Re: How difficult do you feel this competition is, this year?
 

I think the basic objectives (driving, and ball herding) will be easier to achieve than similar objectives I've seen in First.

But I think the advanced objective (hurdling) will be harder to pull off consistantly, and quickly than a lot of the other advanced objectives I've seen.

Re: How difficult do you feel this competition is, this year?
 

what a nice normal curve we've got going...
Comparing this year to my past 3 years, IMHO its about par .: its not too easy or too hard. The game does seem too have less dimensions to it then last year... we had a difficult job of picking out unique playing strategies.

I'm thinking most robots will look the same, as was '06.

Re: How difficult do you feel this competition is, this year?
 

A very interesting distribution of those that think it is "too easy," those that think it is "too hard" and a bunch that think it is "just about right."

I have this wonderful mental image of a bunch of people in one corner with Mama Bear, and a bunch in the other corner with Papa Bear, and a bunch in the middle of the room with Baby Bear (who is looking at his little chair that is all broken because a Trackball fell on it)...


-dave



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Re: How difficult do you feel this competition is, this year?
 

The trackball was hurled. Simple.

Re: How difficult do you feel this competition is, this year?
 

it depends on how your robot is built and what jod it does. if your robot just races around, its gonna be easy, if its a herdler, its gonna be hard.

Re: How difficult do you feel this competition is, this year?
 

Hmm.... that is a better mental image than mine; dung-beetle type robots pushing giant balls of ....... rubber and cloth!
:)

Re: How difficult do you feel this competition is, this year?
 

A lot of the teams will have something that will poke off the ball off the overhead thing but they proberly won't be able to hurdle it only the more advacne teams will most likely.

Re: How difficult do you feel this competition is, this year?
 

This game is great because it gives everyon a chance but still has a way to be "elite" with a more complex design.

Re: How difficult do you feel this competition is, this year?
 

This game is weird. It's simultaneously the hardest game I've ever seen, AND the easiest. If you move (which, probably 99.9% of all FIRST robots have) you can score points. If you can write a few simple lines of code setting two motors to move forward, and have a reasonably true drivetrain, you can score important autonomous points. This is great! Games have never been so open. If you can stop in three foot target area and raise up a stick, you can score MAJOR autonomous points. This hasn't happened before.

But, lurking on the other side, is hurdling. Seriously. It's hard. Really hard. Once you get your field mockups up, try doing it by hand. It took me a little over 20 seconds as a human. FRC robots can't even touch our dexterity in dealing with large objects. Hurdling is darn near impossible.

I'm willing to bet that worldwide, no more than 20 robots will average 2 hurdles per match.

I think, this year the GDC over-succeeded (either that or they decided to get back at everyone who complains at how easy the games are) This game IS very, very accessable to small teams. It's also great for teams who have a lot of manpower to design, build and test. But I'm not convinced it's so great for the in between team. However, I could quite easily be proven wrong. We'll see if teams are up for the challenge. :cool:

Re: How difficult do you feel this competition is, this year?
 

Yup, and who says you can't hold 2 opposing/conflicting thoughts (or more) in your head at the same time. Piece of cake!

Re: How difficult do you feel this competition is, this year?
 

I think it seems relatively easy, although this is my first year on the team, so it's kind of hard for me to tell yet...

Re: How difficult do you feel this competition is, this year?
 

there is a quote that i like that fits this pretty much, it was said by Albert Einstein.

"I would not give a nickel for simplicity on this side of complexity, but i would give my whole life for simplicity on the other side of complexity."

What this pretty much is saying that this years game itself is simple but the way you play it it complex.

Re: How difficult do you feel this competition is, this year?
 

at kickoff, i thought it was a little too easy, but now, making up the strategy book, it looks more complicated.

also, i think its a bit easier than Rack 'n Roll.

Re: How difficult do you feel this competition is, this year?
 

It is easy enough for new teams.

But to compete and win a regional or Einstein it is a tough game. You will need both an excellent hybrid mode and to hurdle. We plan to do both but it is very hard.

I am glad that any team can score some in the autonomous mode.

Re: How difficult do you feel this competition is, this year?
 

The game itself seems pretty simple and straight forward, BUT the way to accomplish most of the things are very difficult to get done. FIRST was definitely right when they said find a simple side to complexity.