Re: **IMPORTANT FIRST EMAIL BLAST**/Game Tip and 2004 Competition Manual Information!!
 

Exploration of Mars is popular this year in Science news and FIRST Lego League, so . . .

The height an object at rest needs to be on Mars to achieve 10 ft/sec
velocity SOLELY due to Mars gravity is 4 feet. This is the width of the
plywood sheets in the BOM. So a platform 4 feet high, terraced on one side
and on Mars would satisfy both the velocity tip and the "Stairway to
Heaven" tip.

Just something to think about. :D


1) Lyrics from "Stairway to Heaven"

2) Vmax = 10 ft/sec, but the clue does not say Vmax is on Earth.

Acceleration on Mars is 3.73 meters/sec/sec, or 12.23 ft/sec/sec.

Velocity(f) = velocity(o) + [acceleration(g) x time]

Velocity(f) = final velocity = 10 ft/sec (from clue)
Velocity(o) = initial velocity = 0 ft/sec (body at rest)
Acceleration(g) = Mars gravity = 12.23 ft/sec/sec
Time = 0.82 seconds

To determine the height an object would need to be to achieve this
velocity, you would use the distance equation:

X(f) = X(o) + [V(o)t] + 1/2[att]

X(f) = final distance
X(o) = initial distance = 0 (starting point)
V(o) = initial velocity = 0 ft/sec
t = time = 0.82 seconds
a = Mars gravity = 12.23 ft/sec
tt = time squared = 0.6724

X(f) = 4 feet (approximately)

Re: **IMPORTANT FIRST EMAIL BLAST**/Game Tip and 2004 Competition Manual Information!!
 

I was thinking along the same lines. Mars is the hot thing right now in robotics, and that 4 ft is a nice approximation to a sheet of plywood.

Another thing I was thinking was one of the "paths" having a sliding gate or portal mechanism that would require a Vmax of 10 ft/sec to clear.

I also like the Evil Kneviel jump idea!

Bruce C.

Re: **IMPORTANT FIRST EMAIL BLAST**/Game Tip and 2004 Competition Manual Information
 

0.o Hrmm...never thought of that. I was thinking that Vmax somehow related to the speed controllers or robot speed.

/me thinks this game could get real interesting real quick!!!

and that whole earth mars wutever velocity thing just confused me more *ponders* :confused:

Re: **IMPORTANT FIRST EMAIL BLAST**/Game Tip and 2004 Competition Manual Information!!
 

Ooohhohh...
I like some of the thinking here, don't assume that the ft/sec is feet per second. Sec could also be "Secondary". ft... maybe feet, but my guess is that its something else, like "Full Time", or...OH! Your Full Auto Time divided by the secondary scoring method?!? Ah, who knows.
I wonder what that FT is. Hmmhmmh. Ideas, anyone?
and the 10...
How does the number 10 play into FIRST's games? Usually it is a large scoring method, like KOTH, or having a goal in a zone type thing. So, focus more on the 10, think of how that number might be used in the game, and then use the rest of the phrase to try and clarify it.
I doubt the Vmax phrase has do do with the stairs, which I'm quite sure is what the second hint is about. So, It's probably about a scoring method, because they had one for obstacles already.

Re: **IMPORTANT FIRST EMAIL BLAST**/Game Tip and 2004 Competition Manual Information!!
 

http://www.heavenr.com/faith/twopaths.html This site contains those exact words, im thinking stairway to heaven!

Re: **IMPORTANT FIRST EMAIL BLAST**/Game Tip and 2004 Competition Manual Information!!
 

Are you saying the robot has to get baptized?






J/K, btw...

Re: **IMPORTANT FIRST EMAIL BLAST**/Game Tip and 2004 Competition Manual Information!!
 

as are 42 other people in this thread. the general consensus is that stairs will be involved. then again, everyone may end up wrong.

Re: **IMPORTANT FIRST EMAIL BLAST**/Game Tip and 2004 Competition Manual Information
 

Our state has the 3rd fastest supercomputer in the world, the G5 'Big Mac' Teracluster. Frankly, next year, I'm going to be making a trip to Blacksburg to have some fun cracking.... :p

Man, I'm disappointed that there won't be any real manuel (sp?) in the Kit o' Parts. I wonder if they'll give out the code before or after the field unvailing..........

Re: **IMPORTANT FIRST EMAIL BLAST**/Game Tip and 2004 Competition Manual Information
 

Where did you hear this?

Looks like i'll be ripping off the school or office printer agian

Re: **IMPORTANT FIRST EMAIL BLAST**/Game Tip and 2004 Competition Manual Information
 

Read the first post of this thread ;)

Re: FIRST EMAIL BLAST - Official Game Hint!
 

Nice job w/ the lyrics, but according to AC/DC there's also an opposite to a STAIRWAY TO HEAVEN, there's also a HIGHWAY TO HELL. so in my opinion, there's probably a highway as well as a stairway or som'n

Re: FIRST EMAIL BLAST - Official Game Hint!
 

Howabout an Interstate to Manchester?

Re: **IMPORTANT FIRST EMAIL BLAST**/Game Tip and 2004 Competition Manual Information!!
 

[size=7][color=DarkOrange][font=Impact]where do u get stairs from Vmax = 10 ft/sec

Re: **IMPORTANT FIRST EMAIL BLAST**/Game Tip and 2004 Competition Manual Information!!
 

we don't get stairs from Vmax=10 ft/sec; we get it from the cryptic reference to the led zeppilin [<---edit: oops..] song 'stairway to heaven', but, as some of my team mates are arguing, this reference could be taken as proof that there are not stairs at all, since the 'stair' reference in 'stairway to heaven' seems too obvious for FIRST.;)
I personally am hoping for stairs (or stair-like objects).

Re: **IMPORTANT FIRST EMAIL BLAST**/Game Tip and 2004 Competition Manual Information!!
 

My theory, with 2% confidence:

10 ft/sec represents the max velocity of an oscillator, such as a pendulum, ball on a curved surface, skateboard on a half-pipe (!). I think (again with 2% confidence...I didn't actually do the math, but 'adjusted' an example I found) that a 100 lb object starting at a 10ft altitude down an arc would be somewhere around 10 ft/sec at the bottom of the arc.

All right, I'll be bold. 3% confidence.

Eric.