neal, i talked to Stephen who said he also would talk to the wash guy. I'll tell you all about what we decided tommorrow.
For any other teams trying to make a database to be shared with other teams / on the web. Here is a breif summery of what most likely will happen.
Team 312 will be making something like what they did last year. It will be a palm app to collect Basic Team Info, along with Match data. I beleave that they will also be making an Access interface to go with that. On their website, you will be able to dump the data from access and upload it. (
http://heatwave.cat.pinellas.k12.fl.us/) (in XML format)
Team 201 will be doing the same thing (sort of). We will be making an app for Win CE. The app will collect the same data that the 312 app will collect. You may be using the same access frontend that 312 has, or I (201) may make their own. (but very similar) Then you will be able to upload data to our site. (
www.feds201.com)
Now... A little magic will happen between the two sites every so often (15-30 min). The data between the two will merge and become one!
The exact data that will be collected will be decided on once the game is known. If you would like input on this, be sure to check CD over the next few days.
I am unsure what WASH is doing this year, but hopefully, it will go with the other two sites.
This way, you can use whichever site you prefer.
www.feds201.com will be having some special things for Mid-West teams, and if your allready there, you can use this site. On the other hand, if your using the 'simulator' on 312, then you can use their site.
A little more info on the 201 site:
We also have a few other special features regarding scouting. Our system will be called the FBI. (no it's not with the team the FBI) it stands for FEDS Bureau of Intelligence. The other things we'll have are:
Team Profiles - I think that the ENTIRE first community will like this. It allows teams to have one person that can update data about their bot/team. It will have a 'free responce' section where you will be able to have ~1000 words. Then there will be another section where you will be able to place links to pictures either on your webserver or CD pic gallery. (The images can also be displayed in the page vi. a BB [img] tag) There will also be a section where teams will be able to fill in basic data about their bot. Ex: 2-4 wheel drive,...
Easy Voting (for lack of better name now
) - Next to each team's profile will be a seciton where people are allowed to vote on what they think that bot is like. Ex: Traction, Pulling power. Yes, this is all subjective data. BUT... if you have 500 people voting, it can become accurate. This is not like the other scouting data that will be uploaded. It will just be local to the 201 site.
Team Forums - This is a place where any user (even people that are not registered to
www.feds201.com) can post data in a format just like CD. They will be able to ask a team a question, give it a comment, or give feedback that isn't included in scouting data. There is a seperate 'Team Forum' for every team.
wow... That's a lot. 312 and WASH, and any other teams that want to describe their system, please post it here now. Or contact myself at:
webmaster@feds201.com or Stephen Kowski for more info/joing the 201&312 partership.
I hope that this will assist a lot of scouting teams for the entire 2003 FIRST season by providing a huge amount of data from each team. Remember, you won't ever be sharing your 'stragity' with everyone. We're just pooling every teams resources so that when the time comes to decide on teams everyone has a lot of data. Bottem Line: It is much better for the ENTIRE first community if you are in this system & upload data, rather than just keep to yourself.