View Full Version : Possibility of a flying object?
kylemikableh
25-09-2016, 12:11
Based on the teaser trailer released earlier this week, it has come to my attention that multiple times it says such things as "Prepare to take flight" and "Ready your contraption". What I find most interesting is that here (https://gyazo.com/8415a560ea9156f870d07e0f380501e9) you see in the logo of this season actually has a flying machine in it. My question is, do you think that there will be some type of object in the air? If you do, do you think that teams will need to capture an object in the air or make their own "flying machine"?
cbale2000
25-09-2016, 12:49
Based on the teaser trailer released earlier this week, it has come to my attention that multiple times it says such things as "Prepare to take flight" and "Ready your contraption". What I find most interesting is that here (https://gyazo.com/8415a560ea9156f870d07e0f380501e9) you see in the logo of this season actually has a flying machine in it. My question is, do you think that there will be some type of object in the air? If you do, do you think that teams will need to capture an object in the air or make their own "flying machine"?
It's an interesting idea but I doubt FIRST will be having teams building their own flying machines (drones, basically). There are a variety of reasons for this, if the drones were the only robot a team built, every team would essentially have to get a brand new kit with completely different electronics, motors, hardware, and batteries (FRC hardware isn't exactly weighted for flight). If FIRST built the game to have drones in addition to a normal FRC bot (think mini-bots) then you would run into the issue of putting an additional wireless communication system on the field, causing further interference than what is already experienced. On top of all that, in either scenario the field would have to be completely netted off for safety purposes or even completely redesigned.
Now that all said, I could see a flying machine being a field element (like a helium "blimp" that you have to inflate or lead around the field via a tether). Something like that would be a more controlled element, and something that would be less likely to cause issues (except for if they break free and hit the ceiling).
Of course, now that I think about it, the picture you posted did just make me notice something I hadn't before...
https://i.gyazo.com/8415a560ea9156f870d07e0f380501e9.png
http://i.imgur.com/A2Ezphf.png
http://i.imgur.com/OWEHaOt.png
http://i.imgur.com/xqBJuao.png
This is a football game everyone...
Richard Wallace
25-09-2016, 13:20
:D
It is worth noting that Qualcomm was showing off a smart autonomous quadcopter at Worlds. While I don't think it could be directly controlled by teams, it could be used as a game piece or a unique field element
Team 4264
25-09-2016, 16:20
I was playing with FRC downloadable content. One of the ringtones is a shovel sound. In the history of rinetones, it's a really, really, dumb tone. I think is a crucial detail of the game. Meaning to shovel coal to make something go like a train, or fly like the blimp. The more we deliver to a coal bin, the more arena blimp inches forward. We are building front end loaders! Mystery solved. You may all sleep well tonight
Richard Wallace
25-09-2016, 16:46
We are building front end loaders! Mystery solved. You may all sleep well tonight
The ideal alliance will have one front end loader and two dump trucks, for efficient cycling.
This is a football game everyone...
Reminds me a bit of the Nerf Aero Howler. I seriously hope this is the game piece. That would be fun.
http://www.hasbro.com/common/productimages/en_US/614d15bb5056900b108b1e603725ac7a/3A302B1E50569047F5F52B03BF0A92B9.jpg
roboruler
25-09-2016, 19:57
Reminds me a bit of the Nerf Aero Howler. I seriously hope this is the game piece. That would be fun.
http://www.hasbro.com/common/productimages/en_US/614d15bb5056900b108b1e603725ac7a/3A302B1E50569047F5F52B03BF0A92B9.jpg
Something like that would be awesome, but the fins are very fragile and if they get bent they don't fly properly.
It depends on your definition of flying.
If you mean a game piece or mini-bot which is unsupported by the floor (either directly or through other condensed phase substances) for more than a couple of tenths of a second, I'd say it's almost certain. The last eleven games have encouraged or at least explicitly allowed game pieces to be launched by robots and/or thrown by human players. Triple Play was the most recent game in which throwing game pieces was prohibited for both players and robots, according to my archived rules. With the end of the teaser ending with the words "take flight", I would be more surprised if nothing in this game was allowed to "fly" than I was when the bumpers got tossed in the bin in the 2015 kickoff video.
