How are we going to optimize field reset?
 

Cycle time in this game is going to be made or wrecked by the field reset crew. A crew of 10 under strong direction can probably do it quickly enough by hand, but if the crew is 4 or 5 some sort of automation or tools for transporting bins more than 1 or 2 at a time will be required.

There are 128 totes at 8 pounds each and 10 recycling containers at 9 pounds each to stage between each match. That's 1000 pounds of stuff to move. A thousand pounds which needs to be done without interrupting teams leaving the field and should be mostly done before the next teams enter.

I've not seen what the expected cycle time is, but I'd guess 6 minutes which means all of this has to be accomplished in 210 seconds.

First blush ideas that are obvious would seem to be some sort of trolley that would let one person move multiple totes quickly and a quiver for managing the fun-noodles.

I thought I'd throw this out to the CD community to see what kind of ideas for sturdy, light, inexpensive and potentially collapsible/shippable field reset tools there are.

Re: How are we going to optimize field reset?
 

Having reset fields in 2003, it is possible to "airmail" bins safely between two people.

It is also possible to slide stacks.

Re: How are we going to optimize field reset?
 

The manual states 2 minutes for match set-up, 2 minutes and 30 seconds for the match and one minute for match reset.

Remember that any cart or tool used to reset the field will need to be moved off and stored somewhere during the match.

Re: How are we going to optimize field reset?
 

The only thing that really comes to mind is a large dolly, otherwise sliding the totes around would probably be the best bet.

Re: How are we going to optimize field reset?
 

Totally true, and for the bins on field that will be pretty quick even with a handful of field reset folks, but there are 30 bins per side that will need to be moved off the field and restaged. Add the tripping hazards on either side of the auto zone and reset isn't going anywhere near as quick as the last 3 years.

Which gets back to field reset being a key part of cycle timing this year and what can we as volunteers do to optimize it.

Re: How are we going to optimize field reset?
 

OK, FIRST is expecting a 6 minute cycle, but in order to actually do match reset in 60 to 90 seconds totally by hand will require a crew working their butts off. They have to average 2 gray totes moved from wherever they end up on the field to a starting location every second. Plus the yellow totes, recycling bins and noodles.

As for cart storage, yeah that would be a problem at some locations. Specifically I'm thinking Williams Arena in Minneapolis which is a tight fit before you add any field elements. In most venues you could park a trolley behind the stacks of totes behind the drivers stations.

Re: How are we going to optimize field reset?
 

I'm picking a fireman style system. 1-2 people on each side grab totes, and pass them to one person, that person passes it to the next, who gives it to the person in charge of placing them.

The way the totes need to placed appears to be very specific, so the less people that need to know the order the better. I don't want to be the one to say it, but quite a few times Field Resetters end up being team volunteers, and while they do try their hardest, field resetting isn't as easy as it seems. This method would cut down on the number of mistakes that need to be fixed, hence cutting down queue times.

Re: How are we going to optimize field reset?
 

IIRC, the 03 bins were WAY lighter than 2015 bins.

Re: How are we going to optimize field reset?
 

03 were 5 lb or so.

Re: How are we going to optimize field reset?
 

You'd be shocked at the skill and efficiency of a FIRST volunteer.
They are some of the best and the brightest out there and they will come through.
Trust me on that.

Re: How are we going to optimize field reset?
 

They might be better off starting with the field messed up, and having the team's robots reset the field as the objective! ;)

Re: How are we going to optimize field reset?
 

I agree with Ed. As the season starts the field reset staff will start to know what they can do. Soon enough there will be people carrying two totes with one hand (thankfully they are empty) then their other hand will probably have a tote or even two recycling containers. They also might tuck the litter under their arms.

Re: How are we going to optimize field reset?
 

As a Field Resetter, I can confirm this is how it works. By week 4 last year I figured out how to transport 5 balls at once :o

Re: How are we going to optimize field reset?
 

That's all well and good, but I'm working week 1 and want every dang duck lined up and in formation Thursday morning.

Re: How are we going to optimize field reset?
 

I would suggest you organize a week 0 event so you can see how field reset goes there. There have been things realized at week 0 events that have set the way things go for the season. In 2014 week 0 set the bar with having a line of people rolling the ball from one end to another. In 2013 the throwing of frisbees was made illegal due to the storm of discs seen at week 0 events.

Talking is well and good, but you won't have anything set in stone until you see it in action.

Re: How are we going to optimize field reset?
 

This will not happen unfortunately :o

Being quick at a task doesn't come unless you practice :(

Re: How are we going to optimize field reset?
 

