Re: Breakaway Discussion
 

I think this could be pretty hard to get up there because it is 20 in from the ground and even if you can get to the top of the bump you still have a 8 inch gap to get up there.

Re: Breakaway Discussion
 

Overall, I think it's a good game. 2 problems with it though:
1: <R19> and Frame Perimeter. The 3 inches rule is an absolute beast to work around. The X-bot shall be remembered.

2. Hanging doesn't seem to have much of a point. In the last 20 seconds, wouldn't it be feasable to have a fast bot score 2 points and thus win the round? Hanging points are only for when all is said and done.

Other than that, I think they did a really good job with the game. I've been showing my non-robotics team friends the video for playing the game, and they are actually pretty interested in going to see it. Dean's homework is gonna be easy this year.

Re: Breakaway Discussion
 

OK if you build your bumpers and back then with a frame but it is separate from your drivetrain, i.e. they arent connected by bolting them together or welding, would that be legal?

Re: Breakaway Discussion
 

If the target is black and white, the floor stripe white and the ball is white, will the refs be wearing zebra shirts this year?

Re: Breakaway Discussion
 

I also think it will be filmed with a black and white camera :P

Re: Breakaway Discussion
 

i saw in the video one of the robots standing on the platform above the tunnel for the 2 extra points. i dont know if they changed that rule, but i though it would be interesting to point out.

Re: Breakaway Discussion
 

Yep, and we're still trying to figure out if that is in fact correct. We're pretty sure it is, but we'd like to be 100% sure instead of 99% sure.

Re: Breakaway Discussion
 

i saw in the video that one of the example robots got itself onto the platform above the tunnel for the 2 extra points. i thought it would be good to point out.

Re: Breakaway Discussion
 

sorry for the double reply

Re: Breakaway Discussion
 

presuming all six robots are bonused on towers? mid field has two gates right? I'm sure some susp/elev'd 'bots will be accessible in the other field sections.

Re: Breakaway Discussion
 

There are only 5 gates on the field. The scorers kind of hate having robot traffic come right in front of their table (might have something to do with a cable cover that typically runs from the table to the field).

Re: Breakaway Discussion
 

Why couldn't they make it worth while to hang? Like say....15 points for hanging from the bar and 10 points for hanging from another bot.

Re: Breakaway Discussion
 

Because mathmatically speaking you can't get enough points just by kicking the ball. You might as well try and get extra points so you have a chance at winning.

Re: Breakaway Discussion
 

I don't believe that there is any restriction to which side of the tower the robot is hangng from - or whether they are hanging from the top bar or the verticle bars for that matter.

at least I have not seen any stipulation for either case.

Re: Breakaway Discussion
 

You might want to go back and read The Manual again (particularly The Game section and the rules in the "30's"). Very carefully.

Just a gentle reminder that not being aware of rules such as the one that covers this topic is an almost guaranteed way of making mistakes during a competition. Mistakes that can cost you - and your alliance partners - a match when you can least afford it. Last year, I saw many matches where teams made simple and completely avoidable mistakes. Human Players did things like putting their hands through the port in the shield, and collected enough penalties to lose a match, just because they didn't read the rules and find out that they were not supposed to do that.

-dave



.

Re: Breakaway Discussion
 

Hmm - I see. you are specifically referring to G31: Robots may not contact the Ball Return or the Return Bars. I read this several times but it doesn't make complete sense unless you look at how the Tower is built and how the parts of it are labeled.

Still - if you were on the Alliance Zone side of the tower - you could still use the vertical tower bars to grab onto - just not the Return Bars portion of the tower. I don't see too many teams trying this but I could be wrong.

Re: Breakaway Discussion
 

Ok, Our team has been having troubles locating the exact dimensions of the target. The manual says that it has a 42" diameter and each ring is 4". however, one of the PDFs on the FIRST site said the dimensions were 38" diameter with two 2.5" rings and one 5" ring. Does anyone else have this problem and do you know the answer?

Re: Breakaway Discussion
 

Have you seen Team Update #2?

Re: Breakaway Discussion
 

You can still distinguish between the vision target by shape. Tracking relies on finding the eccentricity of the vision target, so I don't think this sort of interference will be a problem.

Re: Breakaway Discussion
 

thanks, that helps tremendously

Re: Breakaway Discussion
 

You might want to think about re-inforceing your bumpers to take a hit from above. Just saw 120 pounds of bot coming down a bump. Looks scary. If your bot is passing by at the wrong time , i could see some bumpers getting sheared off.

Re: Breakaway Discussion
 

I dont believe i have, lolz, i actually only saw "Team Update #1"

Re: Breakaway Discussion
 

Means you need to look at the updates page again. They're up to #3, and #4 is due out Friday.

Re: Breakaway Discussion
 

What?! Oh crap I need to find those.... I only knew about 1. My computer must be hiding these from me.

Re: Breakaway Discussion
 

I understand the answer to the question the way it is written, http://forums.usfirst.org/showthread.php?t=13940 , but are you not able to change robot size if you are in touch with tower? Also understanding that you are not protected during this change. What, maybe i don't understand gdc answer. Can anybody clear this up for me?

Re: Breakaway Discussion
 

I had to think about this, and it's both sides' fault for that one. I believe that the question referred to expanding and contracting the frame, which is specifically disallowed.

Anything above the frame perimeter/not affecting the frame perimeter, no big deal.

Re: Breakaway Discussion
 

i love this game because it seems there are a lot more challenges than last year. The changeable bumpers are a really great idea because I was always confused as to which robot was on which alliance.

Re: Breakaway Discussion
 

the way I read it is that you can not make the perimeter of the robot wider or narrower. The Frame perimeter cannot chage even during the FINALE (R11). The question that I have is can the height change any time before the FINALE? Below is the definition of the NORMAL Configuration of the robot and it seems to say that the once the robot is placed on the field for the MATCH, it cannot change shape until the FINALE period. I know that the allowed NORMAL configuration height is up to 60" but can it change during the game? Or, is this statement only saying that the starting configuration must be identicle for a given MATCH (like the playoff rounds when it's the best of 3 for the match).

NORMAL CONFIGURATION – The physical configuration and orientation of the ROBOT when the MATCH is started. This is the state of the ROBOT immediately before being enabled by the Field Management System, before the ROBOT takes any actions, deploys any mechanisms, or moves away from the starting location. This configuration is static, and does not change during a single MATCH (although it may change from MATCH to MATCH).

Re: Breakaway Discussion
 

You are allowed to expand up to the Finale Configuration at any time provided that you contact the Tower or that it's the Finale period. I would encourage you to read <G30> carefully, particularly <G30-C>.

Re: Breakaway Discussion
 

Hmmm - yeah, it seems that you are correct the way it's written - but it sounds like risky business to me. if you got pushed off/away from the tower while you were extended then you risk getting a penalty if this happens prior to the Finale period. I personally can't think of a reason to do this or where it might be beneficial - but I'm sure i'm not thinking far enough outside the box for various possibilities.

Re: Breakaway Discussion
 

If you're pushed away, your opponents would be forcing you to incur a penalty, which isn't allowed.

Re: Breakaway Discussion
 

If you're pushed away by an opponent, <G13> protects you from getting a penalty. (Though once they've stopped pushing, you need to either get back to the tower or get back to normal configuration.)

I can think of a reason or two to extend like that. Slow hanger is one reason; there are others.