If you mean flight that is sustained for more than about two seconds (e.g. lighter-than-air or powered flight), I'd guess 50%, or just a bit more - total guess, though.
The title of this thread made me think that someone was speculating that the 2017 game is based on Quidich
waialua359
26-09-2016, 14:44
Reminds me a bit of the Nerf Aero Howler. I seriously hope this is the game piece. That would be fun.
http://www.hasbro.com/common/productimages/en_US/614d15bb5056900b108b1e603725ac7a/3A302B1E50569047F5F52B03BF0A92B9.jpg
I seriously hope so too.
Already thinking of ways to spiral that thing out, on its way forward from a robot.
Ringo5tarr
26-09-2016, 19:03
https://pbs.twimg.com/media/CtTQVN_XYAAo2KB.jpg
A "flying object" could simply refer to a game piece in a shooting game (specifically a football shaped piece) however, if we are to expect a flying bot in the match this year, I would expect it to be in the endgame as minibots. It's not unreasonable for people to make their own quadcopters, right? So a voucher for some of the parts could come in the KoP, and the endgame could just be get a minibot onto a 5 (or something) ft platform.
spaghetticat97
26-09-2016, 19:44
It would be sweet if they meant for us to build a "Flying Robot" but I see this as a very low possibility. They're may be a flying game piece but my prediction is that one of the game pieces will have the illusion of flying... maybe using zip lines or having an object propel through the air. i don't think game designers will go as far as making an actual flying object. But that would be AWESOME
I seriously hope so too.
Already thinking of ways to spiral that thing out, on its way forward from a robot.
I'm mostly thinking traditional two-roller launcher, but with same-handed mecanum wheels.
https://pbs.twimg.com/media/CtTQVN_XYAAo2KB.jpg
Concept Maps (CMs) seemed like such a good idea when I first read about them, except that I realized that they needed an "encapsulation" to function as parentheses do for algebra, but my conversations with the authors never achieved any traction. Unfortunately, I haven't seen a CM since that lived up to that initial paper, including new CMs from the original authors.
Just out of curiosity, what do you intend your colors/shapes to mean? The pentagons are obviously "authoritative information", but the others mostly seem inconsistent. All but two of the red ovals are "leaves", and none of the light blue round-corner ovals are, but the purple hexagons and the green trapezoids are a mystery.
roboruler
26-09-2016, 22:59
The fins of this would also be pretty fragile, but it looks like the Aerobie Football resembles the oval shaped craft in the teaser more.
http://www.aerobie.com/product/football/
http://www.aerobie.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/10/FB-orange-yellow-fade.jpg
It would be pretty cool for FIRST to be able to support one of the smaller toy manufacturers out there, especially with the very scientific/engineered focus of Aerobies products.
Mike Marandola
26-09-2016, 23:04
It would be pretty cool for FIRST to be able to support one of the smaller toy manufacturers out there, especially with the very scientific/engineered focus of Aerobies products.
I agree. Launching Aeropresses would be pretty cool.
Richard Wallace
27-09-2016, 07:58
Scaling down a JUGS machine would be an interesting challenge.
This vid (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5PFPcq8XHhg) suggests it could be done but is not trivial.
It would be pretty cool for FIRST to be able to support one of the smaller toy manufacturers out there, especially with the very scientific/engineered focus of Aerobies products.
Agreed! I'm a huge fan of the Aerobie Ring. I didn't know they had a football. So cool!
It would be pretty cool for FIRST to be able to support one of the smaller toy manufacturers out there, especially with the very scientific/engineered focus of Aerobies products.
What if they made a game piece out of 4 of these things (http://www.aerobie.com/product/orbiter-boomerang/) attached together? Or if they made the game to launch these (http://www.aerobie.com/product/epic-golf-disc/)?
well i think maybe we can throw the totes from RR
Pooja Anil
27-09-2016, 12:19
My team has been talking about a flying minibot that might "fly" across a string. Or maybe just fly on its own. Either way sounds awesome!!!!:D :D :D
Taggerun
27-09-2016, 13:06
I just don't see how football and a steampunk theme would go together. Personally I want to see a drone game ;)
Taggerun
Eric Scheuing
27-09-2016, 13:31
I agree. Launching Aeropresses would be pretty cool.
