the first time i drove this year's robot, it took us about a minute to get from one side of the field to the other (going under the bar)... if you put a bunch of drivers that are unfamiliar with the robot they are driving, the game would be, as mike said, a disaster. The drivers from 177 (Eric O. and Me) practiced upwards of 50 hours in between hartford and nationals (with the bobcat clone we built) The only reason we were able to be as competitive as we were in florida is because of driver practice. Perfect example: battlecry.. Eric and I (the real drivers from 177) drove one bobcat, while we let everyone else who didn't drive before drive 177.5, we came home winning first and last. :)

To sum it up, I seriously doubt that FIRST would do that. I don't trust some of the people on the team when driving the robot, why would i trust someone i just met with it?

Tom Schindler
Team 177

...
 

I am not so sure...I got to drive a few robots, and it took me about five seconds to learn the ropes, however, I don't think that will be the game...

In the words of the Borg Collective: "We will adapt."

if Dean did do a game like that, it would teach us to adapt to our surroundings at a moment's notice. Idea: A team gets points for the points their robot scores, along with the points their driver scores with another robot.

Im not sure about controlling each others robots guys. Im not saying its not a possibility, but would you really trust someone with your robot that is worth the price of a small car? I mean, your team knows how your robot works. I know for a fact that no one could learn the ropes of our robot in just 2 minutes or whatever. We had to tape a piece of paper to our control board just so that WE could remember the buttons. I could be wrong about it though. I believe that Dean can come up with some pretty wacky ideas. It would be my guess this year that we'll have some sort of obstacle in the middle but all the way across the playing field. Maybe a raised platform with ramps or something of the likes? Whos knows?



~Ben

Well how about a bonus for teams that swapped drivers???
 

Similar to the bonus with the stretcher this year. Only maybe offer it in time, for example alliances get an extra minute or an extra multiplier for switching robots, and each team only has 3 robot swap coupons, like the stretcher. The extra time would be good if it was 4v0 or 4vFIRST and the multiplier would be good if it were 2v2 again or even 2v2v2 which would be really cool. Rather chaotic, but I would be right there cheering along side every team then. Not that I dont do that now :p

Re: Well how about a bonus for teams that swapped drivers???
 

I never thought of that. if you're desperate, that may be something that teams may do.

hmmm...

The stretcher idea wasn't all that great last year. Very few people had the capability while others made claims. As for driving someone elses robot. "Danger Will Robbinson" Suppose another team is driving and something goes wrong. They could blow a major component or worse the Inovation First panels. It may not be a question of trust but more of hoping something like that won't happen. How far would you go to get points in a match? Another team might think "go all the way" while you may think to be a bit more cautious. I would be more scared than having a lack of trust. The other driver may get it and be able to drive your bot fine. But there's still the off chance... I guess it's like when you first get your license and your parents tell you they trust you, it's the other drivers they don't trust. I guess I've gone on long enough, I hope this makes sense to someone.
C~ya,
Carolyn who needs duct tape on her finger.

Hmm... Robby might be on to something.

what about 2v2 where bots have to activate switches that allow the other robot to retireve balls, pass thru a barrier ect

that way it would be time finess and teamwork for the winning team



dahl
team497\

Extra Multipliers
 

Say you do get the multipliers then. And people are scared to let others drive their robot. Why not contact teams within your area before the competition then so if you are paired in competition, or looking for alliance partners you can pick those that you have driven and get the multiplier? That would promote making contact with teams before the competition and make things more userfriendly.