Re: 2010 Lesson Learned: The Positive
 

I liked how this year's game had such a variety of viable strategies, so that teams had to choose between over or under, vertical hangers or horizontal hangers or neither, defense, kickers, redirectors, etc. It was fun to watch a lot of different, specialized robots, rather than cookie-cutter bots that all try to complete the same task.

Re: 2010 Lesson Learned: The Positive
 

The pit layout was nice. The borders between divisions seemed a little irregular, but getting around was easy.

Re: 2010 Lesson Learned: The Positive
 

With the use of red/blue bumpers, it made it much easier to tell one alliance from the other.

At the Championship Event, the addition of qualification matches on Thursday made for an event where everyone got their money's worth, and everyone got enough play time to show their stuff.

After horrible results in 2005, I swore off using pneumatic tires on a competition robot. Thank you to teams like 1114 for finally showing me they can be useful on an FRC field (with the right circumstances).

Re: 2010 Lesson Learned: The Positive
 

Not meaning to take this on a tangent, but.....
After watching several matches Thursday and Friday on the web, I was really impressed with the lack of delays waiting for the game adapters to sync up. (No waiting around while your pneumatics systems slowly bleed to death.)

So, what did FIRST do to remedy that issue?

Re: 2010 Lesson Learned: The Positive
 

They identified the potential network-killing issue with using the newer wireless bridge and found a startup sequence that kept things from breaking.

Re: 2010 Lesson Learned: The Positive
 

If your pneumatic system is noticeably dropping pressure during a delay to sync radios you didn't do it right. Our team had a terribly leaky system in 2008 and a well sealed system this year and the difference is remarkable. Some soapy water goes a long way.

Now students getting bored to death during these delays on the other hand....

Re: 2010 Lesson Learned: The Positive
 

I know that the new game adapters would kill the old ones if the old were powered up first. I believe that was identified some time around week 4. I know during week 5 we were having the new adapters power up on the field first, then the old ones. Even with this approach, there were still a lot of delays even in week 5.

When you say they found a startup sequence that kept things from breaking, is the approach I mentioned what you were referring to?

If so, why were there still failures in week 5?

If not, can you elaborate on the new startup sequence?

Re: 2010 Lesson Learned: The Positive
 

We were only loosing about 1psi/minute. I know that is not perfect and can, and will, be improved on. Although, when you wait in staging for over 30 minutes and an additional 10 on the field..... well you can see the issue.