Re: **FIRST EMAIL**/FRC Game Hint #2
 

don't forget the state motto:
"road work ahead" :D

Re: Got It!
 

"the two"
Could be the two hints we received, or........ could be Spirit and Opportunity. Two almost exclusively autonomous robots. You know the story.

4 Teams
 

Especially if, as some have suggested, we are playing a football like game and you combine two teams of two to make a four team super-alliance. Would also make the bracket structure REALLY interesting this year.

Re: Got It!
 

No, the season is for the two, the game is never for the hints; the hints are for the game. The season is for two of something else. (Teams in an alliance perhaps, i.e. its for the years we used two bots per alliance)

Re: **FIRST EMAIL**/FRC Game Hint #2
 

Ooooooh, I just thought of another thing, how about FIRST employees or workers in a one team alliance against the other teams typed example:
()
()-team 1
[]-team 2 [] F {}
{}-team 3
\/- team 4 \/
F -FIRST workers

And the FIRST people try to stop the others Like the House Robots on Robot Wars(unbiased control).
Sort of a King of the Hill thing.

Re: **FIRST EMAIL**/FRC Game Hint #2
 

It would be very hard to do that with teams in alliances, something FIRST seems to like. They aren't much for mono-e-mono (positive thats NOT how you spell it, oh well) matches.

Re: Got It!
 

the game might have a more important or longer autonomous mode

Re: **FIRST EMAIL**/FRC Game Hint #2
 

I just noticed a sponsor listed in a signature of a poster in CD. It is Nanosolar.

http://www.nanosolar.com/

I remembered a couple of posts in this thread regarding Nanosolar. In the company vision statement, they mention global warming. Global warming has been talked about regarding the hints.

I just thought it interesting.

Re: **FIRST EMAIL**/FRC Game Hint #2
 

:o By the way the last post I did, well, the text is messed up. It was supposed to be in a cross (clockwise) with Team 1 on top teams 2, F, and team 4 on the right, center and left(respectively) and team 3 on bottom.

Re: Got It!
 

accually your on to something maybe, because if you look at dave's sig at the very end the that, "My other car is still on Mars" sig and if you click on the Car part it sends you to the NASA page for the 4 year aniversary that Spirit is still functioning on Mars (they said it should of lasted only 90 days, but look at it now)

Re: Got It!
 

But its for the two. Is the oppurtunity another Mars Rover. If it is, and the two refers to the two Mars Rovers then why is this season for them? Would they be good at performing the game? What exactly are they good at doing?

Re: **FIRST EMAIL**/FRC Game Hint #2
 

Maybe it refers to the fact that they were built to roam, manipulate, take pictures, and collect data from Mars?

Re: **FIRST EMAIL**/FRC Game Hint #2
 

Hmmm... All of our robots "roam" and "manipulate", thats been part of the game from the beginning. But taking pictures, that would refer to a importance of the vision system (the season is for them, they are good at taking pictures, so we do to). Could the robots collect data (IR board maybe)? and use that in some way?

Re: Got It!
 

How much time have you got?

--
Basically - continuing to survive and perform tasks that continue to help our awesome folks at NASA in their exploration of different areas of Mars. Spirit and Opportunity are, indeed, the names of the robust rovers.

http://marsrovers.jpl.nasa.gov/home/index.html

Re: Got It!
 

Opportunity is the second of the two still active Mars Rover it is the brother of Spirit, well I know that Spirit landed on Mars on January 3rd (was part of the FLL during "Mission To Mars")and that isn't far off from the game kick-off for this year and I believe opportunity landed twelve days later, and they are only good at picking up rocks and digging holes and that rovering about thats pretty much it.

Re: **FIRST EMAIL**/FRC Game Hint #2
 

342.242026 is the speed of sound in m/s @ 65' F

Re: **FIRST EMAIL**/FRC Game Hint #2
 

Amazing that's a cool find:)
So far I've heard about the third number as bearing, speed of sound, IP address, frequency, temp(in Kelvins), and who knows what else. So what's left?:confused:

Re: **FIRST EMAIL**/FRC Game Hint #2
 

There's no good way to get the speed of sound to so many decimal places, but that's close enough for me anyway. The number of decimal places is also troubling for bearing and temperature as well. As for IP address, since the highest number is limited to 255, having a 342 is right out.

