2006 game hints?
 

Usually around this time of year someone hears a rumor then Gary saw something he shouldn't have, but won't say. Then speculation begins as Dave has a field day spreading his little bits of confusing hints. I always have fun trying to tie it all together, but last year some people nailed the pyramid guesses, triple plays and 3 team alliances.
Well Dave has dropped some bombs already and we haven't put them together yet. So lets!

Twirling Batons?

No Fasteners? PLEASE DON'T!

If you look at this poll results you'll see dlavery only voted for the CMU cam, is it coming back?

Igus has been added to the list of 2006 kit suppliers. Their products primarily would support the need for extension/retraction. Which could be said for any game in the past, but at least more indicative of status quo.

Well that's all I've noticed lately, how about you? I'm sure a lot of you can take this pretty far down the road.

I'm going to speculate that we're picking up colored PVC batons (red, blue yellow) using the CMU and placing them somewhere a mechanism would need to extend to. But hopefully that no fastener thing is just to mess with us.

Re: 2006 game hints?
 

Wow, that whole "no threaded fasteners" thing could be potentialy dangerous. I know that welding isn't a very strong point on my team and pinning everything could become a huge hastle. Hopefuly this is just a scare tactic to make us all think of new inovative ideas before they enforce inovation on us by making such a drastic rule change.

Re: 2006 game hints?
 

Yet it could just as easily be a warning to us, and a security blanket for Mr. Lavery, so he can turn around after kickoff when the QA is flooded with questions as to why the rule exists, and just say "I told you so." Nevertheless, it would be an interesting year for many teams when they have to figure out how to get everything to fit together properly... :]

Re: 2006 game hints?
 

A little bird told me that coding this year would be different.

(Actually, the proof of this is available if you know where to look. No, I won't tell you where.)

So expect to see an interesting autonomous goals with easier coding methods.


--Petey

Re: 2006 game hints?
 

The Igus Cable Chain RAGE used last year worked well.

Re: 2006 game hints?
 

I'm pretty sure about the CMU camera. I guess they will re-inroduce it. As far as the shape goes,..............hm...........Triangles . Cause if you look at the history of first, it was all about rectangles..........then squares....... and now Triangle.
I also heard a rumor about some water game..........but naaaa i don't think so.
So as of now......me and my programming team is really workin hard on autonomous and camera code.

Re: 2006 game hints?
 

That's what they want you to think... That way, they can throw you a curve ball one year and you'd never expect it. I have a good feeling about the dodecagon this year.

Re: 2006 game hints?
 

Then there was the reply about the autonomous shopping cart. It seems somewhat inline - collecting objects?

Though I'm waiting for the official hint...speculation in the mean time is fun though.

Re: 2006 game hints?
 

Whhaaaaat? Where did these guys come from?!? :p

Re: 2006 game hints?
 

Dave, isn't it about time for the annual?

http://skydancersworldwide.com/galle...rs_gallery.asp

http://www.advertisingballoons.com/a...ane-marine.htm

Re: 2006 game hints?
 

WOW.................i'm amazed

Re: 2006 game hints?
 

Someone seems to have confused FRC and Robovation.

Re: 2006 game hints?
 

According to their website, the CoreChart software is able to program Vex, the mini-controller, and the full-size controller. In this document they explain exactly how to program the full-size FRC controller with their software.

The CoreChart software looks like cool stuff for everyone (like me) who isn't a guru at line-coding programming. Finally, teams may be able to get autonomous working before ship date!

Re: 2006 game hints?
 

:D

Or did they?

Exactly.

Man, this is going to piss off so many of the hard core command line people. Egalitarian code! What nonsense!

--Petey

Re: 2006 game hints?
 

Igus also has bearings, like spherical bearings and linear bearings. FIRST may just pick them up just for that.

Re: 2006 game hints?
 

I think yall are over-analyzing Dave's recent posts. I don't think they have ANYTHING to do with the game. In any case,

I WANT MY HINT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I WANT MY HINT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!


I WANT MY HINT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I WANT MY HINT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!


I WANT MY HINT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I WANT MY HINT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

About what time is it usually given out? I think i remember viewing CD threads about it last year on my grandmother's computer which probably indicates around thanksgiving.