Coffee game confirmed.
cbale2000
27-09-2016, 14:08
The fins of this would also be pretty fragile, but it looks like the Aerobie Football resembles the oval shaped craft in the teaser more.
http://www.aerobie.com/product/football/
http://www.aerobie.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/10/FB-orange-yellow-fade.jpg
Oh no... I had one of these when I was a kid, these would be an absolute nightmare for robots to manipulate (and they would get shredded)... please FIRST, anything but this. :eek:
kylemikableh
27-09-2016, 15:13
I just don't see how football and a steampunk theme would go together. Personally I want to see a drone game ;)
Taggerun
I mean they usually have specifically designed game pieces, so maybe a football that is textured with cogs and such would fit right in.
Richard Wallace
27-09-2016, 16:16
I just don't see how football and a steampunk theme would go together.
Find a trailer for the 2007 film Leatherheads. Steampunk football would look like that.
Kinda brute force and dirty, compared with the modern game.
Kevin Thorp
27-09-2016, 16:52
... but my prediction is that one of the game pieces will have the illusion of flying... maybe using zip lines...
Last year the FTC game "FIRST ResQ" had little plastic figurines that could be triggered to slide down a zipline: Game Animation (https://youtu.be/b49Q3kqrSv0?t=6m43s)
Last year the FTC game "FIRST ResQ" had little plastic figurines that could be triggered to slide down a zipline: Game Animation (https://youtu.be/b49Q3kqrSv0?t=6m43s)
And Nature's Fury (FLL 2013) had a cargo plane landing on a zip line.
Taggerun
27-09-2016, 19:11
I mean they usually have specifically designed game pieces, so maybe a football that is textured with cogs and such would fit right in.
Had not thought of that!! Ops. ;)
Taggerun
dmorewood
28-09-2016, 08:54
The ideal alliance will have one front end loader and two dump trucks, for efficient cycling.
So we had forklifts in 2015 and now front end loaders in 2017. First has really embraced the industrial side of robotics.
GaryVoshol
29-09-2016, 06:00
Then there's this: https://flybrix.com/
Note, "Limited Availability". Nuff said.
roboruler
29-09-2016, 06:16
Then there's this: https://flybrix.com/
Note, "Limited Availability". Nuff said.
Perhaps that is because they busy filling a big order for a company with 5 meaningful letters in it's name.
In reality this is a really stupid product, like $189 for what is basically a $30 Chinese drone with a LEGO frame.
Maybe the flying objects could be 2 "blimps" that launch down zip lines at the end of the game, dropping bonus balls/object/whatever. It could be cool. Or maybe push your own blimp to the end of the zip-line or something.
I Apologize in advance for my horrible drawing I did in 2 minutes.21124
Then there's this: https://flybrix.com/
Note, "Limited Availability". Nuff said.
This. Is. Awesome! But...
Perhaps that is because they busy filling a big order for a company with 5 meaningful letters in it's name.
In reality this is a really stupid product, like $189 for what is basically a $30 Chinese drone with a LEGO frame.
...I somewhat agree. It's not really stupid, IMO, just overpriced. There are special LEGO bricks to hold the motors(maybe why they're so expensive?), but you could get a cheap Chinese drone and just rebuild it out of LEGO. Though the kit does make it easier, but not worth nearly $200.
Maybe the flying objects could be 2 "blimps" that launch down zip lines at the end of the game, dropping bonus balls/object/whatever. It could be cool. Or maybe push your own blimp to the end of the zip-line or something.
I Apologize in advance for my horrible drawing I did in 2 minutes.
I think you might be on to something. The opposing corner objects look familiar(FTC). But I think(at least, I hope) the minibots, if they exist, will actually fly. Possibly with balloons or helicopters/drones with protected rotors. Or maybe some sort of short-distance plane...wait. I think I've got it! It will be one of those gliders that you charge and throw, with a capacitor to run the prop, but it only lasts for a few seconds. Something done in the regular game will "fuel" these planes, and then they'll be launched during endgame. Score will be determined by distance, max height, and/or flight duration.