Wow, the speed of light as compared to the speed of sound (acoustic sensors, anyone?) could be an element, and even if it's not, that would be cool for the future. Maybe the speed of dark?

Don

Re: **FIRST EMAIL**/FRC Game Hint #2
 

Hey, my thoughts about the speed of dark is that it is as fast or faster than light(and maybe not even that).
As for the IP address check it out for yourself. I don't know how I found it so easily (even when the highest address is 255 :confused:http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?...3 42.24.20.26

Re: **FIRST EMAIL**/FRC Game Hint #2
 

Has anyone though to just add and subtract

42.349905
-71.076072
+342.242026
-------------
313.515859... I don't know what it could be used for but its a simple ideal that most people may have overlooked and it could be important...I don't know just throwing my ideal out there.

Re: **FIRST EMAIL**/FRC Game Hint #2
 

I googled the number 313.515859 out of curiosity, and all I got was this thread. Oh well, back to the speculation.

Re: **FIRST EMAIL**/FRC Game Hint #2
 

I think it just represents an UltraSonic Sensor like this

-71.076072 could be an angle?

Re: **FIRST EMAIL**/FRC Game Hint #2
 

Good find. :)

From this data, I conclude that we must build robots cabable of surviving a 65' drop and maintain functionality. :p

Wow. That'd be a really precise angle.

Re: **FIRST EMAIL**/FRC Game Hint #2
 

Dave's had the "My other car is still on Mars" as part of his signature for several years now.

Re: **FIRST EMAIL**/FRC Game Hint #2
 

Brain attack! OK, not really, but what about radians?

A conversion into radians yields:
0.73914528
-1.240511476
5.973250192

Into degrees from rads:
2426.470819=266.470819 on a circle
-4072.35895=-112.35895
308.017238234

I don't have Google Earth, so these are fair game for searching.

And, just for grins, as fractions (idea from ChrisH):
42 183/523
-71 55/723
342 84/347

Re: **FIRST EMAIL**/FRC Game Hint #2
 

Could you imagine, as loud as those arenas get?

As far as all the water talk...It would be VERY impractical, esp. since some venues (like Detroit) are on a gym floor...but then again, most people never thought we'd see projectiles in a game (a la 'Aim High')


PS: Played "Rock Band" for the first time tonight. -=<*AWESOME GAME!!!*>=- At 32 years old, I was the youngest one there! Now my voice is strained, my fingers are blistered, and my right thigh is killing me (bass drum pedal). To top it off, I'm jut getting home at 3am. Looks like I'm ready for build season. :D

Re: **FIRST EMAIL**/FRC Game Hint #2
 

x^2+y^2=c^2

i tried that with the numbers, but concluded the third number does not equal c. however, when i divided c^2 by the third number, i got 20.00140819777115566748076695876

can this be in any way significant?
well that equation is a cartesian equation, used in cylindrical coordinates. so maybe the game involves cylindrical objects with a diameter of 20 centimeters or something.

Re: **FIRST EMAIL**/FRC Game Hint #2
 

That is also the Pythagoeass equation for a traingle . Maybe the gmae pieces are trinagles?

Re: **FIRST EMAIL**/FRC Game Hint #2
 

Well I have my own speculation.
Maybe that is the method for calculating the score.
Last year it was 2^N .
This year it might be x^2 + y^2 = c^2.
Makes sense, doesn't it ?

:o

Re: **FIRST EMAIL**/FRC Game Hint #2
 

Who came up with the idea of even including the Pythagorean theorem in this anyway? Because if its only something brought up by another CDer, I don't see a reason of why it should apply to the game hint numbers. :confused:

Re: **FIRST EMAIL**/FRC Game Hint #2
 

And yet we have 30 pages of GPS coordinates because a CDer came up with it :p

Re: **FIRST EMAIL**/FRC Game Hint #2
 

I dont know..I still don't think that the pythag. theorem has anything to do with it though. The GPS coordinates were accurate and and came up with good results. So far, the pythag. theorem was random and came to no conclusions.

EDIT: Interesting idea though about the theorem if someone can build on it.

