[FRC Blog] The 2017 FRC Season Teaser and More!

[tjf]

http://www.firstinspires.org/robotics/frc/blog/2017-frc-season-teaser-and-more


The 2017 FRC Season Teaser

is coming.*


Science Fiction Predicting Future Gadgets

I was watching a very old episode of Doctor Who recently and started thinking about the extent to which science fiction can predict consumer items we pretty much take for granted now.

Check out the ‘iPads’ in this still from the classic 1968 sci-fi movie 2001: A Space Odyssey.

http://www.firstinspires.org/sites/default/files/uploads/frc/Blog/dr-who-with-ipads.jpg
From 2001: A Space Odyssey. The film also apparently predicted our preference for staring at mobile screens rather than talking to each other.

Or check out these ‘Beats’ headphones on Cybermen from Doctor Who. Can you imagine the bass you’d get out of these things? A few minutes with these and your grey matter would be reduced to parfait, no joke.

http://www.firstinspires.org/sites/default/files/uploads/frc/Blog/cybermen-with-beats.jpg
Cybermen from Doctor Who: Rockin’ some serious Beats since 1966

Makes me wonder what we’re seeing in today’s science fiction that 50 years from now we (well, not me, but maybe some of you) will look back at and say “oh, yeah….”


Frank

*As everyone knows, there are three scientifically objective levels of greatness:

1. Not great

2. Pizza great

3. Pizza and Wings great

This teaser is going be Pizza and Wings great. With a side of Fried Pickle Chips.

[frcguy]

Start up the rumor mill...

Maybe we'll have a sci-fi element this year?

[Peyton Yeung]

Lunacy 2.0?

[bearbot]

I believe that this year bring backs the FIRST logo . Pizzas are cut in triangle or into squares. Fried pickle chips are usually round. Makes perfect sense having the logo make it back into the game. Wings are similar to Elipse which could bring footballs or rugby balls as game pieces :)

[D.Allred]

Start up the rumor mill...

Maybe we'll have a sci-fi element this year?

Yep. We'll be staring at screens instead of the field. (Oops. Already did that in for Stronghold!)

[tjf]

Personally, I think they'll try and have a Space game without the pitfalls of Lunacy (long before my time, but I've heard regolith thrown around.)

Best of luck to Frank and the GDC. Hype boosters now at ~15.01%.

[Drakxii]

Sci-Fi... Greasy food... Lunacy 2.0?

[Basel A]

Pizza and Wings sounds like what I'd order for a sports-watching party. The football game finally arrives?

Also I'm incredibly surprised Frank didn't include "this is not a game hint" about the sci-fi stuff, so maybe that is a game hint.

[Rangel(kf7fdb)]

Football on Regolith?

[Jon Stratis]

The first section, before all the sci-fi stuff, is rather interesting. The header is "The 2017 FRC Season Teaser", with content "is coming". It seems to me that the actual teaser might be the words "is coming". As in "Winter is coming". Winter = cold = ice... a hockey game! I'm thinking a Lunacy/Breakaway cross... trying to control and shoot a ball, while driving on regolith, without being able to extend past the frame perimeter (except briefly) or draw the ball in past the frame perimeter... that would be some challenge!

[notmattlythgoe]

The first section, before all the sci-fi stuff, is rather interesting. The header is "The 2017 FRC Season Teaser", with content "is coming". It seems to me that the actual teaser might be the words "is coming". As in "Winter is coming". Winter = cold = ice... a hockey game! I'm thinking a Lunacy/Breakaway cross... trying to control and shoot a ball, while driving on regolith, without being able to extend past the frame perimeter (except briefly) or draw the ball in past the frame perimeter... that would be some challenge!

The teaser last year was a video, not a hint.

[waialua359]

The driver station view window will be completely covered with a black cloth.
You have to use your tablet/computer and rely on your human player to help you score.

[Sperkowsky]

So I am thinking its going to be a Wild West game.

[Rangel(kf7fdb)]

The game field will be completely covered with a black cloth.
You have to use your tablet/computer and rely on your human player to help you score.

