Outer Works Defence Sensors
 

Hey! I was wondering if anyone knew what kind of sensor is in the Outer Works Sensors. For example, if a robot held open the Sally Port, can two robots go thru, one immediately after each other, making that defense have zero strength? Or would the Sally Port door have to close for it to work?

Basically, how are robots going thru defenses counted? Our thoughts were that that's a lot of counting and details for match personnel to input into FMS.

Thanks!!

Re: Outer Works Defence Sensors
 

First of all, it is a person that watches the robots and manually sets the defense health. I am pretty sure that your sally door example would be legal because there is nothing against it in the rules (that I can find).

Re: Outer Works Defence Sensors
 

If you think that's a lot of details for match personnel to input into FMS, you evidently aren't familiar with the 2014 scoring methodology...

Trust me, I rather suspect that the defenses, which are based on somewhat of a judgement call, will be manually input. The interface actually wouldn't even be that hard, just need a picture of each defense. Even easier than last year!

Also, I suggest noting that no definition of Crossing a Defense makes any reference to exactly what state the Defense may be in at any point during the crossing (other than, on the field).

Re: Outer Works Defence Sensors
 

I agree that crossing has to many elements to be reliably tracked with sensors; this will be tracked by those incredibly underpaid volunteers.

Re: Outer Works Defence Sensors
 

The official field designs do not have sensors, so it will be the Ref inputting the information.

I am guessing that there is a button for each defense position. When a Defense is crossed, the Ref pushes the button for the corresponding position.

Re: Outer Works Defence Sensors
 

There are ref touch pads surrounding the field just like last year in the just released photos. Those photos are also fantastic. I thought the vision from the behind the glass area would be a lot more obstructed than it appears in the photos (that drawbridge is the only one that is really bad, Sally Port not so much), Portcullis not so bad at all. The rest of them are low.

Re: Outer Works Defence Sensors
 

Awesome. Thanks, everyone!

Re: Outer Works Defence Sensors
 

Where are these photos?

Re: Outer Works Defence Sensors
 

I believe that these are the pics referenced: The Google Cardboard pics @ http://bit.ly/1SCMmPe

{Direct Links to FRC servers w/ images}
Blue End: http://bit.ly/1PrixM9
Center: http://bit.ly/22ZbTqr
Red End: http://bit.ly/22ZbXq5
Spy Box: http://bit.ly/1OhVsOf

Re: Outer Works Defence Sensors
 

Double check me by re-reading the rules, but ...

I believe the door (in this case) can be held open by one robot and the defense weakened with passage by another alliance member. However, the door must be reset (the door must close) and then reopened before another robot can weaken it further.

Re: Outer Works Defence Sensors
 

From the manual:

That's it. Nothing about the sally port closing, the portcullis lowering, the drawbridge returning to vertical, the cheval de frise returning to position, the flap on the low bar being stationary.

Re: Outer Works Defence Sensors
 

Thank you Steve.

Gosh, I was pretty positive we discussed the defense "resetting" in a strategy meeting. But then again I've been spending most of my time building field elements.::ouch::