Peer-to-Peer Alliance Robot Coordination
 

This year's game provides several scenarios where automated robot-to-robot coordination could be utilized (both between alliances and very decidedly within an alliance). This coordination could occur with or without driver control.

I'm not aware of any peer-to-peer protocol existing currently within the FIRST FRC robotics platform - yet the existence of such could enable a new-level of game-play and engineering innovation. One can imagine in 2012 the ability to communicate (via a blackboard-paradigm, perhaps) and coordinate dynamic tactical moves between 2-3 robots on the end-game bridge.

Another opportunity in 2012 is to communicate the expected path of each robot on an alliance in order to adaptively plot a robot's path to avoid collision.

This may seem far-fetched, but it is a direction of current robotics research and future development. And what better place for it to grow than within the "Gracious Professionalism" environment filled w/the next generation of robotics professionals.....

If anyone has any thoughts or is aware of any other initiatives in this direction, please let me know.

Re: Peer-to-Peer Alliance Robot Coordination
 

We wanted to do this really badly but couldn't figure out a legal way to do it. It would make balancing so much easier.

This should be available going forward.

Re: Peer-to-Peer Alliance Robot Coordination
 

The rules don't allow for electronic communication between robots, unfortunately. I like the idea though.