How about a holo lens? I believe at some point Microsoft promised something to do with the holo lens for FIRST at the 2015 championships or something like that. Not too sure what they talked about specifically though.

[frcguy]

How about a holo lens? I believe at some point Microsoft promised something to do with the holo lens for FIRST at the 2015 championships or something like that. Not too sure what they talked about specifically though.

Microsoft, I'm begging you, please have a Hololens for each drive coach... :p

[FrankJ]

It is all about the Bass (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aLnZ1NQm2uk)

[tjf]

Microsoft, I'm begging you, please have a Hololens for each drive coach... :p

There was a video floating around the internet of one of the Field Crew using a Hololens (not quite sure who, sorry) to monitor field stats like robot comms status & battery for all 6 teams on the field. I can *definitely* see how it'd be cool / useful.

[Daniel4547]

They will rework the 2005 game and use "Star" objects (really similar to Vex) to fit the sci-fi theme.

[Jon Stratis]

There was a video floating around the internet of one of the Field Crew using a Hololens (not quite sure who, sorry) to monitor field stats like robot comms status & battery for all 6 teams on the field. I can *definitely* see how it'd be cool / useful.

https://www.chiefdelphi.com/forums/showpost.php?p=1599159&postcount=46

It happened at the Gitchi Gummi Get Together last month.

[tjf]

https://www.chiefdelphi.com/forums/showpost.php?p=1599159&postcount=46

It happened at the Gitchi Gummi Get Together last month.

This was *exactly it!* Thanks so much!

[bobbysq]

HoloLens would be cool, but I don't know how much it'll be used by teams.

(hopefully it turns out better than the Kinect (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZaOiaC0I8pY) though)

[Doug Frisk]

HoloLens would be cool, but I don't know how much it'll be used by teams.

(hopefully it turns out better than the Kinect (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZaOiaC0I8pY) though)

As cool as it would be, I can't see it happening right now. The dev units are $3000 each and I've heard the actual unit cost to build them is more. Even if they could make enough of them, the cost would be in the millions of dollars.

Maybe in 2 or 3 years when they are commodity devices.

[ctt956]

I believe that this year bring backs the FIRST logo . Pizzas are cut in triangle or into squares. Fried pickle chips are usually round. Makes perfect sense having the logo make it back into the game. Wings are similar to Elipse which could bring footballs or rugby balls as game pieces :)

Pizzas are usually made in the shape of a circle. Sometimes they're made in square shapes, not just cut into squares. Though pizzas and slices of any shape don't have holes in the middle...maybe Logo Motion pieces without the donut holes?

Personally, I think they'll try and have a Space game without the pitfalls of Lunacy (long before my time, but I've heard regolith thrown around.)

Best of luck to Frank and the GDC. Hype boosters now at ~15.01%.

Maybe Mars or another planet themed?

Sci-Fi... Greasy food... Lunacy 2.0?

And the whole leg of mutton thing this year...futuristic food?? This is making me hungry...

The first section, before all the sci-fi stuff, is rather interesting. The header is "The 2017 FRC Season Teaser", with content "is coming". It seems to me that the actual teaser might be the words "is coming". As in "Winter is coming". Winter = cold = ice... a hockey game! I'm thinking a Lunacy/Breakaway cross... trying to control and shoot a ball, while driving on regolith, without being able to extend past the frame perimeter (except briefly) or draw the ball in past the frame perimeter... that would be some challenge!

Possibly some truth to that. The "Security Breach" video was the hint this year, but the hint was the title, not the actual video. The real hints are in the least obvious places.

So I am thinking its going to be a Wild West game.

Interesting.

They will rework the 2005 game and use "Star" objects (really similar to Vex) to fit the sci-fi theme.

After noticing the similarities between FRC and Vex games, that's a real possibility. And there's an asterisk after "is coming" in the post. Asterisks are also called stars. Stars are in space. Space game confirmed?

