Curling + Robots = Sweeet
 

So i was discussing this idea with Brandon today,
Basicly i've come up with a really sweet game design, that I think would be really unique and an amazing ability for people to show off their skills.

The basic concept is to incorperate the Canadian pastime of Curling into a robotics challenge. Now over the years we have heard much discussion of people wanting an underwater challenge, this game could be very similar to that but instead of under water, its on top of frozen water! Otherwise known as ice.

Now if your not familar with curling, its a sport that involves the sliding of a heavy rock down a length of ice towards a target. Whoever gets their stone closest to the target wins, i could be butchering this explanation but thats what i understand it to be.
Now there are people who slide the rock but also people called 'sweepers' who sweep the ice infront of the rock in order to control its speed and direction by reducing the friction of the ice by melting the top layer into water for the rock to slide on.
Its very similar to the game of shuffle board.

Basicly you would have some robots who choose to play sweeper and some who choose to roll the rock, so there are chances for teams who can just push stuff and teams that can build arms! So everyone can enjoy the robot fun!

now one problem that might arise would be the issue of finding arenas that could handle this, but if we can put a man on the moon, we can make robots dance on ice! Heck i even saw alvin and the chipmunks on ice once when i was little!

So yah, think about it, i know the canadian teams will be all about this game. But curling and robots is the future of FIRST, mark my words!


Josh

PS> I am just trying to lighten everyones day and share this funny idea i had, brandon thought it was funny. maybe other people will to. i'm not making fun of curling either, its a crazy unique sport!

Re: Curling + Robots = Sweeet
 

omg curling is awesome
omg robots are awesome
the two together
cause hemoraging

Re: Curling + Robots = Sweeet
 

The only problem is that the track, or whatever you call the ice, is 146ft long and 15' 7" wide. You would have to have 2 or 3 of them for a competition, and that makes it hard to find a good venue.

Rules of Curling:
http://www.worldcurling.org/Curlhome...ompetition.pdf

Re: Curling + Robots = Sweeet
 

Jeff you raise a good point, but if you look at this years game, its basicly tic tac toe. And as a child i never played tick tac toe on a scale like we are playing it, so surely FIRST understands how to scale things up and down and should be able to get around the issues of the long playing field.

Edit:
This is also a great game for 3 on 3. Because you have 1 slider and 2 sweepers! you could even have simultanious curling on 2 sides of the field at once, trying to position their rocks or stones or whatever they are called in a better place the the oppositions, and trying to bump the other persons out of good position!

Re: Curling + Robots = Sweeet
 

How about an adaptation to the game, if it can't be reproduced exactly?

I just had an idea for this... although the idea is only half formed and many details are left out... please add on to it!!

- The playing field would be a typical FIRST playing field...standard size, carpet, everything.
- The playing/scoring objects would be something that could roll along the floor - maybe a similar design to the goals that have been used in past games, but alot smaller, and lots of them.
- These goals would have to start in some kind of a neutral position, don't know where/how yet.
- There would be a scoring zone of some sort on either end of the field for each alliance.

I am not sure how to describe this next field feature, but they are designed to be manipulated in a way similar to the way "sweepers" try to manipulate the surface of the ice to control direction. This would work almost in a way similar to a pinball machine - the goals would bounce off of "roadblocks" manipulated by "sweeper" robots.

- Basically, these "roadblocks" would be a flat panel, maybe about 2 feet long and 1 foot high, mounted to an axle that is fixed to the floor so that it can spin on a centered axis.
- These roadblocks would be positioned between the original neutral starting position of the goals and the scoring zones, and would be spaced fairly close together.
- The roadblocks could be spun around by robots to alter the course of a rolling goal, and could be used to try to block goals from being pushed into an opponents scoring zone.
- Just the action of a robot trying to move through the maze of roadblocks would create havoc because the roadblocks would spin to the sides as the robot pushed through.. therefore making goal bouncing a more difficult task.
- robots would not be allowed to lift the goals over the roadblocks...they must spin the roadblocks to the side, or bounce them off the roadblocks, to be able to move them around the field.
- The roadblocks would have to be fairly difficult to spin, as the bouncing of goals should not be able to move them very easily.

Does this make any sense? It probably should wait until the "Design the 2006 Game" thread comes around, but since this idea came directly from the posts above... I figured I might as well share it!

Ask me if this made absolutely no sense, and I will try to explain better and maybe throw in some paint sketches.

-- Jaine

Re: Curling + Robots = Sweeet
 

First of all: Curling = Sweeeet

No, seriously - if you have never been curling, you should really do it. I was in a curling league for a short time and it was a blast.

