View Full Version : FIRST Design XKCD
Looks like Randall Munroe is a FIRST fan:
http://www.xkcd.com/689/
Francis-134
15-01-2010, 00:15
Darn, look's like he must have been listening in on Team 190's design meetings. Back to the drawing board. :(
(btw Randall, you will be hearing from our lawyers).
MrForbes
15-01-2010, 00:17
WATER GAME!
Danny McC
15-01-2010, 00:17
I love how there is like 4 or 5 posts with this same thing it. Made me laugh. GG.
Katie_UPS
15-01-2010, 00:19
SO MUCH HAPPINESS.
http://imgs.xkcd.com/comics/first_design.png
I love this, but unfortunately, there are a few rule infractions here:
1) No part may detach from the robot.
2) That is WAY above the height limitation, even during the FINALE.
3) There are no bumpers on the robot.
So if you were thinking about using this design, make sure the tower stays connected to the robot and within the frame perimeter which is surrounded by bumpers, and only extends to 60". Maybe a really intense light focused onto the sensor would work.
slavik262
15-01-2010, 00:26
I love how within 20 minutes of the comic going up there were three threads about it on CD already. I love you all.
Ian Curtis
15-01-2010, 00:28
If only the alt text had been something to the effect of "Should've thought of this to keep the static down last year!" I would literally be rolling on the floor.
Two thumbs up for this comic!
Greg Marra
15-01-2010, 00:29
I love it!
Does this mean Randall is mentoring a team in the Cambridge, MA area?
Improved design: drop the telescoping pole with lighter, use an IR laser instead!
ubermeister
15-01-2010, 00:33
Can we get an official count on how many rules are broken?
menace101
15-01-2010, 00:33
OH EM GEE! I was so excited when I saw the "FIRST Design" in my bookmark, I didn't believe it would actually be FIRST. I had the thought..=]
ANYWAY!
Looks like our next team update will need to include a new definition of "field elements"... =]
David Brinza
15-01-2010, 00:43
Can we get an official count on how many rules are broken?
It's in the referee's certification exam?
Okay, so I'd like to settle this once and for all. I didn't see anything in this year's rule book about lasers being illegal, but as far as I remember, it's been in the ones from every other year. Does that mean that lasers are legal this year, or am I remembering the past incorrectly? Obviously, lasers would have to pass safety inspection, so if there was a bad use for one, or it was pointed at eye-level for anybody, it would be banned, but I can think of several great uses.
Nuttyman54
15-01-2010, 00:59
Can we get an official count on how many rules are broken?
I'll start the count:
1. No bumpers
2. Detaching mechanism
2a. The robot probably has two power sources (and possibly two controllers) since both the robot and the detached mechanism are actively moving at the same time. Theoretically this could be done by a complicated spring/catch system using only stored energy, hence the sub-point.
3. Definitely extends above 60" and probably 90", and it's not touching a tower
4. Open flame plus interacting with elements outside the arena = definite safety violation
5. Umbrella is definitely extending outside the frame perimeter
6. Sprinklers would cause field destruction
7. The last frame clearly shows the robot in possession of two balls
that's all I can think of for now...probably are more thoug
I'll keep the penalty log on that one, Nuttyman. (Though 7 is not the case; it's using one to herd another.) I'll also add some more.
1--<S04>, penalty, possible Yellow Card
2--<G41>, penalty, possible Red Card, and with it causing a rainstorm inside, that possible is a definite.
3--<S04> or <G30>; either way, penalty and possible Yellow Card
4--<S01>, penalty, disablement
5--<G30>, penalty, Yellow Card
6--<G26>, potential disablement
8--strategy aimed at robot destruction/disablement--<G36>, Yellow Card
Penalty:5
Yellow Card:2-4 (intentionality says 4)
Red Card:1-3, depending on how many yellow cards are pulled.
That robot would be tied up in inspection for the rest of the event, under instructions from the Head Ref.
artdutra04
15-01-2010, 01:03
Can we get an official count on how many rules are broken?Please post all official game related questions in the correct Q&A forum with your team's TIMS account.
:yikes:
lingomaniac88
15-01-2010, 01:06
I demand a team update that allows this specific design to be legal! :p
Putting FIRST in XKCD is like putting peanut butter in chocolate: it's one kind of awesomeness mixed into another variety of awesomeness. This is truly worth geeking out about.
