Biggest Challenge of '05
 

For every team it'll be different but what do you think?

Re: Biggest Challenge of '05
 

Staying upright.

Re: Biggest Challenge of '05
 

Not killing each other over what to call each of the team's custom commands.

Re: Biggest Challenge of '05
 

In 2003, the best cappers could cap two, maybe three times...I'm not sure how much easier Tetras are to manipulate than huge yellow balls, but it should still be quite interesting to see the turnout. I suppose with such a robust drive system already included in the kit, more teams will have more time to spend on their manipulators.

Re: Biggest Challenge of '05
 

same. or just plain reaching high enough

Re: Biggest Challenge of '05
 

I think that although they gave us the color following code, automous mode, picking up a vision tetra, and then caping it on a larger tetra will prove to be quite difficult

I'm up for the chalange, this year is going to be awesome!

Re: Biggest Challenge of '05
 

I'd say reaching high enough. The bots that can put the highest tetras will be worth the most points.

Re: Biggest Challenge of '05
 

That with being able to not get top heavy and fall over. If you have a tetra extended 7 + feet away from your bot and another bot rams you, then it is almost going to be impossible to stay upright. And that could get quite dangerous :ahh:

Re: Biggest Challenge of '05
 

Staying low is always a problem with games were you score higher up....to this game in particular, handling those foolish tetras well is going to be pretty difficult.

Re: Biggest Challenge of '05
 

I think the biggest challenge of the '05 game is going to be the communication between the human player and the drivers. It may start to work pretty well, but when its the last match in the final's, people are going to start getting confused with commands. There will be one human player going back and forth between the pressure pad trying to figure out where the driver is wanting them to go. communication is going to be a key part to this game.

Re: Biggest Challenge of '05
 

i think it will be lifting the tetras once a team has more then 2 or 3 because of the weight of them.

Re: Biggest Challenge of '05
 

Sorry about the poll, I meant to add about 4 other options before I accidently clicked the submit poll button...

Re: Biggest Challenge of '05
 

the new alliance style means everyone plays everyround. the higher seeds will have much bigger advantages now.

Re: Biggest Challenge of '05
 

Center of gravity. To place the tetra ontop, you're going to need a long arm. When you have 9, 18, 27 lbs of weight on the end, your center of gravity is going to shift. If you don't fall then, you're going to fall if you get nailed.

Re: Biggest Challenge of '05
 

Outriggers?

Re: Biggest Challenge of '05
 

Yeah, that'll help, there's still a thought I have it may flip though.

The noobies with prebuild chassis is a challenge too. But then again, it's a good thing for teams that are new, and getting started.

Re: Biggest Challenge of '05
 

On the other hand, the prebuilt chassis is really heavy. It's a pretty big tradeoff. Besides, what advantage does it actually give to newbies? I don't ever recall a rookie team ever producing a robot that lacks a chassis.

It just levels the playing field a little -- no pun intended.

Re: Biggest Challenge of '05
 

Well, more than simply giving the newbies simply a bolt together chassis, a 4 motor drive train transimission is included, reducing the advantage other teams have gained by using 4 and 6 motor drive trains in previous competitions. This helps FIRST two fold. It reduces the time intensive requirements rookie teams have had in the past developing a drive base for the first time, allowing for greater innovation and creativity for rookie teams. Additionally, it poses a greater challenge to veteran teams, inspiring kids to think up new ways to perform better, because even rookies will have powerful 4 motor drive train transmissions. But yes, the chassis and drive train components this year available to the rookie teams will certainly prove to be a challenge for vets.

Re: Biggest Challenge of '05
 

I think the most challenging part of this game is to come up with a mechanism that can handle one or more tetras and still be high enough to cap the middle goal. Also the coaches have a big part this year because they have to correspond with 2 teams instead of one and they still have to figure what is going on in the field.

Re: Biggest Challenge of '05
 

We built the kit bot yesterday:D It isn't that great. The chassis flexes somethin' terrible. The tyranny is ok but the weight :ahh: Fun toy though...

Re: Biggest Challenge of '05
 

how about a segway style balancing stuff.. :D well one of the robots in the animation were like that

Re: Biggest Challenge of '05
 

Building a two-wheeled robot would introduce new balancing problems. If you want to go for shifting mass to maintain rotational equilibrium, it might be easier to use a moveable counterweight. You could, for instance, stick your air compressor on one end of your arm and use a motor to move it back and forth on a track.