P.S. Congrats to tjf for beating Hallry to the CD post! :D

[tjf]

P.S. Congrats to tjf for beating Hallry to the CD post! :D

I'll be honest, it was pure luck. Besides, I think their ASP.NET server broke anyways.

https://i.imgur.com/iorR3oz.png

[messer5740]

Sci-Fi... Greasy food... Lunacy 2.0?

Not going to lie- totally geeking out right now about the sci-fi element!

[pandamonium]

I totally read that blog differently then most it seems. I think he is not telling us that the theme is sci fi. I think he is saying that we basically have already accidentally predicted it. What game theme and elements has the community been predicting? Seems to me like one of those odd shape games inflatables or footballs? When I think of pizza, wings, and fried pickles I totally think of watching football.

[ctt956]

I totally read that blog differently then most it seems. I think he is not telling us that the theme is sci fi. I think he is saying that we basically have already accidentally predicted it. What game theme and elements has the community been predicting? Seems to me like one of those odd shape games inflatables or footballs? When I think of pizza, wings, and fried pickles.

Wait...I think you're on to something there...Here's what I've predicted and seen other people predict:

• Cubes
• Stars or something with points/spikes
• Inflatables
• Mobile goals/scoring locations
• Denim
• Water
• Tight spaces on the field
• Mostly open field(maybe something in the middle like 2014?)
• Not many obstacles
• Maybe a maze-like structure?

For themes:

• Space
• Ice/winter
• Football
• Water
• Wild Wild West

So which combinations is it?

[Doug Frisk]

https://www.chiefdelphi.com/forums/showpost.php?p=1599159&postcount=46

It happened at the Gitchi Gummi Get Together last month.

Interestingly enough, just yesterday I got Microsoft Band integration working in the Field Monitor app.

Now, in 8 circumstances it will send a vibration and display a text on the band.

- When the match Prestarts, because FTAs want to know.

Then there are 6 standard "error" messages. One for when the FMS reports a robot is E-Stopped. The other six cover Driver's station Ethernet unplugged, DS not responding, Radio not responding, RoboRIO not responding and Robot code failure.

When one of those events happens the Band does a haptic and displays something like:

Red 1 6543
Driver's Station not responding

That way, the FTA can watch the field rather than the field monitor but still be alerted immediately when there's a problem. Well, at least the FTAs that have a Microsoft Band and a Windows 10 phone or laptop.

[GeeTwo]

Wait...I think you're on to something there...

So which combinations is it?

I predict that huge chunks of kickoff dialogue will be borrowed from Firefly and Serenity.

[Richard Wallace]

So in Frank's picture, the 2001 Discovery crew is headed for Jupiter. That's in the movie; in the book they headed for Saturn. This is fiction, albeit excellent fiction.

Real discoveries are still being made by exploration rovers on Mars.

I wouldn't want to replay Lunacy -- the Moon is a harsh mistress!

Venus is hot, caustic, and generally not a place to go unless you breathe carbon dioxide and drink sulfuric acid.

Mercury? Well, deep underground you might commune with a Harmonium, ala Sirens of Titan. More fiction.

Neptune and beyond, things get too distant and dark.


-----

All things considered, I think Mars is the best extraterrestrial setting for an FRC game theme. Maybe Phobos, home the Leather Godesses? (Yeah, I had that game back in the days of 5.25" floppies.)

[ctt956]

So in Frank's picture, the 2001 Discovery crew is headed for Jupiter. That's in the movie; in the book they headed for Saturn. This is fiction, albeit excellent fiction.

Real discoveries are still being made by exploration rovers on Mars.

I wouldn't want to replay Lunacy -- the Moon is a harsh mistress!

Venus is hot, caustic, and generally not a place to go unless you breathe carbon dioxide and drink sulfuric acid.

Mercury? Well, deep underground you might commune with a Harmonium, ala Sirens of Titan. More fiction.

Neptune and beyond, things get too distant and dark.


-----

All things considered, I think Mars is the best extraterrestrial setting for an FRC game theme. Maybe Phobos, home the Leather Godesses? (Yeah, I had that game back in the days of 5.25" floppies.)