Well... I am a FIRST volunteer so thanks for the compliment! :)

Re: How are we going to optimize field reset?
 

I'm thinking that the critical path will be moving the totes around behind the drivers stations. To that end a lightweight cart designed to hold and transport 3 or 4 stacks of 3 totes. A 5 by 3 arrangement would be ideal in some respects since there are 4 piles of 15 totes behind the drivers stations but 15 totes is over 100 pounds-mass someone would be rolling around and that configuration would probably be either be too tall to be stable or too long to be maneuverable.

I'll bodge something together for the Itasca week zero event which would give me time to tweak it before Northern Lights/Lake Superior regional in Duluth.

Re: How are we going to optimize field reset?
 

I completely agree that it would be fairly time-consuming for a small amount of volunteers to reset the field. They would need tools such as dollies. However, sliding the stacks of totes is also a viable option. The only issue, is time. The only solution that I have thought of so far, MANY people.

Re: How are we going to optimize field reset?
 

I just reached out to the main wranglers for all the GREAT! FIRST alums we had last year doing field reset. They were a well oiled machine and had so much fun. Looks like we will need just as many resetters this year. Maybe assembly line is the way to go?

Re: How are we going to optimize field reset?
 

These totes are very similar to KeepBoxes and IRIS boxes.
I own a rather large number of these 12 gallon containers (more than 80).

I usually stack them inside each other and can carry 8 of them at the same time like that no problem with the exception of door frames of which there are few on the FIRST field.

8lbs x 8 containers is 64 pounds.
That's around the weight of 2 cinder blocks, one in each hand.

That's empty of course, if you want to be mean fill them with computer books.

Re: How are we going to optimize field reset?
 

Are you suggesting we cut the zipties to allow us to open the totes and put them inside each other? That might take more time to cut and re-ziptie than it would take to make another trip.

Re: How are we going to optimize field reset?
 

Surely FIRST will have some solution to this issue.
Whether the issue is moving the sealed containers or resealing the containers.
So I am just saying that one can carry 8 of these inside of each other like that.
The weight of the 8 containers per person per trip is generally manageable.

Re: How are we going to optimize field reset?
 

one minute won't be possible for even a group of field resetters since there are over 140 totes alluding reset into a set position in a particular orientation. things could take awhile.

Re: How are we going to optimize field reset?
 

It would be nice if FIRST has considered this. They may have, they may just assume that every event can throw enough people at field reset to make it work.

Consider if you will your suggestion of hauling 8 containers at once. Even with that, you're talking about making 8 trips from center field to behind the drivers stations while carrying 60+ pounds and those 8 round trips need to be completed in 90 seconds. I'm going to say that's not possible for a single person and difficult for two. Even if it was, after 70 or 80 matches on Thursday their legs and arms will be quivering masses of jelly.

Then they get to come back and do the same again on Friday and Saturday.

If it's being done totally by hand, field reset is going to need to be at least 10 to 12 people and they're going to have to be moving.

Re: How are we going to optimize field reset?
 

We need a field resetting robot competition to play between the actual matches.
Sounds like that's what you are saying :)

Personally I think this is FIRST's way of figuring out how to move all the of the 12 gallon containers they must have somewhere.
It just looks like a game.

Segway with a trailer?
http://www.glide4less.com/product/se...iler-and-hitch
Just brainstorming ways to move containers and lighten the load of the field reset crew.

Re: How are we going to optimize field reset?
 

So basically focus resources on having an army of field reset people. Why is that an issue? Just make sure they're organized and efficient.

Re: How are we going to optimize field reset?
 

Well, for me personally it's because we're running 2 regionals under the same roof on the same day in a metropolitan area of 250,000 people. The Double DECCer in Duluth is the biggest FRC event outside St. Louis. But with a lovely small town feel!

Saying "get an army" (or rather 2 armies) is optimistic at best, particularly on Thursday and Friday which are normal business/school days. Hence my concern for how it can be done as efficiently as possible with as few people as possible.

I expect there will be similar issues with a smaller volunteer pool at many of the smaller district events as well.

Re: How are we going to optimize field reset?
 

Well on a school day at 64lbs a stack of 8 you just made a very good gym workout :)
Then you can find out who is really good at it and they win: working the weekend!

I'm sure someone in the Army has done something like this to a bunch of recruits before.

That aside, I suspect the reset time will get extended a few minutes to make this work.

Re: How are we going to optimize field reset?
 