Anyway, this may be a great game idea. It might need a little development, but it might work. We really don't even need ice: put some ball bearings in a block and you'll have something that will slide along a hard surface.

Re: Curling + Robots = Sweeet
 

Before FIRST came to Canada, we had a National competition called Canada FIRST and one of the challanges one year was curling, it was played on some tiles that simulated ice. We also had hockey as a game one year, i think it was played on HDPE

Re: Curling + Robots = Sweeet
 

Awesome!! Curling robots would be interesting for an actual first match. As for burningquestion your game sounds like fun but it also sounds like it would be too hard to navigate through for the drivers. Of course it would be fun for FIRST to give us touch sensors and have a completely autonomous match. :ahh:

Re: Curling + Robots = Sweeet
 

Holy cow! :eek: I NEVER thought that curling would ever show up on a forum like this. Tying it to robotics makes it even more insane. I'd really like to see this, it would be great. :) :D :) :D

Re: Curling + Robots = Sweeet
 

Wouldn't be a problem in an arena like at the Denver Regional. It's noramlly an ice rink, but for the comp they layed down something on top of it. It would definently be an interesting game. Though there's a bit of a problem in "damaging" the ice field. Think about what it would look like in finals. Of course, I'm not really thinking about the Zambonies... I think you have something here. :)

Re: Curling + Robots = Sweeet
 

Robot Curling sounds rockin'. Although Hockey would most likely work better.

Re: Curling + Robots = Sweeet
 

First of all: Curling is "friggin' sweet".

Next...you can't really use a block on ball bearings or you negate the purpose of the sweepers.

Wait...new thought came to me while typing the above sentence: You could have sand or something for the sweepers to sweep in front of or out of the way of the block to allow changes in speed. Hmm...

Re: Curling + Robots = Sweeet
 

I know we are all brainstorming here, but sand would not be good. It would get in motors in the air lines but more importantly all over the venue. Also FIRST would not use these game ideas, as some of us would have a leg up on the other teams, but that does not mean that they could not use portions of the ideas. Also we could color the curling deals so that the CMU cam could come back. I think it would be awesome if FIRST told us that it was coming back so teams could have more time to learn how to use them.

Re: Curling + Robots = Sweeet
 

Dagnabbit, some one has been peeking through my design notebook again! I had just figured out how to squeeze the length of a curling track into a standard FIRST field length, by combining it with banked curves from a NASCAR track. But since you figured it all out, I have to throw away the whole idea and start all over again.



-dave

Re: Curling + Robots = Sweeet
 

Dave...if the curling stones are traveling too fast on the field that you posted a picture of, they will fly over the player station wall and be very harmful...oh yeah robots could do that too...safety FIRST Dave. (Maybe they'll add a roof to the drivers station next year?)

Re: Curling + Robots = Sweeet
 

wow, just wow.....

gotta love curling though!

Re: Curling + Robots = Sweeet
 

I'm sure the Greater Toronto Regional Facillities will be very prepared for next year's event! (We play over a covered ice rink)

Re: Curling + Robots = Sweeet
 

The skip could be an IR beacon. The advanced teams could use it to guide the stones into the house. The newer teams could just use the pure luck method.

Skip - dude who helps aim
House - big bullseye

Yes... curling is wicked fun. Lucky I live in metro detroit - Canada isn't to far south of here, and it makes for great fun before kickoff!

Re: Curling + Robots = Sweeet
 

I can see it now. I would love to see a game like this! Hey Dave, this is my pick for the game next year. ;) Heck why don't we just make a whole mini-winter Olympics! :D

Re: Curling + Robots = Sweeet
 

ice?
...the blades on the bottom of flipped robots
...the shavings melting in the electronics
...the practice fields

This is an engineer's thinking at its farthest extreme...if two good things are good by themselves let's do them both together to make a better thing. So who's up for an apple pie burrito?

but when have I ever known to back off from a bad idea? Lets get ready for kickoff :p

Re: Curling + Robots = Sweeet
 

And again, that little short plow bot ends up in another weird position on the field. Whether it has balls dropped on it (2004), or lifting it's "leg" for an extra 10 points (2005), that one always makes my day when I see what crazy stuff it does next. :)
Is that now the ice cleaning Zamboni bot instead of the plow bot? :rolleyes:

Re: Curling + Robots = Sweeet
 

Hmmm, FIRST seems to like having multiple scoring objects instead of just one.....
This will be one exciting game of curling! :yikes: :D

Re: Curling + Robots = Sweeet
 

dlavery wow nice design, but errrr if ya throw the stone too hard won't it fly off the curve and hit like all of the people in the back of the glass?
just saying...hehe

Re: Curling + Robots = Sweeet
 

Good to know that college education is paying off, eh? ;)

j/k guys

Sounds like a good game, unless we go back to Epcot in the parking lot! :eek:

Re: Curling + Robots = Sweeet
 

this must be another hint from Dave! It all makes perfect sense now, the English channel must be referring to the long, twisted path on the new game field for 2006, and because skates would be too dangerous, the kit of parts will have hovercraft parts in it!

or maybe I am just thinking too hard, ugh 7 months until kickoff, and I already have a headache!