Re: 2006 game hints?
 

I shall second that
I WANT MY HINT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I WANT MY HINT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!


I WANT MY HINT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I WANT MY HINT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!


I WANT MY HINT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I WANT MY HINT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Re: 2006 game hints?
 

A little birdy told me that FIRST is testing two minute autonomous modes right this very moment. This makes sense, seeing how FIRST is putting more and more emphasis on a stronger autonomous mode.

As far as a programming GUI is concerned, if you want to use it: go ahead. It's the same as the scripting language that was provided this year. Sure, it makes some things easier, but I know it can't be nearly as powerful as a smart programmer. A program will never replace good old fashioned hand coding.

Re: 2006 game hints?
 

Actually, it's not usually given out 'till around New Year's... :(
I guess we'll just have to be patient...

Re: 2006 game hints?
 

I am sure many of you will be disappointed by the performance of this type of programming software, it wont let you use the FRC controller to its fullest extent.

As for two minute autonomous modes, I don't think first will go there soon, I believe that part of FIRST is te interaction between people, robots, as well as people and their robots. A 2 minute autonomous would take away from this interaction, unless of course they made matches much longer which would lead to an entire redesign of the competition structure. This seems like far to drastic of a step right now.

How ever a fully autonomous match would be alot of fun and a huge challange perhapse it would be better offered as a sub competiton or even as an event at off season competitions. With the disappointing performances of many teams this year in auton i don't see FIRST immersing us to that extent just yet.

Re: 2006 game hints?
 

I suppose i would have been at my grandmother's house then too

Re: 2006 game hints?
 

What's to stop them from doing a Vex-style parallel autonomous and human-controlled matches, or where autonomous scoring is averaged with human-controlled scoring in the same match? The Vex setup seems to be FIRST's way of saying "PROGRAM A %$#@! AUTONOMOUS MODE ALREADY!" The December Vex competition may be a guinea pig of such a scoring system. I wouldn't be surprised if a semi-decent autonomous suddenly becomes a true linchpin in FRC due to how scores will be calculated. Especially if FRC gets a graphical programming interface like Vex and FLL (no more excuses, for real?).

Re: 2006 game hints?
 

Please.

A fully autonomous match, while certainly a testament to a team's technological dexterity, would be incredibly boring.

We need more human player interaction.

--Petey

Re: 2006 game hints?
 

I really hope that FIRST doesn't include the afore-linked programming GUI in the kit. It doesn't teach anybody any real world skills whatsoever. I would be really disappointed.

Re: 2006 game hints?
 

I would be disappointed too because I believe hard core coding is the way to go. On the other hand, at every regional I help out atleast 4 other teams program their robot. So I guess such software would be gold to them and it would help raise the level of competition on the field. A robot is not complete if it is not programmed well.

Re: 2006 game hints?
 

Hello, I'm from the Hard Core Command Line People Anti-Defamation League!

This is all just a big misunderstanding Mr. Petey. You see, we have no problem whatsoever with the unwashed masses playing with their silly GUIs, we just want to make sure no one talks of getting rid of our precious direct-access compilers.

Oh, and this is not "hardcore" by any stretch of the imagination. FRC programming is rarely low-level enough that you have to truly understand the hardware, nor is it abstract enough that you're working on a massive system with hundreds of unit-tests between you and a final product.

This post was written in vi and uploaded via a TCP/IP stack I whipped up on the fly by waving magnets around my harddrive with amazing precision. The vi part was much harder.

Re: 2006 game hints?
 

Oh, and it's not a robot unless it's autonomus. It's a large electro-mechanical contraption. Or an oversized RC car. Not a robot. Where do you draw the line of what constitutes "robothood" if you start including human controlled creations?

Re: 2006 game hints?
 

*grins*

Dude, I worked at an ISP. It's not like I have a problem with command liners. I mean, I hate vi, but what non-sadist doesn't?

I agree.
Ok.
AAAARGH VI $@#$@#$@#$@#.

What is funny is that I didn't read this before I made my vi taunt above.

I marvel at your patience.

