Vex contest from Exploding Bacon
 

Hi Everyone:

Team 1902 announces our first shot at a vex game. We are inviting anyone in Central Florida, or anyone who wants to come visit to participate. Please go to our website www.team1902.com for all the rules. This is a very laid back competition. We are planning to hold the competition sometime in late Aug or early Sept. possibly in Dans garage if we can't get another place.

Re: Vex contest from Exploding Bacon
 

This oughta be an interesting game. It seemed easy at first (really, where's the defense?), but the more I look at it, the more I realize that it'll take a great robot and driver to get the top scores.

It seems like the tennis ball will be a beast to score, given the lack of field barriers (you can't just spit it out like the bottles, or it'll roll out), but that might just be the speculation of someone who's never tried. ;)

This might be reason enough to break out the ol' Vex kit...

Re: Vex contest from Exploding Bacon
 

That should be easy. Here's a hint. Grab the tennis ball last.

Re: Vex contest from Exploding Bacon
 

I believe this contest has put me and my new roommate (CD Name: George1902) in a "We can't talk about VEX to each other" mode for the next few weeks while we work with our victims, I mean students, to design/build our robots.

Who says the college mentors can't have as much fun? :)

Re: Vex contest from Exploding Bacon
 

I haven't seen a definition of an object being "in" the scoring area. Does it have to be touching the ground, or can you load it on your robot and leave it?

Re: Vex contest from Exploding Bacon
 

Good question and it was vague in the rules. I better defined the rules adjusted the rules to allow part of an object is inside the robot home base but still be inside the robot.

Thanks for your input, it made the rules better.

Re: Vex contest from Exploding Bacon
 

Bill sent us an email about a bot that reached across from the robot base to pick up the object. I have updated the FAQ to specifically allow that to happen, I would love to see this bot in action. The FAQ says:

Q. Can a robot stay in home base and reach out to the objects and transport them across?
A. There is nothing in rules against that so it is legal. If someone can build a robot to stretch that far (about 12 to 14 feet) without falling over in the process and come up with a mechanism, that person should be rewarded, more power to them and I would love to see it in action.

Re: Vex contest from Exploding Bacon
 

Since I can't quite resolve the conflict in my head, I'll ask a question or two.

-If an object being held by the robot is within its home base, is it still considered as an object being transported by the robot (and thus the robot can't get a new one)?

-Can a robot move objects within the object area while transporting an item?

Re: Vex contest from Exploding Bacon
 

So I guess we need another FAQ:

Q. If an object being held by the robot is within its home base, is it still considered as an object being transported by the robot (and thus the robot can't get a new one)?
A. Correct robot can not get another one. The idea was a robot wasn’t going to grab 2 or more objects at a time and transport them. So the spirit of the rule is that you can only have one object at a time. Thus the robot can not pick up and hold more than one object.

Re: Vex contest from Exploding Bacon
 

Q. Can a robot move objects within the object area while transporting an item?
A. Yes. Robot can touch, push objects in the robot home base or starting location while holding another object.

Re: Vex contest from Exploding Bacon
 

BIll,

Good questions. I appreciate your thoughtfulness. Let me know if you think my answers might be out of line.

Are you really going for the robot that reaches to the other side from home base?

Re: Vex contest from Exploding Bacon
 

It's the idea that comes to mind. The idea is somewhat hero-or-zero, but it might just be crazy enough to work. (And I might just be crazy enough to book a ticket down to Winter Park to prove it. ;))

Alright, a couple more and I might just shut up.

-Given the natural predisposition of the game objects to roll if not perfectly upright, can a well-placed shoe, leg, buttock, or starter kit box camp out just beyond the edge of the tape?

-If a flopbot succeeds in doing the whole match without touching outside of the hard path, does it still get the 20 points?

And one field layout question: At the corners on the hard path, how far is it from the apex of the turn to the edge of the field?

(By the way, the revised rules on the website are a broken link.)

Re: Vex contest from Exploding Bacon
 

Alright, a couple more and I might just shut up.

NEW FAQ:
Q. Given the natural predisposition of the game objects to roll if not perfectly upright, can a well-placed shoe, leg, buttock, or starter kit box camp out just beyond the edge of the tape?
A. No. If it rolls out then and is touching the outside of the arena at end of game no points. It will be played on carpet which help in the roll see rule 1.