Jupiter -- Maybe a bigger field? Saturn; maybe more ring-shaped tubes? Or ice?!

[WinterPoet]

A teammate of mine has suggested it will be a water game, but instead of water it's gonna be stomach acid.

All jokes (I mean very valid theories) aside, I'm definitely a fan of the strangely shaped objects theory. As far as theme, which most people agree will be reflected in the objects, I'm more a fan of the space theory than football. Mostly because . . .

A) sports will not exactly resonate with a lot of the FIRST community. I'm not saying there aren't sports fans in FIRST, especially since I'm a bit of a hockey nut, but the same simply can't be said for all of FRC. I know most of my friends in robotics don't care about sports at all.

and

B) There's been a lot happening in space lately. NASA's had a couple of exciting announcements lately, and while FIRST plans this in advance and certainly didn't randomly decide on a space theme because NASA was in the news, we've known about the Juno mission since 2011. If they were going to do something football, I feel like it would have made more sense to do it last year when SuperBowl 50 happened.

Of course, there''s a tiny part of me that is just screaming that it's not going to be space or sports, but like, a food-related game where competitors have to grocery shop and then cook a meal for Dean all via robot and in the normal time. Because, y'know, FIRST can't make it easy for us.

[Rangel(kf7fdb)]

If they decide to do a space theme such as Mars, I think it would be pretty cool if instead of using regolith, they put omni wheels in the kit and require that only omni wheels may touch the ground to simulate reduced gravity. Would still fit the theme but also allow drivers to maintain control of the robots. I wasn't around during Lunacy but it sounds pretty awful from what I here.

[Hitchhiker 42]

The game will be held under the night sky. One of the challenges will involve a telescope.

[frcguy]

Of course, there''s a tiny part of me that is just screaming that it's not going to be space or sports, but like, a food-related game where competitors have to grocery shop and then cook a meal for Dean all via robot and in the normal time. Because, y'know, FIRST can't make it easy for us.


Dean's Grocery Games?

[Andrew Schreiber]

Jelly Babies?

[Roger]

From 2001: A Space Odyssey. The film also apparently predicted our preference for staring at mobile screens rather than talking to each other.In defense of the movie and book, Frank came to the wrong conclusion about staring at mobile screens in the future. The scene shown has Commander Bowman and Pilot Poole are watching their first in-flight news conference (on BBC 12!) since leaving lunar orbit. They have been traveling for around three weeks at this point, and expect to arrive at Jupiter after a total of 259 days. They are on different work shifts, trained (and picked) to be comfortable being alone, in a long, hopefully boring job. (In the book, they admit they are just janitors.) They probably know everything about the other since training together and know instinctively what the other will do. What would they talk about? "How was work today?" And all the Earth drama is 78 million miles away.

In the movie as a whole, there's not much screen watching. Dr Poole is playing chess with HAL and Dr Bowman sketches. Dr Poole looks absolutely bored watching a transmission of his parents giving birthday greetings. Earlier in the movie, on his way to the Moon, Dr Floyd calls his daughter on Earth, and converses with his Russian friends (or rather, tries not!). Okay, the off-duty stewardess is watching Judo(?) on tv on the way down to the Moon, but does briefly converse with the on-duty stewardess. Even the man-apes are discussing the weather with each other ;)

By the way, probably the better prediction book/radio and tv series/movie is the five-book trilogy The Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy.

I predict about a month ago that the 2017 game will try to be the total opposite in nature from the Medieval 2016 theme, so I was pleased to see the "future" references in Frank's Blog. And going out on a limb to say a more open field. But as Disney is creating it, I can't go wrong saying it will be very good. I can't wait to get my muscles toned doing field reset.

[Hitchhiker 42]

As a serious prediction, many of the FIRST games generally follow a similar theme. Cases in point:

2015 - Trash theme (Trash tek, Recycle Rush, Waste wise)
2016 - Medieval theme (Res-Q, Stronghold)
2017 - Animals?


EDIT: FTC seems to be a better indicator than FLL, so we might just have to wait until September 10th for the FTC release. Maybe the teaser will be released the same day.

