Re: Game Hint Solution [probably]
 

I realize that this is unlikely, but I just want to throw it out there:

The sign says weight *limits* reduced 25% -- Could this not be interpreted to mean relaxing the limits, rather than tightening them?

(That was just the first thing that popped into my head upon reading the sign -- English is a strange, strange language, since it's the opposite of the sign's intended meaning....)

Re: Game Hint Solution [probably]
 

I couldn't imagine heavier robots

Re: Game Hint Solution [probably]
 

As far as weight goes, my team designed a fully functional robot last year that weighed in around 100 pounds. In fact, it was so light (and to help out with our CG for our hanging strategy) that we had to add a 10 pound weight to the back, in addition to adding 5 pounds of steel to our bumpers. So achieving less weight is possible.

Re: Game Hint Solution [probably]
 

Definitely. My team's robot for 2008 was very light and excessively fast. We were told by Woodie Flowers at the Boston Regional that it was one of the fastest he had ever seen. We later discovered that due to an error (forgot if it was wiring or programming), only 2 of our 4 CIMs were actually doing anything.

Re: Game Hint Solution [probably]
 

For those wondering about the church. It is specifically a Baptist church. Generally Baptists (of which there are many flavors) practice full-immersion baptism. That is, the person being baptized goes fully under water. So to be fully in the game the robot must go under water.

Obviously, this is the long awaited Water Game.;)

Sorry, I couldn't resist

ChrisH

Re: Game Hint Solution [probably]
 

In 2012 we put weights on our robot and still were underweight. So it can happen. However, that year we basically only had one mechanism. Contrast that with 2013, where we shot and climbed, and we were 120.0 by the end of the season.

Re: Game Hint Solution [probably]
 

Too bad it wasn't a Presbyterian church. Then we'd be able to confirm a hockey game. (Presbyterians are sometimes called the "Frozen Chosen.")

Has anyone had any luck correlating the stairs photo in the main thread to this (likely) hint solution?

Re: Game Hint Solution [probably]
 

For what it's worth, 1662 weighed in at 88 pounds without battery or bumper in 2013. Seems feasible.

-Mike

Re: Game Hint Solution [probably]
 

This year team 2471 competed on an off-season event called Bunny Bots. One of our robots was 38" by 28", had a fully independent swerve drive, had three fully functional game-specific manipulators, and weighed 88 lbs. Not including battery, but including about 8 lbs of non first legal bumpers. also, it competed yesterday, and won the event.

Re: Game Hint Solution [probably]
 

We were 75 lbs without the 14 lb steel weight that we added or our FCS blocker. It's feasible but still would be a major challenge for a majority of FRC teams much less rookies.

Re: Game Hint Solution [probably]
 

Maybe we are going to have 3 challenges which we are required to choose from, the first of which is a 90lb robot and the other 2 have to do with "Security FIRST" and "FIRST Baptist Church." By the way, I am seriously disappointed that there aren't 200 guesses about what those 2 phrases could mean.

Earlier this year I swore that I would not post in a game hint thread, because nothing useful ever comes out of game hints. But these signs just seem to be too obvious to ignore.

Re: Game Hint Solution [probably]
 

Is there any possibility we see some new parts introduced? If FIRST introduces some new parts that are significantly lighter, this lower weight limit could make a lot of sense and might not reflect a severe difference in game style.

Also: To me, this seems to be the most legitimate interpretation of the hint(granted, I haven't read all 478 posts in the main thread) however, the relative forward-ness of it is still bugging me. I still feel like there is something we are missing even deeper in the hint.

Re: Game Hint Solution [probably]
 

Yea last year I was on 4055 and that bot was 63lb with out bumpers and battery. Light weight is easy enough to achieve.

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I've been advocating that our teams integrate the plywood bumpers into the robot chassis structure. With good quality plywood (
plywood article ) and good joinery, the plywood could contribute much more to the chassis structure than hanging on a metal frame. The arguments against have been:

• Would require skirts for quick change of colors and skirts don't work
• The attachment to the chassis would require much work to remove and reinstal for weigh-in
• Would look amateur
• "Nobody else does that" (not necessarily a bad thing IMO)
• "Judges won't like it"

I could certainty be missing something but if passes rules, could have the following benefits:

• Approx 5 lbs of structure is free and save weight in chassis
• Jointed corners would provide excellent racking strength
• Wood takes impacts well; particularly high quality grades
• Wood is relatively easy to work
• There are more skilled carpenters around than machinists

Think glued, dovetailed rigid perimeter that slips over and fastens to interior chassis.

Re: Game Hint Solution [probably]
 

Did you maybe post in the wrong thread? This thread is about a possible interpretation of the game hint.

Though your post did get me thinking. Maybe the weight limit reduction is to bumpers. Last year gave teams some options for heavy bumpers, so maybe the GDC just made the bumpers a more standard and lighter weight. Teams make heavy bumpers to get more friction, and maybe the GDC didn't intend this to be a pushing game.