finish line flat?
 

Does anyone know if the finish line is flat? I am a bit confused, the rules say

"A red or blue “FINISH LINE” is marked on each side on the carpet under the OVERPASS. The
FINISH LINE is indicated by a six-inch wide tripe of black-and-white checkered tape, followed by a
two-inch wide stripe of colored gaffers tape. The pipes of the OVERPASS structure coplanar with
the vertical projection of the gaffers tape are colored to provide further indication of the plane of the
FINISH LINE. For the red FINISH LINE, the gaffers tape and pipes are red, and for the blue
FINISH LINE the gaffers tape and pipes are blue."

Does that mean the the line is flat or does it mean that there is a pipe that runs along the floor?

Re: finish line flat?
 

I believe it is tape.

Re: finish line flat?
 

The OVERPASS is 6.5 feet above the carpet. There are no pipes for it on the floor. It is marked so the plane of the finish line is clear.

Re: finish line flat?
 

As others have said, yes, the finish line is flat. The pipe is mentioned only to note that it is colored (even though its on the overpass) and over the finsih line.

Re: finish line flat?
 

Great our team was wondering the same thing. Thanks for the info!

Re: finish line flat?
 

the designs state that the finish line is 2 1/2 inches above the carpet

Re: finish line flat?
 

I don't think so. I don't see where it says that either.

Re: finish line flat?
 

Umm... I don't think so. If they do, then either Section 6 or the designs are wrong. Gaffers tape is not 2.5" thick.

I can't find that anywhere in the drawings.

Re: finish line flat?
 

neither can I......

Re: finish line flat?
 

There's a difference between a 2.5" WIDE piece of gaffer's tape, and a 2/5" TALL piece of tape ;)

Re: finish line flat?
 

The finish lines should be flat, but not the lane dividers:

Re: finish line flat?
 

thanks that helps a lot.

Re: finish line flat?
 

What is being described in that rule is the wall between the lanes, not the tape lines perpendicular to the driver station.
I'd treat the lines themselves pretty much as a normal surface, but if you need precision, it wouldn't be a bad idea to run your robot over the lines several times to determine if it makes any difference.

Re: finish line flat?
 

The only 2.5" rule I can find is the height of the lower part of the bumper.

Re: finish line flat?
 

One of MOE's mentors, and one student was invited to the kickoff in New Hampshire. We asked them this same question and they looked at the official field, and it was tape.

Re: finish line flat?
 

The lane marks are painted on the carpet surface then the gaffer's tape is added to distinguish the red or blue finish line. However, the five plates that support the center wall do have some thickness and are covered in carpet.

Re: finish line flat?
 

so does that mean that the inside of the track is raised, or do they accomadate for that in the other parts?

Re: finish line flat?
 

Not sure what you are asking. Each of the five panels that hold up the center wall are placed on the playing field carpet and then carpet is place over them and gaffer's tape is used to secure the top layer of carpet to the playing field carpet. The dimensions and materials are listed in the field drawings.

Re: finish line flat?
 

I was just wondering if there was going to be a rise in the field or not. i was playing around in the manual and figured it out, thanks.

Finish line tape
 

Does anyone have a source for the finish line tape? I can only find 3 inch wide tape with three rows of checks. The 2-inch wide tape has two rows of checkers. Finding a 3-inch wide tape with 2 rows of checkers seems impossible.

Re: Finish line tape
 

Read Section 6. (I think that's where this is, if not, it's in one of the drawings.) They lay down one color, then the other goes on top.

Re: finish line flat?
 

From Section: 6.2.1: Boundaries and Markings
Arena Layout and Markings Has this text for the lines as 3" TAPE BLK/WHT W/3" STRIPE EVERY 3", TWO STRIPS

This is the tape I am trying to source.:confused:

Re: finish line flat?
 

I looked through all the documentation, and couldn't find what I thought it said. Now, looking at the tape description, I see two possibilities:
1) FIRST is using custom tape.
2) FIRST is using their standard tape set (black, red, blue, and maybe white) in a creative way.

Option 2, which may be more likely, would entail the following:
a) Mark the color.
b) Lay the black.
c) Lay 3" long strips of white on top of the black, leaving 3" of black between each piece, on one black piece.
d) Repeat for the other black piece, laying the white in a checker pattern.

As I said, I couldn't find any support for either option. I would ask Q&A if I were you. Specifically: Is there a special tape for the checkered part of the finish line and where to get it? If not, how is the tape laid?