-If a flopbot succeeds in doing the whole match without touching outside of the hard path, does it still get the 20 points?

Yes!

And one field layout question: At the corners on the hard path, how far is it from the apex of the turn to the edge of the field?

I don't know. Haven't built it yet. But the sides of the hard path are parallel. One side is defined by it being 3ft from corner. Other side by it being parallel. I am not good enough in math to figure that out without building it.

I loaded the rules so you can get to it. Try this one, let me know if you can get to it:

https://www.mygcx.org/file/roboticsy...e%20V1%203.doc

Re: Vex contest from Exploding Bacon
 

I ran some math, and I figured I'd be nice and post this before it shocks everyone when they run on the field.

The width of the hard path is 1.5 feet. The path takes up 1.5 feet of the edge of the field. This creates an equilateral triangle--they're all 1.5 feet. You can then find the height, and thus how much space you have to get around the curve, using the Pythagorean Theorem. With a little calculating (or by looking at the attachment), you'll see that the distance is only a smidge under 1.3 feet!

Don't say I didn't warn 'ya. ;)

Re: Vex contest from Exploding Bacon
 

I knew it was something under 1.5ft wide for the path. Had to be since it was at an angle. So Now we can tell people what it is.

BTW, Bill where do you live?

Re: Vex contest from Exploding Bacon
 

I am thinking of another rule change having talked to another engineer. He thinks is going to be too hard to go the whole round without going outside the hard path. We discussed of four points per object if you didn't go outside the path for that object.

The scoring amount stays the same but allows flexiblity of deciding to take the hard path for some and save time for others.

I think we are going to need a rules committee.

Re: Vex contest from Exploding Bacon
 

Would the four points be in addition to the twenty possible points for just driving within bounds, or instead of it? (I only ask because both add up to twenty points.) Personally, I'd not be so hot on it in the former case, as then you're pretty much required to take the hard path to get a decent score. And when do you genuinely begin going for an object?

And to answer your question, I'm in Columbia, SC, home of Steve Spurrier and the Palmetto Regional. It's only eight hours or so by car. (The fact that I seem to show up at nearly every FIRST event in the state of Florida is because I have easy access to transportation and no life. ;))

Re: Vex contest from Exploding Bacon
 

No it is the replacement 4 points X 5 objects = 20 points. It works out the same if you never touch out of path.

But if someone did two objects without going out of path for just those two they would receive 8 bonus points. The old scoring even though they did two without going outside but then went straight for objects next time they would receive no extra.

How about you compete virtually? Film your runs post them on google video or something and we will enter you like everyone else. Will have to be by honor system. Run them the day before, someone else times it and is judge. You only get three runs like everyone else. Then when we compete when it is your turn we will play your round on video.

Re: Vex contest from Exploding Bacon
 

Have you guys got a date yet?
(I have to come your way for business and was thinking of scheduling during that time frame. :) )

Re: Vex contest from Exploding Bacon
 

The official date for this contest will be Sept. 9th. We don't have an exact location yet but assume its somewhere in Central Florida.

If you would like a full set of rules and a FAQ go to this site
https://www.mygcx.org/file/roboticsy...e%20V1%204.doc

Thanks

Re: Vex contest from Exploding Bacon
 

After recent events, it appears that the BiggestHobbit and I have found a way to enter this competition after all. Thus, I must ask a question/rule clarification.

Can the driver set the location of the objects in the starting location? If not, can we get a drawing of the spots in which these objects will be starting?

Re: Vex contest from Exploding Bacon
 

Glad you and George will be joing us in this contest. Now for your question.

R 9. Player can arrange the objects to be grabbed in the starting box anyway they want as long as they do not touch outside the start area and are not stacked on one another or touch each other at the start of the game.

For full rules see:
https://www.mygcx.org/file/roboticsy...e%20V1%204.doc

So set them up as you see fit. I did this so we would not have to define where they are and make it part of the strategy.

Re: Vex contest from Exploding Bacon
 

Wow, *hits self for not reading the manually thourougly* I thought I had read through it all and didn't see it. Thanks!

