Life of Machines", a science program in the 80's, on Channel 4. In which Rex made weird things happen to household objects.

 

 

 
And here's James and I accepting the winners Trophy for the swimming on Water. Debs had to take the photos, but we got Professor Martin Smith to drag her out to accept a winners medal. Buoyant stormed to the finish line in both his races. At the end of the first race his floats became detached, fortunately we had some 5 minute epoxy resin to stick them on with because the next race was only 10 minutes later!