[Basel A]

I predict that huge chunks of kickoff dialogue will be borrowed from Firefly and Serenity.

Well, my days of not taking you seriously are certainly coming to a middle (https://i.imgur.com/dJ8f4SW.gifv)

[TheBoulderite]

As a serious prediction, many of the FIRST games generally follow a similar theme. Cases in point:

2015 - Trash theme (Trash tek, Recycle Rush, Waste wise)
2016 - Medieval theme (Res-Q, Stronghold)
2017 - Animals?


EDIT: FTC seems to be a better indicator than FLL, so we might just have to wait until September 10th for the FTC release. Maybe the teaser will be released the same day.

Res-Q didn't really have a medieval theme to it...

[Christopher149]

As a serious prediction, many of the FIRST games generally follow a similar theme. Cases in point:

2015 - Trash theme (Trash tek, Recycle Rush, Waste wise)
2016 - Medieval theme (Res-Q, Stronghold)
2017 - Animals?


EDIT: FTC seems to be a better indicator than FLL, so we might just have to wait until September 10th for the FTC release. Maybe the teaser will be released the same day.

Res-Q didn't really have a medieval theme to it...

Waste Wise was the FLL Jr. of Trash Trek.

The better example I think is Climbing Game - FIRST Res-Q, FIRST Stronghold, Animal Allies (there is a climbing wall), though this spans two different competitions years, so did Recycle Rush / Trash Trek.

[orangemoore]

Res-Q didn't really have a medieval theme to it...

Yeah...

I'm not really sure how it relates to a Medieval theme.

Also there was this (http://www.firstinspires.org/sites/default/files/uploads/resource_library/ftc/2016-2017-season/castle-teaser.png) that showed up on the FTC website.

[ctt956]

Yeah...

I'm not really sure how it relates to a Medieval theme.

Also there was this (http://www.firstinspires.org/sites/default/files/uploads/resource_library/ftc/2016-2017-season/castle-teaser.png) that showed up on the FTC website.

Maybe FTC games are more similar to the previous year's FRC game?

[frcguy]

Maybe FTC games are more similar to the previous year's FRC game?

Don't think so. From what I saw of Res-Q at Maker Faire this year it looked pretty different from Recycle Rush.

[Sperkowsky]

Don't think so. From what I saw of Res-Q at Maker Faire this year it looked pretty different from Recycle Rush.

Yea its nothing like it. Res-Q didn't really remind me of any past FRC game. Maybe future though?

Mountain Game 2017

[Hitchhiker 42]

Maybe it's just for me (and maybe I'm forcing this connection), but Res-Q did seem similar in style to Stronghold. Mountains and stones for strongholds go together.

[AndyBare]

Initially when I read, I saw the word Space, and later the word Bass. So I said hmm... Space... Base... then I thought of the Space Race. The world's competition to get the first very advanced peek into space, which started during the Cold War, fueled the race to launch the first satellites to orbit the Earth.

After reading above about the travel to Jupiter in 2001: A Space Odyssey (I've never watched it because of the amount of "static action"), I looked into it. Jupiter has a plethora of moons, 67 known in fact, and I also found that Galileo discovered the first 4. What are they known as? The Galilean Satellites. Galileo's discovery of these moons was when he discovered the orbit, the curved path around a star, planet, or moon.

That's all I've got.

[Travis Hoffman]

As a serious prediction, many of the FIRST games generally follow a similar theme. Cases in point:

2015 - Trash theme (Trash tek, Recycle Rush, Waste wise)
2016 - Medieval theme (Res-Q, Stronghold)
2017 - Animals?




Harambe Havoc.

[QuatroDoesGood]

He mentioned Fried pickles at the end, which coincidentally became popular in the 1960s according to the first page of wikipidia (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fried_pickle)

Space Odyssey was from 1968.

The Cybermen were from 1966

1960s are a major reoccurring theme here. Coincidence? I think NOT!

[Bo8_87]

Is this the game hint? Or will there be more released later?