Re: **FIRST EMAIL**/FRC Game Hint #2
 

I agree. It was a idea, but the GPS coordinates weren't as random.:)

Re: **FIRST EMAIL**/FRC Game Hint #2
 

For all we know it could be dimensions, or a series where the resultent curve is a formula that we'll need ... or ... or ... or. ;)

All I'm saying is don't knock anothers theory just because it doesn't jibe with your own ;)

Re: **FIRST EMAIL**/FRC Game Hint #2
 

Right.
:o Sorry Feliks:o

Re: **FIRST EMAIL**/FRC Game Hint #2
 

not really trying to put it down, just saying show more evidence of that idea coming to a conclusion. Not meaning any harm or offense..that's not me:]

Re: **FIRST EMAIL**/FRC Game Hint #2
 

Maybe it's just me being thin-skinned ;) . It's just that we beat the GPS coords to death, without conclusion, and haven't yet even started to explore that the numbers may relate to Pythagorean theorem.

Just out of curiosity ... what sort of structure could be built out of a triangle (or triangles) with those dimensions?

In any case, lets keep having fun guessing ... and we'll all find out if anyone guessed it correctly on Jan 5.

Re: **FIRST EMAIL**/FRC Game Hint #2
 

Can you build anything with a negative length? (OK, so we use absolute value...)I'm not sure it's possible at all, in fact, it isn't.
42+71<342
If you have a triangle, the two shortest sides added together need to be longer than the longest side. This doesn't fit the bill.

Re: **FIRST EMAIL**/FRC Game Hint #2
 

I'm sticking with the GPS idea. The odds that those coordinates point to an area on land, in america, in a major city, in a popular area tells me that these coordinates weren't exactly random and that they are indeed to be read as GPS coordinates.

Now I need to start figuring out the significance of the globe cafe and the oblesiks. My guess is some sort "Fortwars" type of game. If you are unfamiliar with Fortwars, it is an addon to HalfLife 2. The point of the game is to get a ball and retain possession of the ball for a prolonged period of time. I'm sure there is a better comparison than that.

What if the clue has something to do with Globe Motors? Does Globe make any other motors?

Re: **FIRST EMAIL**/FRC Game Hint #2
 

Don't know if this has been brought up before but I find it hard to believe that these numbers have anything to do with a measurement. The reason being they have 6 decimal places. I don't know of any tools that measure to six decimal places.

Re: **FIRST EMAIL**/FRC Game Hint #2
 

This is what I was able to get from reading 35 pages of ideas.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Coordinates: 42.34990
-71.076072
342.242026

A and B form the coordinates of Copley Square, Boston, MA

-John Hanncock building is located in Copley Square

-Building has arena-like top

-Building has mirrored sides which, when looked at in the proper place,
allow you to see the old Hanncock buildings

-Quad Streetlights in Copley Square migt be related to the FTC game "Quad Quandry"

-Quad Streetlights = Four light sources = Four Teams on Field

-Light reflects off of Hanncock building so Reflective sides on game field

-Song Truckin' (favorite song of Woodie or Dave)
Sometimes the light's all shining on me
Other times I can barely see
Lately it occurs to me
What a long strange trip it's been

-"Barely See" could relate to Infrared Light

-Bounce Infrared Signals off of mirrors to be recieved

-Triangles and Squares in Copley Square, Globe Cafe is 342* from Copley Square

-Obelisks 342* from Copley Square could represent two game pieces

-Trinity Church (Copley Square) = 3 = Corners of Game Field (Such as the Hanncock Roof)

-December 21 (release date of clue) = National Treasure Release Date = Treasure under Trinity Church

-Paul Revere used Lights = National Treasure

-Add all three numbers=313.515859 3135~314 and 15859~159 so 314159~3.14159=pi

-Hanncock building has Red and Blue weather lights on roof

-National Treasure Connection: Reveres House is 343yds from Old North Church @ 343*

-Painter "Copley" painted a portrait of Revere

-Weather Beacons can show 4 colors (Red, RedFlash, Blue, BlueFlash)

-"For two, this seasons for you" Dave = Two Team Alliances
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Does anyone else have something I can add?

Re: **FIRST EMAIL**/FRC Game Hint #2
 

- weight/counterweight

- a Tortoise and the Hare concept that Elgin introduced

Re: **FIRST EMAIL**/FRC Game Hint #2
 

Hint 1: An infrared receiver capable of learning four signals.
Hint 2: 3 high precision numbers, 2 suggesting GPS location of Copley Square and a third with multiple possible solutions.