PS. If the above post didn't make much sense to you, its OK, the rumors section of chiefdelphi is looking at all the "hints" dlavery has given us so far (as usual). One of them was "hovercrafts, and 'think of the English channel", as for "the fox is in the hen house", I have no idea how to relate it to this game

Re: Curling + Robots = Sweeet
 

Fox in a henhouse...If a fox somehow got into a henhouse, the hens would panic and scatter, something like the boxes on the ramp in '03 when a robot hit them at full speed. Maybe several scoring objects scattering?

P.S. Dave, stop recycling the animation from this year and saying it's next year's game. :D

Re: Curling + Robots = Sweeet
 

As was mentioned before, Canada FIRST once had a game called Robocurl. Unfortunately after watching the whole competition, I have bad news for you curling fans....most boring game EVER! Im sure the game can be designed to be more exciting than the Canadian version...but wow. Essentially, there was a track where robots would travel around, stop, shoot a rock, rotate around, stop , shoot a rock, and things like that. No real defense, the robots were all the same...just not fun looking. Buuuuut...maybe it would work, I dont know!

-Andy Grady

NERDS 06...We will be heard.

Re: Curling + Robots = Sweeet
 

*gasp* :eek: Boring? Curling?! Never!!

Re: Curling + Robots = Sweeet
 

Wow, curling and Robotics thats is really cool. Only one problem came to mind what about teams that don't have access to an ice rink or some other ice covered field? Otherwise what a cool idea!

Re: Curling + Robots = Sweeet
 

I can think of nothing nerdier. Lets do it.

Re: Curling + Robots = Sweeet
 

Dave you have way to much time on your hands, go watch a movie....I suggest I Robot.

Re: Curling + Robots = Sweeet
 

Seconded.

Do my eyes deceive me, or is that far blue robot from 2004's animation? I remember one of the blue robots that year following the line with a lot of eyes in the front.

(Yes, I too have too much free time.)

Re: Curling + Robots = Sweeet
 

and because i'm bored too, its most likely from scotland not canada :p, also The uk won the curling at the winter olympics on another slightly unrelated note

Re: Curling + Robots = Sweeet
 

I read some posts in this thread then I suddenly thought of some simple ways to solve peoples problems:

do you need ice?
No, there is a product that is pretty much fake ice, it is some sort of plastic or polymer i think, and they use it for skating rinks,

Maneuverability.....
well for this i have a few ideas, first one is what allot of people on here talk about, HOVER-CRAFTS, and the other one is a walking robot with spikes. I don't know how good the walking robot will be if you need a smooth continuous Motion but it may be a start. You could just even do a custom wheel with spikes, you have no treads so it may even save weight!

Re: Curling + Robots = Sweeet
 

ACK! not the return of the much feared and legandary, HDPE! :ahh:

Re: Curling + Robots = Sweeet
 

I think that three legged robot in the animation has met its match.

Man, Dave, talk about a head ref's worst nightmare for a FIRST Field.

Re: Curling + Robots = Sweeet
 

i predict a new rule for volunteers

Re: Curling + Robots = Sweeet
 

You know I love seeing new ideas as much as the next guy and it pains me to do this but.... Robot curling has been done. :( sorry

Re: Curling + Robots = Sweeet
 

car curling has been done here lol
scrapheap challange did it, not sure if its anywhere online
http://www.channel4.com/science/micr...s/car_curling/

Re: Curling + Robots = Sweeet
 

http://www.coldproducts.com/ezproducts.php

You mean this stuff? I've skated on it twice, not quite the same thing but it works. I'm not sure how durable it is but it might be an option. It's expensive though and getting traction on it would pose a challenge. But then again, thats why we're in FIRST right? :D

Re: Curling + Robots = Sweeet
 

I'm sorry I didn't find this thread earlier...it's giving me more ideas for Milwaukee in the spring...and no, I'm not talking about the regional. =)

Kev

Re: Curling + Robots = Sweeet
 

This picture got me all exicted, but I think it would be a cool idea. You never know ...