Latest Blog Post - New "Hint"?

[Nate Smith]

From Bill's Blog:
And talking about controlling your robot, when you construct your team’s operator console this year so that it will fit on the 60” wide by 12” deep shelf of the alliance station during competition, give some thought to stability/security. It won’t be required, but I strongly suggest you put some hook tape on the underside of your console. Each shelf will have loop tape ready and waiting for you.


Expecting a lot of interaction with the field barrier, perhaps??

[ttldomination]

I'm guessing that this is a response to this year's "problems". At a few o' the regionals, robots went head onto into the opponent wall and they would knock over the control panel, often causing damage.

[Jon Jack]

Is there ever a year when there isn't a lot of robot/barrier interaction?

2008 - During hybrid and game play
2007 - Getting ringers along the wall
2006 - getting on the ramps and scoring in the side goal
2005 - capping goals in the home row

Many teams don't think about securing their controls to the driver station. How many times did a team have their controls knocked off last year because they didn't secure them?

Every field has had loop tape since at least 2007, if not earlier. I think Bill is just mentioning it so more team utilize this safety feature.

[Elgin Clock]

Maybe if they covered the whole shelf with velcro then teams would get the hint finally to attach their control system to the shelf with this method???
Just a thought. :cool:

[billbo911]

It looks like Bill has joined the very small, highly accomplished group of people who's every word is now scrutinized for possible hints as to what the game might be. :P

[Ziaholic]

It looks like Bill has joined the very small, highly accomplished group of people who's every word is now scrutinized for possible hints as to what the game might be. :P

Using each of the words with double letters as a key, I used an anagram tool to come up with the following conclusions for the '09 game rules ...

ready?

... naaa ... i'm keeping it a secret ... but it's all there if you look close enough!!!

[EricH]

It looks like Bill has joined the very small, highly accomplished group of people who's every word is now scrutinized for possible hints as to what the game might be. :P
He's already got the "pure evil genius" rating. Could it be any worse?

I'm with Jon Jack. There's been that velcro on the driver's station shelf for years now. How hard is it to attach a strip of the other velcro to the bottom of your control board? Not very. How many teams do it? Not many. I think this post goes along with the earlier one with the word of warning--nothing's changing, but Listen Up and take our advice.

[Greg Needel]

Expecting a lot of interaction with the field barrier, perhaps??



I think this will be really important due to the re-boot time of the new Driver Station. It takes about 10-12 seconds for each joysticks plugged in ( it takes over 30 seconds to boot up with 2 joysticks) . If it gets knocked off the driver mode and a restart is required, it will significantly slow down the regional flow, or worse yet, cause teams to be out of the match until their system reboots.

*note this is only the DS itself with joysticks and does not account for any time required to link with the field system, which may cause the time to be longer.

[cdennisxlx2]

I would imagine this is just a good practices suggestion. The team i was on last year im sure had a lot to do with it, lol, they were one of the bots that almost every other match [in 2 regionals] would slam into the opposite alliance station resulting in more then one dropped controller. Luckily none broke as a direct result of it, lol.

[NickE]

I think this will be really important due to the re-boot time of the new Driver Station. It takes about 10-12 seconds for each joysticks plugged in ( it takes over 30 seconds to boot up with 2 joysticks) . If it gets knocked off the driver mode and a restart is required, it will significantly slow down the regional flow, or worse yet, cause teams to be out of the match until their system reboots.Apparently it can take up to two full minutes when four joysticks are plugged in.

[Libby K]

Expecting a lot of interaction with the field barrier, perhaps??

I think this is just a reminder to teams to do what they SHOULD have done last year....especially because of what Greg pointed out. I saw a whole lot of upset drivers (and a few broken hearts) because of hybrid-period wall ramming. It's just a general good practice, and since the new Driver's Station does take some time to re-boot, it's going to be a good thing to keep in mind.

[IndySam]

More importantly the same dimensions as last year.

[NickE]

I think this is just a reminder to teams to do what they SHOULD have done last year....especially because of what Greg pointed out. I saw a whole lot of upset drivers (and a few broken hearts) because of hybrid-period wall ramming.During a match at TNT this year, one of our partners' control boards slammed onto the floor during hybrid period and really messed up one of their flightsticks. :(

Its so easy to put velcro on to the bottom of the control board to solve these problems. (and as an added benefit, it helps prevent the board from scratching any other surfaces you put it on)

[R.C.]

During a match at TNT this year, one of our partners' control boards slammed onto the floor during hybrid period and really messed up one of their flightsticks. :(

Its so easy to put velcro on to the bottom of the control board to solve these problems. (and as an added benefit, it helps prevent the board from scratching any other surfaces you put it on)

Sorry guys, i was the driver for last year, but i totally forget which side of the velcro to put on the control box. Sorry for the stupid question.

[smartkid]

Using each of the words with double letters as a key...

Take your machine out of the shop on Colorado in Paramount;
stop by and get connected on Central in Phoenix;
drive by and make a pickup on Minnetonka in Minnetonka;
then head to the field on Evergreen in Dover.

So that gives us: nnnnnnee!

So OBVIOUSLY this years game is to locate a shrubbery with our network camera and then give it to a knight somewhere on the field.

The other unofficial "hint" (this topics first post) gives us: llelgolo

If you add some spaces: l lego lo -OR- lego lol

Please god do not let FRC involve Lego's what-so-ever, please...

[NickE]

Sorry guys, i was the driver for last year, but i totally forget which side of the velcro to put on the control box. Sorry for the stupid question.The hook side goes on the control board. (for 2008,at least)Attached to the Alliance Station Wall are three aluminum shelves to support the robot control
systems of the three teams on the ALLIANCE. The support shelf measures approximately 60
inches wide by 12 inches deep. There is a 4-1/2-foot long by two-inch wide strip of Velcro tape
(“loop” side) along the center of the support shelf that may be used to secure the ROBOT controls
and Operator Interface.

[Elgin Clock]

Sorry guys, i was the driver for last year, but i totally forget which side of the velcro to put on the control box. Sorry for the stupid question.

I'm assuming you mean front, (towards where the drivers stand) back (towards the field) or another location on the bottom of the control board?

If you can't remember, & they don't specify it exactly in any field paperwork this year, just bring the velcro with you & attach it to the bottom of your controls where it needs to be during Thursday when you can see the shelf up close & personal.
That's what we ended up doing last year after hearing horror stories from earlier competitions.

Edit: I believe it was directly in the middle of the shelf between the lexan/diamond plate field wall & the edge of the shelf, but when in doubt, wait until you get there.

[synth3tk]

I think he might've meant which Velcro (hook or loop), which Eric had answered, although that's good advice, Elgin.

The "hook" side goes on the bottom of your board. That's the one that feels rougher than the other.