--Petey

Re: 2006 game hints?
 

Wait... what?? Looking at the example for FRC controllers, it just looks like all the code thrown into a flow-chart interface (a graphical tool used in real computer science classes I've seen to teach the core logic/reasoning/organizing ANYONE needs in order to program). This isn't just script code like "turn left for blah seconds"--there seems to be a direct correlation between what the flow-chart displays and what the actual code will be (if count Bit 7 ON yes--> SET rc_dig_out16 ON, etc. etc.). It looks like you can comment directly into the flow-chart boxes to describe what is going on, too.

This means that the only difference between the flow-chart and actual code may be purely formating in nature, in which case, how does this have no correlation to the real world? Heck, it doesn't even look like pseudo-code; you have to use real variable names, real subroutine names, real function calls! And once a new programmer feels comfortable with the logic, *CLICK* and they see the real code! And it looks almost exactly like what they did with the flow-chart! "Wow! Maybe this programming stuff isn't so bad! I can do this..."

I can understand the nerd attachment to CLI's and aversion of all things graphical, but if the examples show the actual product delivered (and if FIRST/Kevin Watson brings the scripts back in addition to this interface, by all means, but that isn't this specific program), this is the most code-like graphical interface I've seen. I'm almost afraid that some newbie programmers will still be puzzled by it, as it isn't as graphical and perhaps as intuitive as Lego's interface or even Robolab. I really don't see what the big pout is all about. This seems to head in the right direction to get new programmers into the fold, while allowing novice programmers to transition and advanced programmers to keep hacking at their leisure.

Re: 2006 game hints?
 

Exactly.

The only people who I know who are really dismayed are some people who are hard-core programmers who are pouting that now n00bs will be able to do their stuff too.

However, this leaves room for the hardcore hackers to build an easy base and then go on from there, right?

And it *should* help get n00bs into the program, which is always good, especially for rookie teams.

--Petey

Re: 2006 game hints?
 

As great as hard core command line programming is, it is not for everyone. If you can understand it - you have a major advantage. But not everyone can easily understand that stuff. That is why most modern computers use use a GUI instead of command line to access programs. Apple realized that in the 1980s, that in order for computers to be bought by the masses, they had to be easy to use. They figured that ordinary people didn't care if their OS took up more memory space. Sure, the GUI isn't as powerful or as efficient as command line can be, but the GUI's are more user friendly - which means more people can use them.

Another reason why a GUI-based application for programming the FRC robots is greatly needed is that everyone learns and comprehends things differently. Some people can be geniuses, but if you lectured them all day, they wouldn't remember a thing. Other people need to be able to "see" things to comprehend them. I have to be able to "see" things to comprehend them, which is why I am great at the mechanical end of things, because I can "see" all the parts in my head and "see" how they move and interact. EasyC for Vex comes very easy to me, because I can look at the icons and "see" exactly what it does.

Right now, lets consider everyone's robot. How many this year had noteworthy autonomous programs? Not a whole lot, which is why GUI-based software for programming robots is such a great idea. This helps to balance the playing field. Now, even though it may not be as powerful, the average sophistication of the programming will dramatically increase, because now a wider variety of people can use this software.

Because of all this, for the 2006 game - expect to see a harder, longer, and more sophisticated autonomous mode with multiple tasks of varying difficulty levels.

Re: 2006 game hints?
 

You already have it.

-dave

Re: 2006 game hints?
 

YESSSSSSSS!!!

Okay guys, start paging through his post history...

Re: 2006 game hints?
 

"the fox is in the hen house" was posted a while ago as a Dave hint, as well as "think of hovercraft's and the English Channel"


hmmmmm :confused:

Re: 2006 game hints?
 

Let's see.

Robot with fine motor skills?

Lowered budget?

Uh...raised budget?


....Lowered budget????

I'm worried about the water game after this little exchange, specifically because of Dave's selective editing:


I went back through mid-August on these posts.

So it looks like we've either got
A) A drastically lowered budget with a restricted supply list that requires more creative ingenuity a-la Apollo 13
or
B)A raised budget that at least allows space age materials so we can do some sort of aquatic game.