Connections to Paul Revere, the Revolutionary hero, and music (Paul Revere and the Raiders, the Beasty Boys and Greatful Dead's "Truckin").

It's "Dance Dance Revolution!" The robots will be SQUARE Dancing to the IR signals!

Sorry, my wife made me put this one in! :)

I really like the idea of traffic cones as game pieces and "Coupling Squares" as a game name. Even if they are not part of this year's game, look for them to show up in the future!

Re: **FIRST EMAIL**/FRC Game Hint #2
 

High precision #'s / The Grateful Dead

They are just messing with your minds :)

Re: **FIRST EMAIL**/FRC Game Hint #2
 

Aim Higher Trinity!?

Re: **FIRST EMAIL**/FRC Game Hint #2
 

I have not read everything but what if you switch the coordinates around?
71.076072 - 42.349905

http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=en&geocode=&time=&date=&ttype=&q=71.07 6072+-+42.349905&ie=UTF8&ll=71.076061,-42.349892&spn=19.70802,82.265625&t=h&z=4&om=1

Were going to GREENLAND!!!!

(look slightly to the right there is something huge buried in the ice)

Re: **FIRST EMAIL**/FRC Game Hint #2
 

Not Greenland, Antarctica.

http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=e...t=h&z=4 &om=1

Could someone good at Antarctic geography tell me the name of that location or if there are any important research centers there?

Re: **FIRST EMAIL**/FRC Game Hint #2
 

tetras again

Re: **FIRST EMAIL**/FRC Game Hint #2
 

One thing to keep in mind about PCM (pulse code modulated) IR transmitters (remotes), they will interfere with each other. If two or more PCM encoded IR signals are broadcast at the same time, they will interfere with each other. The decoder will not be able to use either signal.

I doubt FIRST would allow teams to use IR to contol the Robot becasue it would be too easy to jam each other. IR is invisible and would be impossible to prevent.

Whatever FIRST plans to do with them you can bet the IR beams will be separated. Probably beaming out from the center of the playfield in quadrature.

Another possiblilty, the signals (1 of 4) will be sent out at different times. Channel 1 for the first 15 second, channel 2 for the next, ... Maybe the Robots will have to follow and respond to these IR becons.

B

Re: **FIRST EMAIL**/FRC Game Hint #2
 

if the third number is a bearing it could point to new hampshire
dean kamen

some where in the first few pages

Re: **FIRST EMAIL**/FRC Game Hint #2
 

Just to clarify; the quote is "For the two this season is for you" It could mean two team alliances (the two refering to the seasons we had two team alliances) but the inclusion of "the" makes that possiblit slightly less likely. (i.e. reference to the Mars rovers and Dave's "other" car.

Re: **FIRST EMAIL**/FRC Game Hint #2
 

its a boat buried in the ice

Re: **FIRST EMAIL**/FRC Game Hint #2
 

Hmmm, For The Two, this season is for you

For the two what? Could it have something to do with the two clues rather than anything about Mars? maybe we should also start thinking about the IR in addition with these three numbers rather than looking at both clues separately

Re: **FIRST EMAIL**/FRC Game Hint #2
 

I'm not sure if this has been thrown out there before, but I'm pretty sure it wasn't on the first 22 pages.

What if the IR directs (not receives) autonomous mode- you have to position your robot facing a transmitter and it will receive some code which it has to execute? I'm not a programmer so I have no idea if this is feasible at all.

I also like the maze idea. Hearing about the stuff on the Hancock Building, it might even be an obstacle course. Perhaps instead of IR boundaries as originally suggested (I'm building off of the above idea) you again receive the instructions which will blindly control the robot through part or all of the maze? But then the drivetrain would have to be standardized...

Re: **FIRST EMAIL**/FRC Game Hint #2
 

it would be a huge boat...look at the size of greenland compared to the US its enormous...the boat would be like the length of VA sideways...:yikes: but it does look like one...

Re: **FIRST EMAIL**/FRC Game Hint #2
 

After reading all this information on the previous 37 pages I
am concerned about the new teams and the teams without
endless resources in mentors being able to take in and
understand all this information and making sense of it.