Re: Vex contest from Exploding Bacon
 

Another great 1902 event i will miss

Re: Vex contest from Exploding Bacon
 

Alright, I know you can have one person driving two robots simultaneously (according to the rules, at least). Two people can drive one robot simultaneously. Two people can NOT drive two robots. But enough citing of rules, on with the question.

Suppose that there is one robot that starts whole, then one part of the robot detaches from the other. One of these parts lacks any sort of electronics, motors, controls, or anything that could really make it considered a robot on its own merits; any movement from this part would require the other part--the real robot--to drive it. Could this arrangement be operated with two drivers?

Re: Vex contest from Exploding Bacon
 

Bill you come up with the most interesting questions, makes me wonder what is up your sleeve.

The idea behind this rule was that someone wouldn't come up with a robot that was really two robots and thus transport more objects faster. But actually this would be covered by the rule only one item can be transported at a time, so maybe the rule was unnecessary.

So as long as you are not transporting more than one object at a time and contain more than one object at a time then you are OK. Your definition of the second part of the robot in my mind is just an extension of the robot.

So to answer your question, it is OK.

Re: Vex contest from Exploding Bacon
 

Do you have a VEX kit available to you???

If so make a robot and compete virtually, send us the videos and we will enter them.

Re: Vex contest from Exploding Bacon
 

No i dont have one :-(

Re: Vex contest from Exploding Bacon
 

say for instance i had a robot that did not touch the ground therefore avoiding the white lines completely and not touching them Is this going to be one on those "magical plane" kind of things or can i get realy creative. also...

would it be acceptable to dammage the objects to be retrived? say for instance. Harpooning them and realing them in.

and what constitutes "mostly vex" i could say that a superlight frame and drivetrain that was waterCut from CF witch is less than 50% of the overall robot weight is a robot that is "mostly vex"

Re: Vex contest from Exploding Bacon
 

We had a lengthly discussion about the flying through the air version and I wrote a FAQ that it fit the rules but not the spirit but would love to see it thus it was ok.

Mostly VEX thing bothered me, as I worked with the kids on the rules they did not want to nail it down more than that. I tried to do it with weight etc. but they didn;t want to. I think in future we may have a rule like FRC that has only VEX motors and MCU but few other rules. This was suppose to be for fun and learning.

Mine bot is built and it is almost totally out of VEX parts, I do have one piece part of the object grabber that is non-VEX. I used the VEX encoders even though I had non-VEX encoders on it before. I might put some non-VEX sensors like IR sensor.

WE just wanted a fun thing all of us VEX owners could do. This is a challenging contest and not that easy to pick them all up in the two minutes especially staying with the hard path.

Nothing in rules about damaging the objects. I know my first robot version would put dents in the empty can. So go ahead and destroy the objects.

Re: Vex contest from Exploding Bacon
 

for the water bottle. we should chose an exact size because watter bottle size is not standard... :rolleyes:

Re: Vex contest from Exploding Bacon
 

Why don't we come up with a range, so a person can bring their own water. There must be some sort of range. I don't the exact range is that important.

Re: Vex contest from Exploding Bacon
 

Might I recommend an option for 20-ounce Coke bottles instead of the water bottles? They're more standard and easy to find, and if someone wants to haul around four extra ounces of liquid, I don't see the problem.

(Of course, I'd also recommend a requirement that they have to drink the Coke before their run and replace it with water. ;))

Re: Vex contest from Exploding Bacon
 

Man, you had to pick the day that I have a night class. From when to when do we expect the contest to be? If I am unable to make it, I am still highly encouraging at least 1604 to compete and to share their VEX supplies with 1390. If by chance I am able to come, I don't have the time on my plate to design a robot just for this competition, but I'll run with the kiwi drive bot I already have that was made to play soccer with a poof ball. Keep me in touch!

Re: Vex contest from Exploding Bacon
 

Wendy has taken over the time and place for the contest and has said it will be run in October. September turned out to be bad time for to many people.

I think she was talking about the weekend of October 14th.

Re: Vex contest from Exploding Bacon
 

Yes actually we are thinking Friday the 13th. I'm looking into using either WPHS caf or Glenridge MS multi purpose room. We really need to get a count of who is going to play

Re: Vex contest from Exploding Bacon
 

I'm interested in bringing up an entry (or two), but Saturday would be a much better day than Friday. I need to save my vacation days for Wobot season.