Yes, I am all giddy about this. :ahh: :D
Oh, and this strip seemed to bring out all the FIRSTers on the XKCD forums (http://forums.xkcd.com/viewtopic.php?f=7&t=55281).
Okay, so I'd like to settle this once and for all. I didn't see anything in this year's rule book about lasers being illegal, but as far as I remember, it's been in the ones from every other year. Does that mean that lasers are legal this year, or am I remembering the past incorrectly? Obviously, lasers would have to pass safety inspection, so if there was a bad use for one, or it was pointed at eye-level for anybody, it would be banned, but I can think of several great uses.
There are two classes of lasers this year: legal and illegal. Legal is easier to define, so here's the definition: COTS completely enclosed integral lasers are legal.
Illegal: any exposed laser (which would pretty much be the rest of them).
<R02-D> is the rule in question.
Burmeister #279
15-01-2010, 01:28
i was excited to see that i WASN'T the first person to get this and want to post this because that means that i'm not the only one reading xkcd =D. I thought this was awesome and funny at the same time, and i'm glad Randall knows of us =)
Scott Carpman
15-01-2010, 01:37
This comic is pure win. Million times win.
Travis Hoffman
15-01-2010, 01:54
Breakaway: Plowbot's Revenge
Breakaway: Plowbot's Revenge
Please. His name is (and always has been) "Dozer" :)
-dave
.
Akash Rastogi
15-01-2010, 02:23
Please. His name is (and always has been) "Dozer" :)
-dave
.
Still can't beat Wall-E though.
Please. His name is (and always has been) "Dozer" :)
-dave
.
Tee hee. Dave Lavery commented on my thread :D
David Brinza
15-01-2010, 02:46
I'll keep the penalty log on that one, Nuttyman. (Though 7 is not the case; it's using one to herd another.) I'll also add some more.
1--<S04>, penalty, possible Yellow Card
2--<G41>, penalty, possible Red Card, and with it causing a rainstorm inside, that possible is a definite.
3--<S04> or <G30>; either way, penalty and possible Yellow Card
4--<S01>, penalty, disablement
5--<G30>, penalty, Yellow Card
6--<G26>, potential disablement
8--strategy aimed at robot destruction/disablement--<G36>, Yellow Card
Penalty:5
Yellow Card:2-4 (intentionality says 4)
Red Card:1-3, depending on how many yellow cards are pulled.
That robot would be tied up in inspection for the rest of the event, under instructions from the Head Ref.
Eric would be a superb referee. However, he never would see this robot on the field.
Here are some obvious non-compliances with robot rules:
<R02> F. Matches are not legal.
<R07> Robot must have bumpers!
<R11> Articulated robot frame is not legal.
<R14> School name?
<R15> Team number?
<R16> Definitely looks like a "mushroom-bot"
No inspector would let that robot near the field, even for practice.
Still, it's a wonderful cartoon.:D
Conor Ryan
15-01-2010, 02:50
Awesome application of Dean's Homework.
I think we're assuming that the inspectors were ALL folks off the street with no training whatsoever for this one, given that in the cartoon it did in fact make it to the field.
Also note that <S04> disallows anything violating robot rules.:D With that list, Dave, that's 6x<S04>, better known as 6 penalties and 6 potential yellow cards assuming that it even made it to the field with the aforementioned highly underqualified inspection crew. Add that to the above and no ref crew would even think about letting it back on the field after the first match.
(Aside from every other team in the event being mad at the team...)
Oh, and add another possible penalty to the list:<G31> is at extreme risk of being violated. Penalty at minimum, red card if intentional or damaging.
Note that almost every penalty carries a card with it. And that every listed penalty would happen every match (both senses of the word). Odds of it lasting longer than half of a practice match, or going a full match without getting disabled: 1/(10^-infinity). Odds of the inspection crew getting in trouble, should it enter the field: infinity/1.
GaryVoshol
15-01-2010, 06:55
Please. His name is (and always has been) "Dozer" :)
-dave
.
Yes, but his friends started calling him Plow-E last year.