I hope they certainly remember this when it comes to kickoff.

Re: **FIRST EMAIL**/FRC Game Hint #2
 

If that's the case, then I hope that teams come to CD for help. :D

Re: **FIRST EMAIL**/FRC Game Hint #2
 

I had a weird dream about kickoff last night. The game featured these large blue and red tubes that I could fit in, about 6 feet high. They were transparent, and I guess lexan. They surrounded the field, but were on the outsides. There was also this weird framework on the field. Almost like Stack Attack.

And there was a lot with just Dave holding the IR board, talking, and closeups of the board. He never actually got around to saying what the board was for. I clearly remember that, because I kept asking myself, "WHAT'S IT FOR DAVE? WHAT'S IT FOR?"

I woke up convinced I knew exactly what the game was going to be. Then I realized it was only a dream.

Re: **FIRST EMAIL**/FRC Game Hint #2
 

CD???

Re: **FIRST EMAIL**/FRC Game Hint #2
 

CD= Chief Delphi :D

Re: **FIRST EMAIL**/FRC Game Hint #2
 

Ouch, this is a lot of info....

Over the past few days I stepped away from this thread & just thought. I thought about coordinates & latitude & longitude & north, south, east, west, & I watched my nephew, niece, & daughter play with their Christmas toys. I got thinking about Copley Square, & had thought. I'm done thinking about the clue until Kickoff....

What do Gerbils, Jello, Kinex, and the Greatful Dead have to do with the globe?

Stop the madness.

Re: **FIRST EMAIL**/FRC Game Hint #2
 

Copley+ robots= http://www.copleycontrols.com/


so i don't no if the IR sensor hooks up up to the electronics we already use but i think the clue leads use to new electronics.

Re: **FIRST EMAIL**/FRC Game Hint #2
 

+ http://www.copleycontrols.com/motion/motors/

Re: **FIRST EMAIL**/FRC Game Hint #2
 

I think the IR board is for a quick change on your robot for autonomous mode.

Re: Got It!
 

Where did the water game idea come from? Its always mentioned but i never know how it got started.

Re: Got It!
 

all of the extra tubes from last year, and what they were going to use them for

Re: **FIRST EMAIL**/FRC Game Hint #2
 

**FIRST EMAIL**/FRC Game Hint #2
notice the #2 here. it means something.

I believe that the IR board is a FAKE because the Blast archive have been update and #2 is there but no sign of the first one.
you can check here
http://www.usfirst.org/community/frc...t.aspx?id=6616

so i think #2 means something, maybe 2 bot alliances, or 2 light colors and 2 cameras for navigation.
this is all getting wierd.:D

Re: **FIRST EMAIL**/FRC Game Hint #2
 

well as futile as all this debating is (because we'll never know for sure until the fifth) I think that if they are in fact coordinates its got to be Copley square, because its the most cryptic and has the most potential for ideas going completely in the wrong direction. It just seems too easy to narrow things down if it is Greenland or Antarctica or whatever. Just my opinion.

Re: **FIRST EMAIL**/FRC Game Hint #2
 

Here is a captured shot of Google's location of 42.xxx, -71.xxx (green arrow) with degrees from North clockwise and counterclockwise. Notice how close 342.xxx CW is to the street grid. (Field checking might bring it exact.) The red rectangle is the approximate size of the 2007 game field, not placed anywhere in particular, but to give the scale of the location. The satellite photo shows something at the arrow spot. (I'm using Google because of their connection with FIRST.)

All the extra tubes were sold at the FIRST store and Building 19.

Outside of the "water game" joke, there could be different colored carpet indicating water which can't be crossed, etc.

I'm thinking of the six place precision of the three numbers. Could it be that the programming has to be switched from integer to -er- floating point?

Even with some of their hints I'm not too sure even then we'd figure them out.:)
________________________
I was gratified to be able to answer promptly, and I did. I said I didn't know. - Mark Twain

Re: **FIRST EMAIL**/FRC Game Hint #2
 

They make switches for that nowadays.:p

Re: **FIRST EMAIL**/FRC Game Hint #2
 

Indeed they do. We've used a custom one for the past two years. They work really well.

Re: **FIRST EMAIL**/FRC Game Hint #2
 

Greenland & Antarctica both have a lot of water, but in its solid state....Ice Game? (JK):yikes:
..Or.more precisely, the new Robot Controller we think is coming will be better suited to floating point math?