A few options:
1) Have extra field reset volunteers week 1 to compensate for it taking longer.
2) Ask your field reset volunteers to watch the video. If they don't think they can cary 7-15 pounds of weight consider swapping roles with some one else.
3) *All* the totes don't need to go back to their original positions each match. The middle ones probably won't all get messed up/moved far away from the start location. (especially at a week one.)
4) FIRST will supply extra totes for when they get damaged. Depending on how many there are, you can sort of pre-stage some. Maybe have a set of 30 next to the human player area so they just have to be moved to the right location.

Re: How are we going to optimize field reset?
 

Now for the next fly in the ointment. How much of a delay will there be following the buzzer to allow verifying the scores, before reset can even begin? :ahh:

Re: How are we going to optimize field reset?
 

Ya know, Gary, I was thinking that with the refs having it "easy" this year (in comparison to last year) they might take some time to supplement the field reset crew, at least in terms of starting boxes moving on the path to proper setup.

I think they've tried to make it pretty obvious for the refs--if it's tilting, it probably isn't scored, and if there's a robot that has to get the paper test it probably isn't scored. (Both in blue boxes, mind you, so highly unofficial.)

Re: How are we going to optimize field reset?
 

That is a well taken point. The field reset crew will not be able to touch any totes that are stacked or anything in the landfill until the refs enter the final scores.

That said, I doubt most refs or FTAs would let the field reset crew touch anything at all until the score is in simply to prevent an over excited field reset person from grabbing and moving the wrong thing.

Re: How are we going to optimize field reset?
 

Long delays before matches can begin - can't imagine how schedule will be affected.

Re: How are we going to optimize field reset?
 

6 minutes for a field reset sounds about right. I don't see anything about this game that would hinder an efficient field reset. A large number of bins line up against a solid wall (the STEP) and with resetters having defined "go-to" positions, it shouldn't at all be a concern once a rhythm is established.

If you have concerns with your venue, you should be discussing this with your FIRST regional director and event coordinator to ensure you have volunteers to fill the roles. There's time to get more volunteers for roles if needed!

Re: How are we going to optimize field reset?
 

There's 4 weeks. Volunteers for week 1 need to be in VIMS by Jan 31.

Because of the YPP we can't just haul in people off the street at the last minute.

Re: How are we going to optimize field reset?
 

According to the FIRST YPP site, walk-ons are still allowed. Unless some other information has been presented that contradicts this statement?

I think you'll be fine and the venue will be success. FIRST has the best volunteers out there :)

Re: How are we going to optimize field reset?
 

Let's also be real here: there's gonna be many matches where bins will be barely touched. Maybe shoved around a little but this game requires teams to actually have to manipulate game pieces to be successful and you're not gonna see that on a consistent basis til later week, district championships and the world championships.

Re: How are we going to optimize field reset?
 

Assuming you have 20 volunteers, then each volunteer handles 7 field items. Assign each to an ending position for their designated field items.

First can put out a message today that each team is expected to supply volunteers for field reset. Assuming 50 teams at an event, and each team provided 2 volunteers each day, ...

Use inexperienced volunteers to move pool noodles, yellow totes, and totes to the human player area. The "regular" volunteers handle the landfill area.

I don't think a dolly is the solution. There are only 4 entrances, and the teams need those for the bots.

Re: How are we going to optimize field reset?
 

I seem to be the only one not worried about how to move totes around...we've had games with loads of game pieces before (see: 2009 orbit balls, 2013 frisbees) and managed just fine. These totes are just bigger, but they don't have to move nearly as far as they have in the past. They won't be crossing the field frequently (if at all), and aside from moving some to the player stations, they only have to move halfway down the field at most. I second what Koko Ed said about most bins probably not moving too far from the start of the match.

What I'm more worried about for field reset is robot/human traffic. The totes are going to be harder to navigate around when there are also robots coming on and off the field, and unlike inner tubes and balls, they actually can hurt if you run into someone while carrying one. I know that there's not a lot of time between matches, but I think that this is a year where it would be better to give the field crew a minute or two to clear the field (or at least take down stacks of 3+ totes/clear the stacking zones) before humans and robots come on and off.

I'm also going to be interested to see how high stacks are taken down. If a robot manages to put up a 5- or 6-high stack of totes and put a recycling bin on top, getting that bin down safely and in a controlled manner will be harder with so many objects (people, robots, etc) in close vicinity.

Re: How are we going to optimize field reset?
 

I'm thinking the pros like Koko Ed will figure it out. I would guess that the first week scores will be pretty low in most of the matches so the reset teams will be able to figure it out. They appear to pass on what works and what doesn't to the next (and next) week events.

I recall there were 1000's of orbit balls and the carts for Lunacy and the field reset didn't take days.

At least give them a week to look at the problem