And either A) or B) will invovle picking up sticks, which is very difficult to do, when you think about it. Fine motor skills on the robot.

Personally, I'm predicting A. I don't think the organization has got the cojones for aquatic robotic warfare yet.

--Petey

Re: 2006 game hints?
 

gosh.....what a great explanation. I think you're right..........
~Imad

Re: 2006 game hints?
 

Hey, since I dare not comment on the water game thing, the graphical chart flow thing would be great if it was set up like a dreamweaver type program.

You can do everything graphically, everything in pure html, or you can be really smart and do a combo. By throwing something together stuff then going into the code and working out the fine details, you can get much more done much more quickly. And it lets you learn faster by allowing you to obtain the code you want graphically, then seeing the actual code that doesn't have ten thousand syntax errors!

As far as increased budget with better materials, I'm worried for two reasons. First of all, just because you're allowed to spend 10,000 smackers doesn't mean everyone can afford to.

Secondly, my team, myself included, have a nasty habit of dropping/breaking the most expensive, least easily obtainable pieces of hardware. Yytrium oxide dome dustpan is what we really need. :D

Re: 2006 game hints?
 

Quote:
Originally Posted by dlavery
Oh? Why?


-dave


Quote:
Originally Posted by Adam Richards
Dave, don't be mean to people who haven't already read the technical specs for this year's water game. It's not our fault we aren't on the game design committee.


Quote:
Originally Posted by dlavery
Admittedly, a bit tongue-in-cheek. But not entirely. There are multiple layers of real questions embedded in that simple little two-word interrogatory. Not all questions, and not all data, are obvious.

-dave

p.s. if you reacted quickly like some and think that the original question means "hey, don't use Mechanum wheels this year" then you haven't looked deep enough.

-------------------------------------------------
Study the two words nice and close..."Oh, Why" Say them together quickly. ohwhy (think phonotically). OI!

Re: 2006 game hints?
 

Rick walks in, blows the dust off his keyboard. "Is this thing on? Hello?"

New season. First post.

As to "no fasteners," I have a gallon of epoxy, and I'm not afraid to spread it.

I think severely restricting construction budgets would be great for the sport. There is really no way for the $6,500 "have nots" to compete with the $50,000 "haves."

Re: 2006 game hints?
 

Robot with fine motor skills?

Nope! There is a joke laying around here somewheres which Billfred had something to do with, that says "How many FIRSTERS does it take to screw in a lightbulb?" The answer is "It doesn't matter, it'll still take six weeks." Therefore Dave is confirming that we will again have six weeks.

Re: 2006 game hints?
 

Dave, If you're going to outlaw all basic fasteners, then at least do it right and get rid of the velcro too. :)

Re: 2006 game hints?
 

OH! you reminded me of a very old hint.
http://www.chiefdelphi.com/forums/showpost.php?p=319597
As seen in Squirrelrock's sig.

Re: 2006 game hints?
 

If you really want to take that one seriously, go right ahead. I am discarding it...


...although I'll probably feel really stupid about it when the game comes out :rolleyes:

Re: 2006 game hints?
 

I won't repost this, but I keep on thinking that baton thing Dave posted in the other thread is part of this year's game.

--Petey

Re: 2006 game hints?
 

I agree:
*its very random and cryptic.
*if you will remember, dave has a history of giving away the game hints early on CD
*the pic looks to be in dave's ani-style


wow... baton shaped objects... that would be a nightmare. Now assuming that this is the hint, i do not think it would be quite that obvious. Grrr. Once again we have a hint involving an object and a person. Then again, the stairway to heaven hint was pretty easy so this might be too.

----- edit ------
scratch the pic being something dave made. The pic is hosted on http://www.americanbaton.com/


---- edit -------
google doesn't seem to know alot about Tammy Trimble
http://www.ctr.vt.edu/index.cfm?fuse... PersonID=879
and a post by a Tammy Trimble on a nudist forum were the only things i turned up

Re: 2006 game hints?
 

The parts flowchart will be changed for 2006.
Gerbils will remain verboten.

Wetzel

Re: 2006 game hints?
 

I don't think they would be too hard to maneuver them. There is less edges and less volume to handel.

