RBT-1 owners: What's your opinion?

[Dave[TR] offline]

Hello, Robosavvy community!

I would like to get some input from folks who own the Futaba RBT-1 (or the original HPI version). Pros, cons, strengths, weaknesses, etc.

I've been hearing mostly good things, but a few people have reported some stability issues. Our demo unit performs most of the pre-programmed motions just fine, although some screws need to be tightened periodically to keep everything solid, and it rarely gets through the demo scenario without falling.

I don't mind the flaky canned motions, because I'm modifying them anyway, but what do the rest of you think of this bot?

[n2stuff offline]

it needs a gyro bad,yep the screws get loose,battery life 20 minutes,the software needs updating. what else, let me me think about it some more.

scott

[tempusmaster offline]

Hello, Robosavvy community!

I would like to get some input from folks who own the Futaba RBT-1 (or the original HPI version). Pros, cons, strengths, weaknesses, etc.

I've been hearing mostly good things, but a few people have reported some stability issues. Our demo unit performs most of the pre-programmed motions just fine, although some screws need to be tightened periodically to keep everything solid, and it rarely gets through the demo scenario without falling.

I don't mind the flaky canned motions, because I'm modifying them anyway, but what do the rest of you think of this bot?

I didn't experience that with the HPI G-Robot, which was built directly from the kit. Are your units RTW or kit?

[Dave[TR] offline]

Futaba's only offering the RTW version right now. I bet if I stripped the whole thing down and rebuilt it, I could make it a bit more solid. Does the G-Robot have the joints that pop out of place when too much force is put on them?

[tempusmaster offline]

Futaba's only offering the RTW version right now.

Too bad. Of course it's their marketing decision, but for me a big part of the experience, learning, and satisfaction comes from assembling the robot and understanding how it works. It also gives me a lot of confidence when it becomes necessary to replace a part or servo.

I bet if I stripped the whole thing down and rebuilt it, I could make it a bit more solid.

You might be able to.

Does the G-Robot have the joints that pop out of place when too much force is put on them?

Yes, the US and Futaba versions are essentially the same from what I can tell.

The joints are designed that way to protect the servos from overtorquing and damage. If you check out the posts by C.U.E. (right after this thread) he explains how he disabled the joint popping so that he could participate in the ROBO-ONE soccer matches.

Of course if you modify them that way, eventually they will get stalled or overtorqued and blow the FETs. You see that with all the humanoids (and RC cars/planes) when the user sets them up wrong, or doesn't realize a servo is driving against its limits, or twists one.

[Dave[TR] offline]

Too bad. Of course it's their marketing decision, but for me a big part of the experience, learning, and satisfaction comes from assembling the robot and understanding how it works. It also gives me a lot of confidence when it becomes necessary to replace a part or servo.

I agree completely. Unfortunately, it's necessary for our company's customer base to be broader than my personal tastes...

The joints are designed that way to protect the servos from overtorquing and damage. If you check out the posts by C.U.E. (right after this thread) he explains how he disabled the joint popping so that he could participate in the ROBO-ONE soccer matches.

That's pretty cool. I was going to try something similar, but I can't really modify ours too much because we have to use it as a display unit for shows and such

Thanks for the info!

[n2stuff offline]

hi dave
any news about the gyro yet? also is their a software update?
i have been looking around for both and no luck even for the hpi version.

scott

[Gort offline]

The one thing that I noticed during are KungFu matchs at Chibotica was that the servos keeped popping out of joint! That to me would be very annoying. I liked the speed and quickness of the robot but the servo problem has to be fixed!

[tempusmaster offline]

The one thing that I noticed during are KungFu matchs at Chibotica was that the servos keeped popping out of joint! That to me would be very annoying. I liked the speed and quickness of the robot but the servo problem has to be fixed!

Apparently those are the clutches that are designed to protect the servos from damage. Basically they are doing what they were designed to do - but that doesn't match what some customers expect from the robot or assume it is capable of.

There's an earlier post that shows how one of the owners made mods to disable them so that he could participate in ROBO-ONE scoccer and the bouts.

[chitownrobo offline]

Any word on a hyro for this little guy yet ? Can't find anything

[tom_chang79 offline]

what's the difference between the futaba version (blue plastic shell) versus this HPI variant (black plastic shell)? Personally, I like the black one, it has better aesthetics IMO.

What do you guys think of this bot as compared to the more popular Kondos and Robonovas?

[plingboot offline]

I like both my KHR-1HV and RB1000, but if i had the cash i'd have a RBT-1 too - out of the box it's got the PS2 controller and a shed load of moves.

[tom_chang79 offline]

So are there differences between HPI's and Futaba's bots? Or are they the same?

[plingboot offline]

for all intents they are the same - but the hpi one is available as a kit in japan and nowhere else, the futaba one is available rtw in the usa. Neither appear to be available in the uk.