Re: Vex contest from Exploding Bacon
 

you can see a very short video of my bot here
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TKeAVzzDJZo :rolleyes:
tell me what you think and ask me any questions

Re: Vex contest from Exploding Bacon
 

That grabber seems a little wild and in need of a slow-down in gears or software, but I like the concept. If there's one thing I learned from Triple Play (and, to a lesser extent, FIRST Frenzy), it's that the less precise you can afford to be when driving, the better.

Anything crazy on the drivetrain front?

Re: Vex contest from Exploding Bacon
 

well it may look crazy but it is controlled by analog so it can be controlled very easily. the the drive train is just a basic four wheel drive with crawlers

Re: Vex contest from Exploding Bacon
 

I will work on getting the sat date.....just for you....tee hee. No really I will

Re: Vex contest from Exploding Bacon
 

Good going scott. Maybe I should show mine.

Re: Vex contest from Exploding Bacon
 

I agree it should be a saturday, friday is too hard.

Also I agree we need to know the number of people.

Re: Vex contest from Exploding Bacon Oct 14th
 

Finally the date is nailed down at October 14th, a Saturday.

The date will not be moved, at least over my dead robot.

Re: Vex contest from Exploding Bacon Oct 14th
 

I'm going to take your word for it Doug.
Besides - a Vex competition might be hexed on Friday 13th...... :D

Re: Vex contest from Exploding Bacon Oct 14th
 

Heaven forbid. A hexed Vex.

Re: Vex contest from Exploding Bacon
 

Well things are up and running for the VEX game Oct 14. Rouse Rd in Orlando. We will start around 2pm to include anyone taking the SATs that day. If you go to www.team1902.com you can fill out a registration form. There is no fee but we need to know how many people are coming. We are also in the process of posting the critera for other awards....best manipulator ...things like that.
COME PLAY WITH US

Re: Vex contest from Exploding Bacon
 

Did I mention the location is down the street from a Krispy Kreme??????

Re: Vex contest from Exploding Bacon
 

Okay. We're ready to come up on Saturday, October 14th. Where and when?

Re: Vex contest from Exploding Bacon
 

Billfred.....its on a sat....and I haven't seen your registration yet!!!!

Re: Vex contest from Exploding Bacon
 

The event is being held at:

University Presbyterian Church
2562 Rouse Rd
Orlando, FL 32817

It starts at 2 pm and goes until they kick us out.

There was a problem with the registration website and a few of the registration forms showed up blank. If everyone who has registered could re-send their registration it would ensure that everyone gets registered.

Thanks,
Charles

Re: Vex contest from Exploding Bacon
 

We are setting up at 11am to start registration at 1pm, so you need to be there for 1pm registration and we could use the help so come at 11am.

Re: Vex contest from Exploding Bacon
 

Billfred,

I hear you are coming. Did you do the VEX that "floats across the air" and through some mysterious mechanical genius drops them on the other side? Or are you going to be a mire mortal like the rest of us and use a wheeled robot?

Re: Vex contest from Exploding Bacon
 

I'm actually going to be even more mortal than that and be a judge. Three tests in three days, plus trying to start the Gamecock FIRSTers up, plus launching the oh-so-sexy new FLL web site for USC, plus other events around town have kept me from constructing a robot, and I don't think Amtrak would like me trying to use a hacksaw while on board.

Of course, I do get into Winter Park rather early in the morning on Friday, and I might have time enough tomorrow to run home and grab my Vex items to stash in the carry-on... :D

Re: Vex contest from Exploding Bacon
 

Here are the awards that are up for grabs at Saturday's competition:

First, Second, and Third Place trophies
Quality Award (celebrates robustness in concept and fabrication)
Control Award (an innovative control system or application of control components to provide unique machine functions)
Imagery Award (attractiveness in engineering and outstanding visual aesthetic integration of the machine and team appearance)
Creativity Award (use of a component, or a creative or unique strategy of play).

The judges will use their best judgment to determine the best candidate for each of these awards.

Have Fun!
chuckie