Tom Line
07-10-2016, 15:19
Then there's this: https://flybrix.com/
Note, "Limited Availability". Nuff said.
Now that you've pointed out that it has limited availability you've guaranteed FRC will heavily consider using it. Darn it Gary, you know better than that.
My team has been talking about a flying minibot that might "fly" across a string. Or maybe just fly on its own. Either way sounds awesome!!!!:D :D :D
Then there's this: https://flybrix.com/
Note, "Limited Availability". Nuff said.
This time, the MiniBots will be provided by FLL teams?
I think you might be on to something. The opposing corner objects look familiar(FTC). But I think(at least, I hope) the minibots, if they exist, will actually fly. Possibly with balloons or helicopters/drones with protected rotors. Or maybe some sort of short-distance plane...wait. I think I've got it! It will be one of those gliders that you charge and throw, with a capacitor to run the prop, but it only lasts for a few seconds. Something done in the regular game will "fuel" these planes, and then they'll be launched during endgame. Score will be determined by distance, max height, and/or flight duration.
I like your thinking, that'd be pretty cool. I know over in some other thread that people were talking about shoveling "coal" to power something, and it does make sense.
kylemikableh
16-10-2016, 18:23
I like your thinking, that'd be pretty cool. I know over in some other thread that people were talking about shoveling "coal" to power something, and it does make sense.
Hmm, combining that coal idea with the football idea from earlier and of course the whole steam punk idea maybe footballs will be black (to look like coal) and maybe it will be the alliance who gets the most "coal" into their furnace?
Hmm, combining that coal idea with the football idea from earlier and of course the whole steam punk idea maybe footballs will be black (to look like coal) and maybe it will be the alliance who gets the most "coal" into their furnace?
I thought about this some more, and I think it could work like this: Alliances will place coal and maybe water(you decide whether or not it's real water) into a furnace/boiler. The amount of each determines how much "fuel" is applied to that alliance's blimp/airship, which will be stationed in a corner of the field. Either "fuel " will inflate the balloon, or just charge a battery/capacitor on the blimp. During the endgame, the blimps will be launched(or can be launched prematurely if desired), and possibly remote controlled by human players. It is also possible that coal will be placed somewhere on the field, put onto the field by human players, carried by a train around the perimeter of the field which may be controlled by human players, or any combination of those.
Awesomegamer235
17-10-2016, 10:20
Based on the teaser trailer released earlier this week, it has come to my attention that multiple times it says such things as "Prepare to take flight" and "Ready your contraption". What I find most interesting is that here (https://gyazo.com/8415a560ea9156f870d07e0f380501e9) you see in the logo of this season actually has a flying machine in it. My question is, do you think that there will be some type of object in the air? If you do, do you think that teams will need to capture an object in the air or make their own "flying machine"?
Honestly from what I noticed. Last game had a ball... now you can say I'm wrong if you want but I have noticed that every other year has a ball..... SO if last year was a ball How could it be a footBALL I honestly think it is a frisbee because last year was a ball. But the blimp does make me think they are going to switch up the order of ball and no ball. That's just what I've noticed
I also have the board game steamworks and it's a game where you build machines..... so I think there is going to be some building by the robots
Cam_Team 2619
17-10-2016, 10:36
Balloon Game 2K17 confirmed. Blimps are just giant balloons, right? :)
Ringo5tarr
01-11-2016, 15:56
https://pbs.twimg.com/media/CwM5qMWWAAEYc14.jpg:large
So based off the patterns I saw, the bottom row shows my best guess for the game, ignoring the game pieces, as that the least predictable in my eyes. ignoring the Steampunk theme, which I think is important if you're really looking for good guess at the game (look at Stronghold, that definitely wasn't capture the flag). but all these thoughts on a football-like piece seems likely although it also gives me flags from Stronghold vibes , the zip-line blimp theory seems to fit a tiny bit better.
vBulletin® v3.6.4, Copyright ©2000-2017, Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd.