Update #8

[EricH]

I'm somewhat surprised at CD in general. I'd have thought this update's existence would have been announced here hours ago...

http://usfirst.org/uploadedFiles/Robotics_Programs/FRC/Game_and_Season__Info/2010_Assets/Team_Updates/Team%20Update%208.pdf

The good news: FP motor pinion replacements are being handled through FRC, plus info on replacement cRIOs

The bad news: no setting up any 802.11 a/b/g/n wireless communication at the events.

[Brandon Holley]

Everyone's busy building robots Eric!

Glad the FP pinion confusion is being taken care of...

-Brando

[Alex Cormier]

We are now allowed to use two way radios?

[rsisk]

We are now allowed to use two way radios?

That's the way it looks to me.

[MrForbes]

The pinion confusion is just starting....we built a gearbox that uses the 15 tooth pinion gears that we recieved in the KOP.

Is it legal to use either pinion? or do we need to redesign and use the 19 tooth?

:)

[Mike Betts]

The pinion confusion is just starting....we built a gearbox that uses the 15 tooth pinion gears that we recieved in the KOP.

Is it legal to use either pinion? or do we need to redesign and use the 19 tooth?

:)

Jim,

If the motors themselves are identical, there should be no issues. If different, FIRST could require replacement or allow both.

Inspectors will normally accept a motor on its markings and not on the pinion gear.

I would definitely post your concern to the official Q&A.

Mike

[ATannahill]

I checked it yesterday at 5:40 and it was not up, I thought they had nothing to say and didn't put one out.

[GaryVoshol]

We are now allowed to use two way radios?

Still prohibited by <T27>.

[Jonathan Norris]

Still prohibited by <T27>.

Prohibited to have on the field, but for stands to pits communication we will probably be using one. Especially when we are in Pittsburg, international calling is expensive...

[PaW]

The bad news: no setting up any 802.11 a/b/g/n wireless communication at the events.

That's too bad, but understandable. It's going to be hard to enforce. Anyone in the crowd NOT associated with a team and/or unfamiliar with the rules can come into the venue with a Cradlepoint or a MiFi and set up a hotspot without knowing that doing so is prohibited. Imagine the already inconsistent pat-down procedures at the venue entrance, now with the added responsibility of checking for mobile hotspot devices.

[EricH]

That's too bad, but understandable. It's going to be hard to enforce. Anyone in the crowd NOT associated with a team and/or unfamiliar with the rules can come into the venue with a Cradlepoint or a MiFi and set up a hotspot without knowing that doing so is prohibited. Imagine the already inconsistent pat-down procedures at the venue entrance, now with the added responsibility of checking for mobile hotspot devices.
The field guys can figure out what networks are around pretty easily; they were checking last year. Then it's just a matter of finding the source router and politely requesting that they shut down the network.

Just a smidge harder than checking for IR coming from the crowd back in 2008...

[ATannahill]

There are a few interesting things in the twitter feed information at http://usfirst.org/uploadedFiles/Community/FRC/Game_and_Season__Info/2010_Assets/Field%20Management%20System%20Twitter%20Feed.pdf.

1. They are prepared for scores to go to three digits.
2. They talk about bonuses that the referees give to teams, I expect these are points from the finale hanging.
3. Goal penalties are seperated from ref penalties (I would prefer them to spell out some of the words instead of doing this).
4. Ref penalties go into double digits and goal penalties go into triple digits.
5. I believe final score for the example should be 0 (-1) for red and 5 for blue.

[Karibou]

The bad news: no setting up any 802.11 a/b/g/n wireless communication at the events.

Hasn't this been a rule for the past few years, though? We used to run a wireless network to share our scouting system/"website," but I think that the last year we were allowed to use it was 2008, and even then, we may have been asked to turn it off (I can't remember).

[DonRotolo]

Hasn't this been a rule for the past few years, though? We used to run a wireless network to share our scouting system/"website,"
Yes, my memory agrees. We were also given special permission several times to run an AP which shared our scouting data with anyone who wanted it. This was requested several weeks in advance. In one venue we had to run this service wired; people would come over every so often and just download the data file. Real busy at the end of the day Friday...

[keehun]

In regards to Wifi connectivity, what about some venues that have Wifi installed? Like at Minnesota 10,000 Lakes, we're in middle of the University of Minnesota campus and we get 5-bars wifi. I have a student ID at Minnesota which means I get all the internet I want. I guess I don't really have any point but wanted to bring it up.

[Kingofl337]

I think the wifi thing is a bad rule and because most venues have wifi and because the field runs at 5GHz/802.11n and most people use b/g 2.4GHz.

A better rule would be:
No robots running wireless in the pits, all robots must be tethered.
No 802.11n wifi hotspots
Wifi cards on DriverStation and Dashboard Computer must be disabled
All teams running WIFI in the pits must register with the event desk.

That or FIRST should provide a single 802.11b/g wifi hotspot for teams for scouting.

[IndySam]

We are now allowed to use two way radios?

I expect them to fix that in another update.

That's too bad, but understandable. It's going to be hard to enforce.

Not hard to enforce. Devices are available to do this.

[GaryVoshol]

2. They talk about bonuses that the referees give to teams, I expect these are points from the finale hanging.What does a bonus of 1 mean? Bonus points are either 2 or 3.
3. Goal penalties are seperated from ref penalties (I would prefer them to spell out some of the words instead of doing this).The goal penalties are done automagically via DOGMA and the counter on the ball return.
4. Ref penalties go into double digits and goal penalties go into triple digits.Goal penalties can mount up. If a ball should be dropped and "lost", never returned through the ball return system, you'd get a penalty every two seconds for the rest of the match. Lose two balls during auto mode, and that's in the neighborhood of 120 penalties! Don't fumble the balls, boys and girls!
5. I believe final score for the example should be 0 (-1) for red and 5 for blue.This has to be just a format example, not a real accounting. First as noted, how many points were the bonuses? You can surmise 2 points each in this case, as it is impossible to have a SUSPENDED robbot without there also being an ELEVATED robot. But look at the penalties. It's impossible to have 2 goal penalties without having any goals scored.

[EricVanWyk]

Not hard to enforce. Devices are available to do this.

At Atlanta last year we got to play with a device that was able to localize a "rogue" wifi node so that folks could go talk to them, and then optionally shut it down remotely. Very pretty toy.