Re: Question of the Week!!! (6/21/04)
 

I liked the LEDs this year, but I think they could be a bit bigger, more durable, and there should be more of them. Since robots are really diverse sometimes it's hard to cover all sides with four lights. Besides, robots are always cooler when they have flashing and blinking lights all over them. Also, I don't think anyone in the stands will have a seizure from watching the field from so far away if the lights are blinking faster: they're so small.

Re: Question of the Week!!! (6/21/04)
 

Personally, I never noticed the LEDs. During the course of a competition, I never once saw an LED. I always would look for the number on the side of the robot, then scan the LED signs above the player stations and match them up. Once you've done that a couple times, you'll remember quite clearly which robot is on which side, and the LEDs will have been proven unnecessary.

Anyone else do something like this?

MrToast

Re: Question of the Week!!! (6/21/04)
 

Exactly

Re: Question of the Week!!! (6/21/04)
 

I think FIRST should go back to using the revolving lights, but I don't think they should stick with the "dome" type lids. These lights have a more sleak design and would allow for it to be fit into tighter spaces.

Re: Question of the Week!!! (6/21/04)
 

yeah i hated the bulky lights hard to find a place to mount the light-- sort of forgot about it sometimes even this year with having the 4 lcds-- needed to find space for it but it was still better than the lights-- lcd are totally better and cool i personally think


enjoy y'all

Re: Question of the Week!!! (6/21/04)
 

I would be in favor of using a different approach than LEDs, a more high power approach. Yes, I want to go back to the Spikes; with a twist, blink automotive turn signal lights.

Revolving lights are heavy and the attention grabbing effects of rotation can be reproduced by blinking the light. Create a package just large enough to enclose two automobile turn signal type light bulbs. Except our light bulbs will be wired red and blue. The wiring would be exactly the way a double solenoid would be.

Re: Question of the Week!!! (6/21/04)
 

A an announcer I definately did not like this years lights. Some teams hid them, others had them flat on top and some teams had the wrong colors hooked up. When trying to call the game, watch all the robots and keep track of who's who, we need clearer identification.

Re: Question of the Week!!! (6/21/04)
 

You know how teams usually have signs which they later post on the sides of the robot to identify them? If they were to create two sets of signs (where each set would be either blue or red), it'd be easy just to zip-tie the correct set to the robot after each match.

(Probably wouldn't work too well with the designs of some robots, though..)

Re: Question of the Week!!! (6/21/04)
 

I don't see a problem with red and blue flags. All you have to do is make them with a brass gromet and zip tie them towards the top of the robot, remember the KISS rule.

Re: Question of the Week!!! (6/21/04)
 

Teams would find a way to break it/lose it/otherwise render it useless. Thigns can get quite competetive with certain teams on the field, and accidents always happen.

Re: Question of the Week!!! (6/21/04)
 

That statement could be made about anything.

Personally I never noticed the lights either, and that was sorta a disadvantage as a driver, because I had to find the team number instead. A more powerful LED system with long blinks with short intervals would work fine. But they definately need to be much more robust, because my team broke at least 8 or so of them during our season. In the end we resorted to using clear packaging tape.

Re: Question of the Week!!! (6/21/04)
 

How about flags? Thats one ghetto solution that works pretty well. Put colored flags which have a luminescent dye in them that glow your color. And I agree, the rotating light should be saved for RoboCops.

Re: Question of the Week!!! (6/21/04)
 

People can break anything you give them, the thing is with flags is that they are inexpensive and easily replacable.

Re: Question of the Week!!! (6/21/04)
 

Coloured cards were used prior to 2000, if I remember Fury (the 1999 robot) correctly. The original rotating lights were added in 2000, and have menaced teams ever since. (They draw current that could/should be used in a drivetrain....:p )

I seem to remember one team (maybe in 2002--it was at Epcot) with rectangular LED panels, about 4" × 6", with alternating red and blue diodes (as decoration, I presume). How about they give us a few of those? (Actually, 3" square would be more conveniently sized.)

Re: Question of the Week!!! (6/21/04)
 

I think flags are going to be too much of an entanglement hazard. Then again the those LED lights should be relatively inexpensive. Im not sure which team did this at SPBLI but they actually created their team number using Led's and a circuit board. It was very cool looking.I doubt that's going to work. The glow would be too weak of a color to see it unless you are really close. I don't think going back would be a good idea. LED's can beat a light bulb in every single type of application.