A ball was a large amount of volume. Same with the rubbermaid containers.

The tetra were skeltons of a shape but if you grabbed on edge it wouldn't b balanced so you had to counter act its weight some how.

I think a baton would be wonderful because it is annoying how people say there is a pattern with the whole triangle circle square thing, because if you think about it what other simple shape is there that they could use easily?

Re: 2006 game hints?
 

I can't believe Lavery would just come out and post an image of a game object like that, it's not nearly subtle enough.

Or is that what he wants us to think? :D

Re: 2006 game hints?
 

When I encounter Dave at competitions and meetings, I find him to be kind, helpful, almost too nice.

When I read his hints, I find him to be EVIL!

Ken

Re: 2006 game hints?
 

maybe we will be the robots?

all human players?

remotely controlled?

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20051026/...NlYwMlJVRPUCUl

Re: 2006 game hints?
 

I just spayed some amazing information while taking a trip to New Hampshire...

While watching the game committee in their secret Manch-Vegas game design warehouse I witnessed them opening a window. Yes, I do believe the playing field will be surrounded by normal air from the Earth's atmosphere. My sources tell me this gas is mix of Nitrogen, Oxygen, Argon and Carbon Dioxide. Therefore, this year's safety rules will not require human players to wear a breathing apparatus.

Spay your cat, not the hint!
 

Thats great if you want to limit the information population, but I think we would all like to get some more information.

Wetzel

Re: 2006 game hints?
 

whats a CMU cam :confused: ??


is that the camera (assuming cam means camera?) that we got in the kit last year and was hard to use?

Re: 2006 game hints?
 

*activates RTCW voice*

Affirmative.

*deactivates*

--Petey

Re: 2006 game hints?
 

Anyone listening to FIRSTcast? About half-way through the 3rd episode, JVN mentions that he's working on a water-proof speed controller. (Listen to it for more detail.) I'd call this a pretty big hint.

Any speculation?

Re: 2006 game hints?
 

I'm not real familar with the style of Dave and JVN. I don't want to kill the speculations, but would they just fool around this close to build season, or are these things actually hints? What do people think? :confused:

Re: 2006 game hints?
 

I've never known JVN to be sarcastic or joke around...

NiagaraFIRST.org is turning in our lease on our normal practice facility, and renting an indoor swimming pool in a direct response to the JVN interview...

Re: 2006 game hints?
 

Me neither. I have found that he has absolutely no sense of humor at all.

-dave




:rolleyes:

Re: 2006 game hints?
 

i seriously doubt there will be a 100% water game this year.
However, there may be an extra "area" or something with special points for being able to go across a moat of some sort, like hanging in 2004 or there could be extra scoring thingies on the other side. while im at it, maybe there will be floating batons in the moat as well as batons on the bottom :eek: :yikes: woohoo?).
This way, experienced teams could have some fun building an amphibious robot :D , and the rookie teams could compete and not have to worry about submerging thousands of dollars of electronics.
on a second note:
Did FIRST start in 1996? If so, water would be an amazing 10 year aniversary.
(Im guessing 1996 becuase thats the earliest "rookie year" i have seen on CD)

Re: 2006 game hints?
 

No, I think it started in 1992.

Re: 2006 game hints?
 

FIRST was founded in 1989. The FIRST Robotics Competition began in 1992.

Re: 2006 game hints?
 

well there goes the second half of my theory
the first half is still good, right?

Re: 2006 game hints?
 

Anybody hear any good rumors lately?

I heard it was going to be completely autonomous this year.

YeaH RigHT!!!!

Re: 2006 game hints?
 

10th Nationals was in 2001 (I think). Therefore, 2006 will be the fifteenth nationals.

Re: 2006 game hints?
 

[Kramer voice] Well thats weird! [/Kramer]

what did FIRST do from 1989 to 1992, if there were no competitions ?!

Re: 2006 game hints?
 

I believe at that early stage, FIRST Place in Manchester was all there was to the organization. They hold educational programs throughout the year.

Re: 2006 game hints?
 

