Autonomous, Tele-Op, Hybrid, confusing

[jvriezen]

One thing that's bugged me and I've never seen discussed are these terms we use --- Autonomous, Tele-Operated and Hybrid.

In the interest of making the games more accessible to the general public, FIRST has reduced complexity of rules, make it look like a familiar game, (basketball, soccer, etc.). It seems these terms ought to be replaced with something easier to understand.

I suspect "Hybrid" will give some uninitiated the impression that these robots operate on a combination of gas/electric ! Tele-operated is pretty obscure to many as well.

How about:

Tele-operated--> Driver controlled mode or perhaps just Remote Control mode.

Autonomous --> Self driving mode (ala Google's self driving car)

Hybrid --> Microsoft Kinect controlled mode (or similar term based on particular technology in use.)

I think this would make a lot more sense for visitors in the stands and those watching on webcast/TV.

It doesn't help of course that the traditional meaning of "Robot" in sci-fi and such has usually implied fully autonomous.

[Joe Ross]

Here's a previous thread on this topic: http://www.chiefdelphi.com/forums/showthread.php?t=56964

[Camren]

I personally think that making those terms different would be a problem to society because the average highschool graduate should understand

Autonmous- Automation (prefix Auto meaning self doing)
Tele-Operated- Connection-operating (Prefix Tele meaning bridging or connection)

Also in previous years Hybrid wasn't used with kinect it just meant 3rd person control. So Hybrid originally meaning a combo of two geno or pheno types somewhat makes sense seeing that its combining automation with connection operating.

[EricH]

Also in previous years Hybrid wasn't used with kinect it just meant 3rd person control. So Hybrid originally meaning a combo of two geno or pheno types somewhat makes sense seeing that its combining automation with connection operating.
Actually... This is only the second year that Hybrid has been used. The other was 2008, with an IR sensor on the robot that could be controlled by a RoboCoach. 2003-2007 and 2009-2011 were Autonomous. 2008 and 2012 were Hybrid (where teams could run Autonomous if they wanted to).