[kgargiulo]

Originally Posted by Siri

And publish official CAD of the arena (or at least the field).

PTC has made a full 3d model of the field available every season for many years. You can measure anything from it. You don't even need to use Creo for your CAD system, as you can install free lightweight visualization software or the full blown Creo and just use it as a viewer. Measurement works either way.

It is usually available right at kick off, just like the KOP CAD models. Sometimes it is a little later, GDC doesn't release it to PTC any earlier than the rest of us, so the unique features have to be modeled before being posted.

Our team has simulated robot position/clearance digitally before we cut the first piece of metal, bUT weve only scratched the surface of simulation. I think there is a lot of opportunity for growth and learning in the area of a "digital twin" robot among FRC teams.

Disclosure: I work for PTC. Nothing above depends on whether you use our software to model your competition robot, its free for everyone in FIRST. Including student home use.