Here's a little PM bantering between Dave and I:

Dave: You forgot at least one :)

Me: meh, perhaps I give you more credit than that - but I don't think you lack that much creativity.... Besides what would I do with this giant crate of batons I just ordered?

Dave: Maybe play a big game of "Pick Up sticks"???

Me: See, I knew you'd think of something. I never could twirl the darn things, and I wouldn't look right in a sparkly leotard. :yikes:

Dave: Oh wow, there is a mental image I didn't need! :ahh:

So there is it, pick up sticks! But no metal on the robot!?!?!!

I seriously doubt FIRST will have anyone hosting a FIRST competition risk a big spill of water on their gym floors etc. So stop with the water guesses people!

Looks like the only thing learned here was the programming. Thanks for that, I like it.

Re: 2006 game hints?
 

In that case, I know what the human player's job is: He is inside the wooden robot(or plastic or whatever) manually operating everything. The drivers are pushing the robot and the coach is yelling at them across the field. :D

Re: 2006 game hints?
 

We also learned we don't want to see you in a sparkly leotard! :ahh:

-dave

Re: 2006 game hints?
 

hmmmm, so does this mean we will have a new rule restricting scantily clad robots?

Re: 2006 game hints?
 

I've also heard mentioned that there was a trial competition where they tried out the premise of FIRST. That's about the end of my knowledge of it however.

Matt

Re: 2006 game hints?
 

Hmm, dave recently has shown an upward trend in posting in the chit-chat area of the forum especially in the "this or that" thread. I have a feeling this is a subtle game hint. Two things to do this year instead of 1 (capping)?

Re: 2006 game hints?
 

I heard something about bowling pins and the color orange.... :rolleyes:

Re: 2006 game hints?
 

That kind of sounds like the "I,D'oh-Bot" from The Simpsons....

Re: 2006 game hints?
 

You mean nobody else has picked up on the hint about next year's game being called "Whack the Billfred"? Dave just gave it away in post #18 (after Billfred figured it out in the post just before)!

Re: 2006 game hints?
 

Whoa!!!!!! :eek:

What's this?

Re: 2006 game hints?
 

thats really, really cool
where is that image from?

*edit*
nevermind, you can click on it!

Re: 2006 game hints?
 

Pay it no mind. It's a hoax.

It may link to ifirobotics, but it's hosted at imageshack.com

FIRST wouldn't italicize FIRST on an image like that, anyway. And there's no reference to "Nautilus" nor "underwater" anywhere on the ifirobotics.com site.

Had me fooled for a second, though. I will give you that.

--Petey

Re: 2006 game hints?
 

Haha, why is there a blade missing on "waterproof fan"? :D

I guess Petey beat me to it, but you wouldn't believe how dumb I felt after looking through ifi for 2 or three minutes.

Re: 2006 game hints?
 

[monty python] Then, the human player jumps out of the robot, taking the opposition completely by surprise! [/monty python]
:D

Re: 2006 game hints?
 

You'd think that having Dave Lavery as one of your team's key mentors would give you some slight advantage, or perhaps some hints. Hah, that's a good one!

Re: 2006 game hints?
 

It was a meant to be funny April November Fool's Day joke. ;) (If that holiday even exists... )

As for the source of the picture, I was bored in study hall in school yesterday while listening to the FIRSTcast episode where JVN was talking about "designing a waterproof speed controller", so I was inspired to make the picture. If there really was a waterproof speed controller, I don't think that it would have a fan on it. I thought the fan would give it away...

Oh well, everyone needs a good joke every so often. :)

Re: 2006 game hints?
 

In response to this post by Mr. Lavery.

Only two acronyms show up in that paragraph, one being "GDC" and the other being "MST" both being used fictionally. Now "GDC" also stands for "Game Design Commitee". So using inductive reasoning I'm assujming that MST is either the acronym for the object we must manipulate or the acronym of the name of the game.

New and Pressing!
A search for MST reveals that it is also an acronym for microscrewcap tubes, or tubes used in science labs. This is way to blatant to be a game object, isn't it?
http://www.evergreensci.com/lh/mst.htm

Re: 2006 game hints?
 

Related to my guess in my first post of this thread, I found this post from the 2006 game post early this year. This is an interesting link because team 116 is none other that Daves team. ;)

Re: 2006 game hints?
 

