Re: Week 2: So how's that Field Working?
 

I was working Pit Admin so I saw less than 10 matches before the finals. (For the finals I was switched to provide additional queuing assistance.) At the Pit desk, we heard very few complaints about the field or real-time scoring.

But if we could have a nickel for every question about the accuracy of the rankings, we'd be rich. We finally turned the monitor off, figuring no results were better than the wrong ones. They found the problem with that Friday night, and then the questions became, "But the score in Match XX isn't correct." - see the head ref. Sorry Ron, for having to send so many your way.

Hopefully the fixes described in this thread will make it better for the remaining weeks.

Re: Week 2: So how's that Field Working?
 

If you want a warm and fuzzy feeling about the automatic counting, then you're headed for a let-down.

As you may know, GLR went to human goal count because they just could not believe those (EG) 478 low goal shots in practice.

They compiled statistics as to how many match results would have been reversed had the auto count been used.

Want numbers? Ask FIRST. :confused: :( :eek:

Re: Week 2: So how's that Field Working?
 

I'd guess 90% of the match results would have been wrong if auto counting was used.

Re: Week 2: So how's that Field Working?
 

Not at all regionals. UTC's auto was generally right. Mark Koors, our FTA, fixed the configuration of the sensors so that it was pretty accurate.

Re: Week 2: So how's that Field Working?
 

Read it again. It wasn't simply a matter of the wrong count. They tracked the ones where the wrong count would have made winners loose.

Re: Week 2: So how's that Field Working?
 

So, you're content with generally right and pretty accurate? Good thing we're not hunting Quail!

Re: Week 2: So how's that Field Working?
 

I'm not saying it was perfect. The human real timers and the automatic system were usually dead-on, except in cases of the cameras being blocked. When it was off, it was usually off by one or two at most.

Re: Week 2: So how's that Field Working?
 

Florida on Saturday worked out pretty well. There was only one close call significant enough that field reset could notice it, and that was semifinal 1-2, where 357's alliance beat 233's by two points according to the computers. The human counters said 357 won by one point. That's good enough for me.

(And since the field at Florida eventually gets to Palmetto, it makes me feel quite confident for when it's our turn to throw some balls around.)

Re: Week 2: So how's that Field Working?
 

The computers seemed to be generally right but when there was a discrepancy having counters on all the corners made all the difference.

We had 1 match the first day that there was a problem and we had to replay it. We had won the match but the second time we went out our robot wasn't functioning and we lost. It was unfortunate but we still believe it was the right call.

Re: Week 2: So how's that Field Working?
 

Cold comfort to a team (like ours) that lost three matches by a cumulative total of three points.

Re: Week 2: So how's that Field Working?
 

I was the Emcee at the Pittsburgh Regional. Things were going great during qualification matches, a little too smoothly if anything. For the most part the auto-counting worked alright, matching fairly closely to what the human counters tallied. Problems occurred left and right in the elimination rounds with our scoring system. There was some controversy with the scoring. Teams grew frustrated and tired, the crowd grew restless. SF2 went to 4 matches, with I think 5 or 6 starts. There was a huge delay in the finals due to field problems in addition to the time that the crew had to work on it during the timeout called. There were still problems with only one side being reenabled after autonomous. Comparing it to the NJ Regional, Pittsburgh's field worked immensly better and the scoring volunteers and Corey were much better prepared to solve the fields problems.

-wayne

Re: Week 2: So how's that Field Working?
 

First of all, I'd like to thank Ron Webb for talking me out of heading up North last week, so I could feel all warm and fuzzy about the field down here at UCF. I agree with Billfred, and would have to say that it was one of the smoothest that I've seen the field run in quite a few years.

We did have only a few small problems - had to backup the auto count with a human count on Saturday, but it was mostly accurate. Also the field needed a reboot a few times in Elims, which was relaxing more than annoying (well, for me anyways. But that's because I got to nap on the ramp.) Whatever was right with the Florida program, we need to copy it and send it to all of the 3rd week regionals.

Re: Week 2: So how's that Field Working?
 

We had a scoring disaster in match 12 at the GLR. Our robot scored 21 points (we put 5 in the center goal to win autonomous 15-0, and put in two more 3-pointers in the match), yet somehow we lost the match 12-0 (the score was reported as 12-3 with our alliance getting a 5-pt penalty). Basically, none of our 3 point shots counted during that match. In the end, it didn't mean anything for us in the standings, but I hope this isn't a recurring event.

Re: Week 2: So how's that Field Working?
 

The field at GLR was a nightmare and I have no doubt in my mind that the final standings would have been different if things were working correctly. First I think it has to be said that everyone did what they could given the circumstances. There simply isn't the time to rehash things out to get the real story at these events.

We were in match two and were told that the score thing went down on this match and nobody happened to see the score so the refs had to basically search their minds and remember who they think got what points. If you are not absolutely sure, then you need to replay the match. There is too much riding on this to have people "remembering" the results.

The next 12 matches is where the ref was transposing the scores on his paper. Even after they "fixed" this there were teams that were sure that it was wrong. We were in match 14 and the official final score that was shown on the screen was 4 red 7 blue. We would have won. The next day the score comes up as a tie. After much frantic checking we were told that the scores were mixed up and after a 5 point penalty was assessed against one team it made the score 7 to 7. now you tell me how either of these scores with a 5 added or subtracted equals 7? Our final standings would have come closer to the top and we might have made quarter finals.

Most teams had no idea what was going on with the scores on Friday, no standings were given and those that were posted later were wrong. We were told Saturday all would be fixed but Saturday morning they were still wrong and by the time they got them "fixed" it was too late to dispute.

I am really disappointed with this problem, but I think the teams that won deserved it and played really well. I think the ref's did what they could, but like my husband said, "Aren't these supposed to be rocket scientists designing this thing?" That says it all.

Re: Week 2: So how's that Field Working?
 

As said before Florida Regional's scoring went really well. The only thing noticeable was that if robots rammed into the corner goals, they would increase their score by 1 point.

So, in autonomous, a lot of corner bots would get in 11 or 12 points because they hit corner goal a few times and increased their score. This isn't significant but sometimes, the only robots scoring in autonomous were corner bots and if there was a score like "11-10" because one robot rammed into the corner goal, that team would get the autonomous bonus when, in reality, no one deserved it.

So, I suggest that we have refs looking at the real time scoring to watch out for that. It's not the "offense/defense" round or the extra 1 point that really makes a difference but the refs should notice if a team gets the autonomous bonus when it was really an error due to the auto scoring. It should be pretty easy, if the only robots that are scoring are corner robots, make sure that at the end of the round, there isn't a score like "11" or "12" -- usually it doesn't happen, but if it does, the match's end score could be off by 11 or 12 points (the 1 pt difference and the 10 pt bonus).

And we just have to make sure balls don't get jammed in the corner and keep scoring. It happened once with our team (we were allied w/ 1902 who posted above) but looking at the other regionals, it was good that this only happened once.

good luck to the future regionals.