Re: Thoughts on whether the size change will be permanent?
 

Two teams showed up to FLR with 28x38 robots! :ahh:

Re: Thoughts on whether the size change will be permanent?
 

Pshh, who needs to read the manual? :rolleyes:

That's honestly one of the most depressing things I've read on here in a while.

Re: Thoughts on whether the size change will be permanent?
 

Both got a lot of help and ended up competing, hopefully with a great big lesson learned!

Re: Thoughts on whether the size change will be permanent?
 

I believe one was closer to 38x38 (Built the kitbot without cutting anything). On the plus side their electrical system fit beautifully.

Re: Thoughts on whether the size change will be permanent?
 

From a non-build perspective, the change in frame perimeter this year kinda made more robots look like, well robots. Teams used the space allotted a lot more efficiently and as a result many bots have a shock factor to them, the whole "I didn't expect that to come out of there!" effect. In my opinion it makes many bots more exciting to watch because they can now be seen as efficient robots meant to complete a specific task(s), as opposed to giant hulks of machines that did everything and still had space to spare. While the bigger sizes of the past had an "I don't want to get in front of that thing" aspect to them, the newer smaller sizes offer a robots working alongside humans aspect because they are less scary... minus the discs being shot at high speeds aspect.::safety::

The new size forced teams to not only design how to do a task, but how to do it as simply as possible, as there is not much room for overly complicated mechanisms. The new size also forced teams to think about accessibility for servicing. This was huge in 2010, but was kinda lost in other years when you look FRC wide.

I hope the sizes are here to stay. They are just big enough to be considered advanced machines, but just small enough to not be caged up, pun intended. Goldilocks would be happy.

Re: Thoughts on whether the size change will be permanent?
 

And those are presumably veteran teams... I worry about any rookie international teams, one mis-translation or mis-interpretation of a rule and they could show up with something totally unworkable...

Re: Thoughts on whether the size change will be permanent?
 

One thing I noticed Week 1 was how crowded the space in front of the pyramid and the space in between the pyramids seemed to get at some times. This could just be from streaming angles, but I can't imagine what it would have been like with larger robots, it would have been significantly more crowded, meaning more G30s.

Re: Thoughts on whether the size change will be permanent?
 

I drive for 1058, and at least a BAE/GSR, G30's were not being called at all. We committed G30 penalties and they were committed on us without call. I don't know if that's just because they weren't being seen or if they're actually being ignored.

Re: Thoughts on whether the size change will be permanent?
 

With regard to the size change, I am all for it. One of the things I enjoyed most about it was that it allowed teams to still have the 120 pound weight requirement, allowing for denser robots. The design changes in place to accord for a more flexible perimeter did not affect many teams, including ours, assuming that everyone read the rulebook. I do know of robots at regionals who have been unable to play due to being 28x38. I hope they keep it, our robot this year fit really well, and we are doing a west coast drive, which freed up space. It took some stagnant ideas and methods and brought new innovation by restriction, and, we even overcompensated, and, for the first time I have seen on our team, we were underweight, allowing for heavy manipulation of the centre of gravity, which I hope will play to our teams advantage.

TL;DR
Keep it, please

Re: Thoughts on whether the size change will be permanent?
 

The size limit does not bother me its those bumpers that I dont like, But that might just be that I was so used to having not having them on the bots.

Re: Thoughts on whether the size change will be permanent?
 

I really like the idea of a maximum frame perimeter, much more room for customization, hexagonal, or even circular robots are do-able (and practical) this year whereas before every single one was the same 28x38 rectangle. Allows many more adaptations to better fit the requirements of the game such as if an extremely wide and skinny robot was for some reason advantageous.

Re: Thoughts on whether the size change will be permanent?
 

This year was the first year in recent memory that 2996 did not have to drill weight holes. We managed to get everything in under the size constraints pretty well, and the fact that everyone else has to be smaller levels the loss of size, of course. Thumbs up from me for the size change! :)

Re: Thoughts on whether the size change will be permanent?
 

Oddly enough, this is the first time since 2006 that 1551 hasn't been easily under the weight limit!

Re: Thoughts on whether the size change will be permanent?
 

I like the use of perimeter and that the footprint is smaller. Is this a step toward four team alliances?

Re: Thoughts on whether the size change will be permanent?
 

They are being called, and we actively pursue their being called.

We line up with our side against a pyramid bar. It is hard for refs to see that we are touching the pyramid, so we let them know (and show them) that we are.

Hard defense is welcome - but smashing teams up against the pyramid will cost you a whole lot of points.

Our robot got it's first 30 point climb last weekend without ever leaving the ground :yikes: