Re: pic: Game hint
 

They might make a zone that's visible to the crowd but not visible to the players, or one that's very obscurred for the players (i.e. they can see where their robot is but not what it's picking up)

Sorry, of course it's legit ... just trying to offer a practical conspiracy theory for the timing and content of the clue.

Re: pic: Game hint
 

I'm not sure this is possible, but it would be pretty cool for spectators (not really drive teams) if the virtual pieces showed up on the video, but not on the field.

I'm not sure if we have a board yet or not. We should have a meeting tonight to find out.

How do you know this? I agree that it can't be that important if so many aren't getting it, but knowing that other people have it and we don't yet is driving me crazy!:ahh:

EDIT:
You beat me to it.

Re: pic: Game hint
 

Looking at the picture, I think this may be a field element. As a sensor for the robot, is really is rather large and bulky - like the camera, but with twice as much space taken up for diagnostics. Secondly, I can't see this being used for homing of any kind whatsoever - there is only one sensor on it, and it doesn't give signal strength, just whether or not it sees something. That doesn't lend itself to differentiation, therefore, no homing. IR homing is a pain anyway, so no real loss. Just my $0.02

Re: pic: Game hint
 

It's like 3" by 1.5". I don't think it's really that big for putting on the robot. And if it's a field sensor, why hand it out? And where are the transmitters we'll be putting on the robots? Unless the challenge this year is for the robot to punch buttons on a universal remote. In a specific pattern..... Wait. Are we finally being tasked with the holy grail of robotics? Do we get to design robots that will program VCRs and thus end the scourge of blinking "12:00" LEDs in living rooms across the world?

Re: pic: Game hint
 

I find it hard to believe that FIRST would go through the trouble of making this component, and then only using it for Autonomous. Here's a little history to prove this.

In '04, our first year with a "targeted" Autonomous, the game was poorly designed and didn't take advantage of this target after autonomous.

In '05, we "could" have used the camera for more than autonomous, but again, the game design didn't lend itself to using it.

In '06, the target was highly used by most successful teams in both autonomous and during the human operated period, and clearly communicated to the audience which team was allowed to score.

In '07, the target was again highly used by most successful teams in autonomous, and was designed to have been used during the game as a scoring aide. I'm not sure how many teams used it outside of autonomous.

In '08? Why would FIRST design a game that only allowed the use of this technology in a finite amount of time? Why wouldn't they want us to use it for the entire match? I think (okay, hope) that they've figured out how to properly integrate this in with the rest of the game. How they may have done that, well, that's their secret for a couple weeks. Whether it requires audience feedback is a different story. I'm wondering if this is going to replace the CMUCamera, or be an addition to it.

BEN

Re: pic: Game hint
 

I believe it's handed out:
a) so you can make your own field (much like the cathodes we got last year) and
b) as a clue, as far as I can tell (I may be completely wrong) the clues for the past couple of years (last year for sure) the clue has been something about the field elements.

Does anyone know where I can find previous years hints/clues???

Re: pic: Game hint
 

An almost complete list.

http://www.chiefdelphi.com/forums/sh...ighlight=clues

Re: pic: Game hint
 

In order to know the game before Kickoff, there's a pretty hefty Non Disclosure Agreement that goes along with it. Your Regional Coordinator probably isn't authorized to give hints, as the only meaningful one is from the GDC as a whole (despite the fact that we rip through everything Dave says).

But additionally, I wouldn't be surprised if there was very little on the field. In 2005 the field was a bunch of PVC lengths and some special pieces to fit them together. In 2002 the field was 4 goals on casters and a bunch of soccer balls.

FIRST had a thing for mobile goals for a very long time, and I only got one year of them. I'd kind like it if we got some more to play with (and if the field is relatively empty, that means its possible we will get them).

Re: pic: Game hint
 

It seems, judging from the code already being passed around and the size, that it could go on the robot to interact with the field.

Now, granted, an IR remote in the stands could get messy--but the documentation I've read seems to indicate you can get other IR receivers for different frequencies beyond those normally used on TV remotes. What if FIRST gave us these to design our robots around, then gave us a board with a different, harder-to-interfere-with receiver component (but the same interface as far as the robot cares) to run on the field?

Re: pic: Game hint
 

thanks, seems what I said only applied to last year. please ignore point b. lol

Re: pic: Game hint
 

That code was written by me. I don't even have a hardware part yet. I have received no extra hint, but merely followed the spec sheet assuming this goes on the robot.

The fact that code is being passed around doesn't prove anything, as it's not IFI/FIRST-official code.

Just thought I'd better point that out.

JBot

Re: pic: Game hint
 

It may be wise to change the title of your thread to "unofficial FIRST IR Code" or something like that.

Just a thought so if/when there is an official one released, it won't be confused on the boards here.

Re: pic: Game hint
 

Ouch.



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Re: pic: Game hint
 

uh oh... dave is in the thread :p:p

Re: pic: Game hint
 

...Again. How is he messing with our minds this time?