Just a few more days folks...

Don

Re: **FIRST EMAIL**/FRC Game Hint #2
 

I am starting to believe this more and more.
It would not surprise me that the second hint was formatted to look like GPS coordinates on purpose just to throw us off.
There are several other subtle clues and history that are pushing me in this direction. Only time will tell. :yikes:

Re: **FIRST EMAIL**/FRC Game Hint #2
 

I thought the new Robot Controller was coming out <counts on fingers> for the 2009 game? Kevin is certainly working on cleaning the code for this season anyway. While floating point math does make it easier (hey, I remember when the 8086 chip improved AutoCAD!), even trig can be done the old fashioned way. Not that I want to go back...

Custom switches? We do it thru the port 1 joystick buttons. While we couldn't catch which way the rack went we could change the autonomous after we put the robot on the field. We did have a 4-switch box on the robot the year before, but for some reason binary numbers (even "up down down up") confused the drivers :D . We did test a custom box into port 4 but using the joystick was easier.
_____________________
We demand rigidly defined areas of doubt and uncertainty! - Douglas Adams

Re: **FIRST EMAIL**/FRC Game Hint #2
 

Great job with that map. I think this makes it conclusive. Globe Cafe.

Re: **FIRST EMAIL**/FRC Game Hint #1
 

The fact that there are 4 led's suggests 4 corners - having a game that uses squares is over due as we have had triangles and circles several times.

Is there a circuit diagram for the hint board? I have gotten the PIC manual for the chip.

Re: **FIRST EMAIL**/FRC Game Hint #2
 

474
Anthemius of Tralles
Ellipses

Re: **FIRST EMAIL**/FRC Game Hint #2
 

I'm sorry, I know this is way off topic, but could somebody please tell me how to post new threads? I've been looking for about a half hour on how to do it, and I just can't find it. I knew many people follow this post, so I have the best chance of a response. Again, i'm sorry it's way off topic. Thanks

Re: **FIRST EMAIL**/FRC Game Hint #2
 

It's right below all the topics, on the left side. I don't think you can post new topics on this board.

Re: **FIRST EMAIL**/FRC Game Hint #2
 

Man wouldn't it be terrible we were all losing sleep, paining big bucks for pain killers( for headaches ) and all of this chat about ice and water and Boston, only for us to find out it's much simpler. This is a great thread and you all are awesome hint figurers, but maybe we should sort of start over with the clue and then try each of our ideas out (not literally) to see which are plausible and which just seem to complicated? :o

Re: **FIRST EMAIL**/FRC Game Hint #2
 

The idea of a water game has been around long before then. Do a search for Water Game and find the oldest thread. It'll be several years old.

Just remember, the possibility of the IR being a fake has already been debated in the thread about it in the Extra Discussion forum. It might be that the blast hasn't gone out to all teams yet. 2-team alliances? Been there, done that, can't get the teams through fast enough. 2 cameras? There was a reward offered to the first team to do that. It went unclaimed. 2 light colors? Maybe, but I doubt it. More likely one light color and an IR transmitter (or four) on the field.

Re: **FIRST EMAIL**/FRC Game Hint #2
 

Team 375 successfully used 2 cameras during the 2007 season - they won four technical awards, including Delphi's "Driving Tomorrow's Technology" at the Championship Event.

So, what was the reward? ;)

Re: **FIRST EMAIL**/FRC Game Hint #2
 

During the 2005 season, Dave offered (lots of) Krispy Kremes to the first programming team do have stereo vision. I'm not sure if that offer is still open. It went unclaimed at the time, even by Kevin Watson (who did make a stab at it).

Re: **FIRST EMAIL**/FRC Game Hint #2
 

This thread is so random and full of overanalysis of the smallest things; I feel like I am back in my English class discussing why Kathy saying "I left" is a subtle reference to the title of Never Let Me Go and how that shows Ishiguro's ideas on blah blah blah. :) Actually, I could probably take a paragraph from the (rough draft) of my term paper for English and swap the word 'Camus' for 'Dave', 'absurdist' and 'existentialist' for 'water game,' 'L'Hote' for 'the game,' 'Daru' for 'the hint,' and 'the Arab' for 'FIRSTers' (plus a few other swaps) and have it make sense in this thread.

