Re: Noticed any patterns?
 

considering that FIRST has only been around a short while now, it seems improbable to extrapolate a pattern or conclusions with such a small data set

also, i doubt they would make any patterns, b/c the heads of FIRST know how smart the kids are that participate in the competition, and they know that at least one would figure out the pattern, if they figured out a pattern, the 6 weeks could almost become null because a team could design months in advanced if they knew the competition

also, there seem to be a lot of ideas flying around here, so you guys should know about Occam's Razor:

here the simplest explanation is that there is no pattern

this is just my two cents, i could be fully wrong :)

Re: Noticed any patterns?
 

I saw we just wait to January and watch the NASA kickoff feed screensaver/background to see what the playing piece looks like since they displayed it this year..I wonder how many people thought nothing of it, I know i did (ofcourse, this is my first year so i had no idea what to expect).

Re: Past 5 years in detail
 

whoops sorry for the mix up. I coulda swore though 2003 had c programming. oh wells, just another way of telling me i've been outta the game for too long.

as for a pattern, the only pattern which really isn't a pattern is FIRST seems to like balls espicially the soccre size ones

maybe next year will be inflatable clowns and a water game - object don't deflate the clown.

Re: Noticed any patterns?
 

I think any pattern between games is because even when you have people as creative as FIRST does running things some ideas tend stick around and become recycled. I think we alternate between circles squares and triangles frequently because...well you mentally put them in a strong connection with FIRST. I think most of these patterns are from people looking at a game and saying "what could we do differently" and you kind of bounce between opposites.

If I had any chance to guess at the game next year I would go for cheap, durable and accessible field components...mostly because I really want to see it and so I pretend it will happen :p

It is probably roughly the time that they will give us a blocked field again. Either a bar to go under or a barrier to go over...or something to climb up... This year there was nothing in your way aside from goals and last year we had a fairly open field as well (at least more open than 2003 or 2001.)

I don't think there will be so many people so close to the robots again...it made too many penalties. If they had something like a box with an open lid actually in the field they could have the back of the box open for loading...and have it just be in the rules that if any robot is within 5 feet of the box (maybe a semicircular line at that point) the box won't reload. It could be strategic too if you could control when a team gets parts to load :p

I'm hoping that we get a taller driver's station because at the Pacific Northwest Regional we came awfully close to capping a driver.

I bet you next year's base code will be very complete and detailed.

I bet you next year's autonomous will not be any harder but it will probably be longer.

And I bet you I'm totally wrong...but sounding smart/making noise is far to much fun to not do it.

Re: Noticed any patterns?
 

I think FIRST will next try to use a triangular object once again. It seemed from 2000 - 2002 nothing but balls were used. I don't know what do you guys think?

Re: Noticed any patterns?
 

I "think" FIRST is running out of ideas, I hope the games get more exciting!!

Thats just my Opinion