[WinterPoet]

Is this the game hint? Or will there be more released later?

The official teaser will be released later on. This is technically a teaser for the teaser, because Frank thrives on creating suspense :D

[dodar]

Harambe Havoc.

2017 Meme Mania

[billbo911]

As a serious prediction, many of the FIRST games generally follow a similar theme. Cases in point:

2015 - Trash theme (Trash tek, Recycle Rush, Waste wise)
2016 - Medieval theme (Res-Q, Stronghold)
2017 - Animals?


...

Animals --- Pink Floyd
I prefer The Dark Side of the Moon!

A prediction? No, just sayin'.

[AveryLevin.]

As most of us know, this year is Star Trek's 50th anniversary. At the end of Frank's 'Science Fiction Predicting Future Gadgets', he said "Makes me wonder what we’re seeing in today’s science fiction that 50 years from now". This could be in reference to Star Trek's 50th. Perhaps a Star Trek themed show. I, being a Trekky myself, will really enjoy a Star Trek themed game if it turns out to be that. I will not enjoy programming the alcubierre warp drive. :D

[Ringo5tarr]

He mentioned Fried pickles at the end, which coincidentally became popular in the 1960s according to the first page of wikipidia (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fried_pickle)

Space Odyssey was from 1968.

The Cybermen were from 1966

1960s are a major reoccurring theme here. Coincidence? I think NOT!

Beatles game confirmed, I am the walrus, game pieces are police, egg-men, dead dogs, custard, corporation t shirts, and every regional can only take place on stupid bloody tuesdays

[SenorZ]

iPads... BEATS headphones...
Both owned by Apple.

2001 and Dr. Who... both vintage sci-fi

Only conclusion: KoP will include a vintage 1st gen iPod with a 5GB HDD full of sci-fi soundtracks

[Hitchhiker 42]

iPads... BEATS headphones...
Both owned by Apple.

2001 and Dr. Who... both vintage sci-fi

Only conclusion: KoP will include a vintage 1st gen iPod with a 5GB HDD full of sci-fi soundtracks
Will we finally get to play music on our robots for once!?

[QuatroDoesGood]

As most of us know, this year is Star Trek's 50th anniversary. At the end of Frank's 'Science Fiction Predicting Future Gadgets', he said "Makes me wonder what we’re seeing in today’s science fiction that 50 years from now". This could be in reference to Star Trek's 50th. Perhaps a Star Trek themed show. I, being a Trekky myself, will really enjoy a Star Trek themed game if it turns out to be that. I will not enjoy programming the alcubierre warp drive. :D
Im a trekky as well, would kill for a ST themed game, but then again Disney helps with the game theme and they own Star Wars, not Star Trek. However the 50th anniversary is a pretty big coincidence. It might end up being just sci-fi in general.

Tbh if there was a Star Trek themed game I would half expect CBS or paramount to file a lawsuit just cause.

[WinterPoet]

Im a trekky as well, would kill for a ST themed game, but then again Disney helps with the game theme and they own Star Wars, not Star Trek. However the 50th anniversary is a pretty big coincidence. It might end up being just sci-fi in general.

Tbh if there was a Star Trek themed game I would half expect CBS or paramount to file a lawsuit just cause.

That's a really good point. It makes me wonder where FIRST and Disney stand on the "Is Star Wars sci-fi or fantasy?" argument. Recently a lot's happened in that franchise as well. I don't think that the game would be themed around it, but I can imagine lots of Star Wars puns, jokes, and references if they decide to go with a space theme.

[Ringo5tarr]

Beatles game confirmed, I am the walrus, game pieces are police, egg-men, dead dogs, custard, corporation t shirts, and every regional can only take place on stupid bloody tuesdays

Will we finally get to play music on our robots for once!?

BAM, Called it

[jaredhk]

Harambe Havoc.

http://i.imgur.com/tSsm6VP.png

[SenorZ]

Too soon.

[TAlholm]

I'd get those beats.

[chandrew]

Lunacy 2.0?
I've been waiting for this my entire FRC career >: )