I was at the convention centre in Toronto, and someone at a robotics booth who sets up the fields said a step may be involved.

Re: 2006 game hints?
 

hey i just found something on Google
http://www.team116.org/2000/_doc/tmup1.pdf

apparently Tammy is/was in charge of kits for first up till at least 2001 that published on line that i can find so far.

Re: 2006 game hints?
 

Good find!

Re: 2006 game hints?
 

Wait, what is this?

Is this an old game (2000 was before I came into FIRST.)

--Petey

Re: 2006 game hints?
 

I did some more googling, and it looks like you're right.

BTW, you can find most of the old rules at http://www.first-a-holics.com/competitions/

Re: 2006 game hints?
 

While attending the Denver Regional a thought (perhaps the first in sometime) was buried deep in my brain. It recently surfaced. This could be the year for "Robots on Ice"! This could explain the waterproof items and a baton does looks somewhat like a hockey stick. You always see a picture of Dave in a hooded parka. There is a rumor out west that teams 60 & 254 are working on studded snow tires. Thank goodness we have Wayne G. in Phoenix.

Ken

Re: 2006 game hints?
 

Time to start eliminating hints.

First one out: No metal on robots. Why? A robot is the robot controller and anything attached to it, according to the 2005 rules. The controller has metal, therefore it can't be used, therefore you can't have a robot that is legal.
Second one out: No threaded fasteners. Again, you need those to attach the controller.
Third one out: Anything having to do with water. See the water game threads for reasons.

Anyone else want to remove some dummy hints?

Re: 2006 game hints?
 

We've often attached our controller with cable ties. :)

Re: 2006 game hints?
 

Yes, but the other thing supporting this are other electronics. Namely, speed controllers, circuit panels, and the brain. (The brain's back is held on by little black screws. No, I'm not obsessive compulsive, but we did consider taking one apart once. Long story. :o )

P.S.- We have also. I guess we've held everything at some point on a robot with zip ties. :D

Re: 2006 game hints?
 

I have yet to hear anything along the bounds of reason when it comes to rumors, but we need to pool every rumor we know into a single post, and fiqure it out from there.

Re: 2006 game hints?
 

Of course, it's so simple... Dave's just copying what Stu said!! Next year we will have 2 of the exact same setups on each side of the field, whichever alliance is Red goes first... they have 30 seconds to do a task and then the Blue alliance must do the exact same task on their side of the field in the same order. They then have the next 30 seconds to complete another task. Then the Red alliance goes again, copying what Blue did in theirs second 30 seconds. after that comes autonomous... using only sensors :ahh: !!!

^ taken from the "This Year We Need Instant Replay" thread

JT

Re: 2006 game hints?
 

Don't know about other regionals (and I don't believe this has been brought up before), but Dave Lavery at the VCU regional said something along the lines of "It's snowing outside, and it gives me some ideas". Or something to that effect and made mention of how he got an idea from the Richmond Science Museum for 2005's competition.

If one takes this at face vaulue a power based object could be used. Maybe a synthetic snow covers the playing field for reduced traction. But the problem could be for snow plows or a similar device. By thinking WAY to much into this hint I could mean that 2006 will require the stacking of irregularly shaped objects.

Of course there have been other regionals since then, so can anyone remember any hints he gave out at the ending ceremony, for other regionals? Also if anyone from the VCU regional can remember the phrase please post it in better from than I have.

Re: 2006 game hints?
 

A powder coated playing field would be quite messy to set up and clean up...

Re: 2006 game hints?
 

it would be, but you never know what the new challenge might involve. :D

Re: 2006 game hints?
 

Now, going off this, and Grayswandir-75's find about Tammy and 2001, here's my guess.

Manchester Standard Time: the important thing here is "time"
2001: remember the 2001 game, teams could shut themselves down for points
Dave's mentioning of RC's shutting down on their own: supports idea above.

I think points/ multipliers based on time are back.

Re: 2006 game hints?
 

I think we can rule out snow, water etc. They playing field must be something that can easily be moved from regional to regional and must be something that is within the reach of teams to make.