Did anybody else hear angels' voices singing at this holy union?
dk5sm5luigi
15-01-2010, 07:50
That broken robot in the end looks a lot like Team 1735's typical robot with the lattice on all sides. I wonder if that is a coincidence since the xkcd creators are from Mass.
Did anybody else hear angels' voices singing at this holy union?
I did! It's amazing! FIRST and xkcd?? Two of my favorite things just joined forces today to make a whole new species of awesome.
JaneYoung
15-01-2010, 08:30
I like the umbrella sound, FWOOMP. Dozer looks good with an umbrella.
JaneYoung
15-01-2010, 08:34
Did anybody else hear angels' voices singing at this holy union?
I heard "soccer in the rain" to the tune of Singing In The Rain - and the only other line I came up with (before coffee) was - this game is insane.
Nate Smith
15-01-2010, 09:08
A little something I threw together for those of you who want this to be your new wallpaper...the 1280x800 is for those of you with widescreen monitors.
Nadav Zingerman
15-01-2010, 09:12
+2 Internets
Like all brainstorming, there is no such thing as a bad idea, and illegal ideas just need to be bent a little to fit within the rules..
Here goes:
You know, if you were to make this into 1 unit with proper height bumpers, climb the ball return tower, then extend to maximum Finale configuration with 2 Fisher-Price Magic smoke generators (motors with their drive shafts grounded).....Hmmmm
JoeXIII'007
15-01-2010, 09:42
This has been a pretty good morning ladies and gents... and thank God it is early in the semester, otherwise I think my celebration of this would have been shorter*.
Did anybody else hear angels' voices singing at this holy union?
I think I experienced a spiritual high...
*yeah right.
Chris is me
15-01-2010, 10:20
So I was all set to have a terrible day today. Thanks xkcd!
Anyone want to bring Randall out to a regional?
Greg Needel
15-01-2010, 10:59
Threads merged.
Pavan Dave
15-01-2010, 11:20
RTFM RANDALL!!!!
lol
Anyone want to bring Randall out to a regional?
The Boston Regional would be closest, as he's in Cambridge, MA. As has been said earlier, he may be with a team. Clearly he's aware of this year's game, but needs to read the rules. :D
The Boston Regional would be closest, as he's in Cambridge, MA. As has been said earlier, he may be with a team. Clearly he's aware of this year's game, but needs to read the rules. :D
I would hazard a guess its highly likely he's involved with a team, and I expect he DID read the rules and is deliberately flouting them for comedic effect.
MrForbes
15-01-2010, 14:40
I expect he DID read the rules and is deliberately flouting them for comedic effect.
Is that allowed?
;)
Is that allowed?
;)
Well, are comedy and sarcasm COTS items?
Well, are comedy and sarcasm COTS items?
Actually, I am pretty sure they are supplied in the KOP (at least they are in the rookie kits - veterans have to supply their own sarcasm).
-dave
.
Pretty sure some of the CD folks would be more than happy to loan/donate/sell you some sarcasm and/or comedy and/or bad puns. Just make sure to account for them on the BOM.
Peter Matteson
15-01-2010, 16:51
I would hazard a guess its highly likely he's involved with a team, and I expect he DID read the rules and is deliberately flouting them for comedic effect.
Is that allowed?
I hope so. I've made an 8 FRC mentoring career out of flaunting the rules for comedic effect and I have no intention of stoping...
andrew348
15-01-2010, 19:19
One Comment: AMAZING
MrWibbles
16-01-2010, 14:44
I was really really happy to see this comic :D
It isn't the first time that xkcd has been involved with FRC -- our team (2877 Ligerbots) has the first-ever XKCD sponsorship. (Apparently a few of his friends went to our high school. It's most likely a one-time feat.)
Randall was a mentor, or something similar, when he was in college, on his little brother's team. He has some great stories about it.
(now that I think about it, there's probably still a whiteboard with "xkcd.com -- DNE" somewhere in our team's room)
Samheartsrobots
18-01-2010, 21:38
Wow. I love XKCD and this is just awesome. I say epic win and is there anyway we can put this on our t-shirts or buttons? xD
ThomasSchneider
18-09-2010, 14:11
This has got to be one of the best xkcd comics I have seen. The thing that makes it so much more awesome is that my team, #1719, is called "The Umbrella Corporation"... :yikes:
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