Visibility for the Driver
 

I saw in the picture galleries a model of the playing field, I saw that DRIVERS might have problems with visibility when looking from the driving position to the opposite team zone, I didn't need to see this model to see that this is by far the biggest / tallest ramp yet, so does anybody know if the visibility for the drivers on the other side of the playing field will be clear, or will the human players play another role besides the stacking of the boxes at the beginning....

The human player will not play a role in relaying information to visibility impaired drivers, becasue once the human player mode is over, the human player must go back to the alliance station.

When the Bins are stacked, it is very hard to see to the other side. Hopefully, in autonomous mode, at least one robot will knock them down.

Once the bins are knocked down, it is easier to see. If you are really worried about seeing your robot, stick an extending flag on your robot.

Two Words: X-Ray Visor.

Don't you pronounce the X and the ray seperatly making that 3 words? :P

I think visibility won't be as big a problem as some people think it will be. The robots are pretty big...

Exactly, now try to see THROUGH the giant unfolding wall that is designed to knock down all the boxes, and then guard the ramp.

See the problem?

That's why we're testing our drivers for ESP, while it hasn't been important in the past, we feel it will play an increased role in this years game.

Am I serious?
:D

If all things are fair, the giant telescreen will be on a side of the field (not behind one particular alliance.. AHEM) and drivers can look up there for help if they are completely trapped visually.

Giant screen
 

Is there a giant screen at all the regionals?

usualy but the camera angles vary from regional to regional

Oooooooooh- that'll be a major problem at regionals like Drexel- their setup only allows for the large screen to be at the end of the field, benefitting one team..

The Streamlined Event Letter says that there won't be displays at all of the regionals.

http://www.usfirst.org/robotics/stre...ventletter.htm

For our regional (silion valley), there will be a screen on one end of the large place, so basically one team can use it for guidance while the other team is stuck...maybe during elimination the "home team" will the one facing the screen for additional help driving ;)

It's possible to have a flag on the top of your robot. If the robot is designed to go under the bar, the flagpole can be flexible.

In the FRC message board the question was asked about using a periscope and the answer was an emphatic YES!!! So, I'm sure that a lot of minds have been working overtime to innovate a unique apparatus--hopefully an award winning one at that.

Please, please post a link! I must see for myself!

Kevin, I saw that question and answer also. It was later contradicted by one or two messages. I can't find either message, though. I would assume that the first message was in error, because the rules say that no special equipment may be used (GM6). If FIRST meant to change that rule (by allowing periscopes), it would have been in a team update by now.

your question could have been solved with a little basic trigonometry. Our team did the calulations..based on the height of the rmap and position of the driver station. If you are at least 5' 6" then you can barely see down the ramp. If you are 5' 7" you cansee everything on the otherside of the field. That's it. 5 foot 7 and you can see everything, without a ladder.

i guesse i should write that down on my driver application this year...hehe being 6'4'' will have some major advantages!

You are negating a few things. Such as if your bot is in the far center starting point, you can't see it (if it's under 2' tall) and that bins will reach a height of 8'2" when placed on the ramp

sorry...i did forget about bins but...if you think about it..only for the first 15 seconds..will that be a problem. Almost immediatly ...someone will knock the boxes over and you'll be able to see. If not..i guess that's your problem..and you have to work out the problem another way. But if the position of you robot is what you want to see..use a flag. And remeber that you can always see off to the side of the ramp..without any difficulty.

Hey Ianworld........
 

I don't think you get to correct people's spelling, when you can't spell 'separately' correctly!! :p

Hey, Garrett from # 16, the Baxter Bomb Squad. A few years ago, we competed in BEST, a scaled down version of FIRST. In that year's game, visibility was a huge issue. From what I remember at the tournaments, the best thing a team can do to counteract the reduced visibility (other than tall drivers) is to mount a flag on the robot using a flexible pole with lots of memory...if weight isn't an issue, I would recommend using more than one flag, for example one on each corner, the front/back corners, or on diagonal opposite corners. Just my opinion.

We've managed to simulate some games in our mock field with the sufficient amount of boxes, and visibility/maneuverability of the robot was a major problem. The sides of the boxes did offer some space to ascertain about where the robot was located, but nothing about its orientation.

Also keep in mind how high the boxes are. We rigged up a flag for one of the matches but it was still obscured by the center stacks.

Nevertheless, I'm confident that for the majority of matches the center stack will be knocked down within the first 20 seconds.

quote:
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Originally posted by Ianworld
The robots are pretty big...
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From JVN

"Exactly, now try to see THROUGH the giant unfolding wall that is designed to knock down all the boxes, and then guard the ramp.

See the problem?

That's why we're testing our drivers for ESP, while it hasn't been important in the past, we feel it will play an increased role in this years game."




If the robot is 5 feet tall the total height will be 7 feet. How do you see through that?

I wonder--are there any rules againss bringing a short ladder to the arena. My personal thought on this is to put my friend who is 6' and only 125lbs. on my or someone else's shoulders. It's ingenious--I don't see how they would've thought for that.

there are rules against that. They were made it last year to prevent people from getting an edge while shooting the soccer balls. You know someone must have thought of it since they made a rule against it. Another wierd rule is to not use snow to cool off motors or bateries. You can thank the canadiens for that one. hehe j/k

makes you wonder why first is so against using vid cams on the robot

So, is there STILL a rule against the shoulders thing, cause that'd be kinda fun anyway--I don't care how goofy I'd look. And, also, BTW, those numbers for height are eye level, remember. SO you really should be looking at an all 6' teem.

its still there this year. thats considered unsafe anyways. poeple are worried about tripping while walking 3 feet to the controls...........imagine the safety field day the uber safe would have with that.

i love the idea of the 4 flags... maybe different color flags, 2 in the back and 2 in the front so the driver in case of visibility problemas, can c if his baby is facing a certain way......

you dont....you drive right through it....hehehehe

Hey.... Visibility shouldn't be that big of an issue if you can see 2/3 of the field. Any driver that knows the game can play w/o seeing for a few seconds. If I make it as driver on my team, I know I will. (I'm sure that height has something to play w/ that :D ) Everyone is making a big deal about the visibility, but I honestly don't see it as a problem as the matches goes on...

The only time visibility will be a major issue are when there is no Under-Bar bot's and no autonomous-mode bots that hit the wall. Once that wall is hit, for probably all but very few, it will end up entirely off the ramp.

I think will be less than 20 matches at all the regionals (combined) where every column isn't knocked over.

I have heard rumors. What if you can't see for 1 minute and 55 seconds?

shawn