Joking aside, here's my thoughts:

All of the game hints share the general concept of determining information about the state of something from a distance without being physically there/connected to it. (IR remote detector, long/lat & google earth). So, I think this means that, while a robot makes its own path through the field, the course of a robot's motions are set at a distance (unconnected to the robot), which stands in opposition to the ideas of water games (ie radios don't work well under water).

In a central idea of the game hint discussion, FIRSTers are left with a choice: to follow the path to the unlikely, and a water game; or to continue with carpet, and face the truth of an incomprehensible hint. This choice acts as a sort of divining rod; every moment Dave presents us with with hints (jello, kites, bad jokes, etc), and, while a person's decisions may be influenced by outside forces (desires, other hints, fear), the choice of what to do is ultimately their's, and thus, the hints reveal the inner souls and desires of FIRSTers worldwide.

Hey, it worked!:D

Re: **FIRST EMAIL**/FRC Game Hint #2
 

My best guess is similar to 04. Globe Cafe to me signifies in its simpilest form, a large ball. My guess is some sort of capping... or it could anything that has to do with planets... Could just mean its a ball game again this year.

Re: **FIRST EMAIL**/FRC Game Hint #2
 

if you really want something to just pull at your brain, i've heard that the people who build the fields for kickoff, have said that they have no idea what the game could be, even though they have the field element drawings in addition to these hints.:ahh:

Re: **FIRST EMAIL**/FRC Game Hint #2
 

I'd be confused with a wading pool full of Jello too. :rolleyes:

Re: **FIRST EMAIL**/FRC Game Hint #2
 

You know guys, these clues seem fascinating and all but really we should just relax and wait for kickoff.

After 5 years in robotics I have come to realize that these game hints are so ambigious and vague that they can hint at a multitude of complex games when the real game is much simpler.

This thread is great for getting those creative juices flowing but y'all should just enjoy the rest of your holiday and rest up for another crazy season.

:)

Re: **FIRST EMAIL**/FRC Game Hint #2
 

An Atlas ball that needs to be manuevered between two large uprights. Analagous to how the Globe Cafe is between the two obelisks in Copley Square.

Re: **FIRST EMAIL**/FRC Game Hint #2
 

It would really be cool if the ball were about eight feet in diameter -- large enough for someone to get inside .... :rolleyes:

Re: **FIRST EMAIL**/FRC Game Hint #2
 

like last years vex game

Re: **FIRST EMAIL**/FRC Game Hint #2
 

Or made out of solid stone...

Worlds Strongest Robot anyone?

Re: **FIRST EMAIL**/FRC Game Hint #2
 

The human player role would take on a whole new meaning :D

Re: **FIRST EMAIL**/FRC Game Hint #2
 

A 100 LB ball would be ~ 12.5" dia.

Talk about a challenge ... I could see a few crunched robots if one of those things got dropped.

Re: **FIRST EMAIL**/FRC Game Hint #2
 

Or hollow stone...

Re: **FIRST EMAIL**/FRC Game Hint #2
 

Karthik, you're lucky you are not eligible to be the human player!

Re: **FIRST EMAIL**/FRC Game Hint #2
 

The coordinates could be the site of the John Singleton Copley statue in Copley square and the compass heading the direction in which the statue is facing.

As an MS Excel date and time, 342.242026 is Dec. 7 1900 5:48:31 AM.

Other features of Copley Square:
Trinity Church
The plaza in front of the church
The fountain
Tortoise and Hare sculpture
Boston Marathon Centennial Monument

It appears to be an open plaza near the John Hancock Hotel in Boston. An azimuth of 342 would send you approximately parallel with Dartmouth Street.

Re: **FIRST EMAIL**/FRC Game Hint #2
 

Has anyone ever considered making the human player into a game piece before?

Re: **FIRST EMAIL**/FRC Game Hint #2
 

cool factor....through the roof

safety factor....not very great

Re: **FIRST EMAIL**/FRC Game Hint #2
 

:yikes:

only with considerable safety precautions would I even consider being a live animated game piece with not-so-fully tested possibly industrial strength robots all around me trying to put me someplace, such as a cage...

seems like a fun thought though... :D a crazy game of tag...