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Unread 30-12-2004, 20:55
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kmcclary kmcclary is offline
Founder 830/1015;Mentor 66/470/1502
FRC #0470 (Alpha Omega Robotics)
Team Role: Engineer
 
Join Date: Aug 2001
Rookie Year: 1994
Location: Ann Arbor, MI
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Re: Official 2005 Clue Thread

I do believe:

1) We'll definitely have IR beacons, very possibly moving this year.

2) Auto mode will exist, and be very important.

3) There will be an end of round ritual to perform, or position to be in for more points.

4) The number of teams/regional and the total regional time is similar to last year. Therefore, the time/round probably CAN'T increase, unless they increase the number of robots "processed" per round, or reduce total rounds played per team, which would cause complaints (especially considering the cost increase).

5) Similarly, they can't REDUCE the number of robots processed per round from four, without potentially causing timing problems. SO... I predict we'll still see alliances of some kind. If the "four is not enough" clue is valid, I assume this hint implies we'll probably have SIX robots on the field, in either a 3 vs 3 situation on a nice simple rectangular field, or 2 vs 2 vs 2 on a hexagonal field.

6) Note that one variable that is NOT constrained and MAY change is the ratio of Auto to Manual time! THAT could be interesting!

7) Could the "Pi between you and me" have something to do with the HP's role??? How about the HP wearing funny glasses and ADVISING the drivers about the location of an IR beacon that is not visible to them???

8) A hexagonal field is possible with decent viewing. Viewing isn't a problem if the third team is directly opposite the viewing side.

9) In addition to hinting at the number three, *I* interpret all of the triple play references could POSSIBLY mean that some ritual involving dashing between locations may be involved.

10) The LED Robot Active Blinkers issued last year are simply Blue and Red LED drivers, with ONLY two signal lines. If you drive BOTH at the same time, you generate a crude "purple". Therefore, there MAY be a three single or alliance situation given the 2004 IFI hardware, but no more than that. All may change though if they issue a new RAB, revert to the Gumball, or change the Robot Controller, but I can't imagine IFI would redesign the RC again so soon if they didn't have to, and though the RABs were not very noticeable, I'm guessing they'll use it again as people complained about the gumballs a lot. If *I* were at IFI, I'd want to milk the 2004 RC for at least a few more years to recover the R&D costs on it!

11) Carpeting comes in 12 foot wide rolls. Therefore, the EASIEST field dimensions to implement (without trimming) is a rectangular one, with width roughly equal to 12*N, by any length. 24' x N' across has held true for the last several seasons. If a hexagonal field IS used, I predict the size will be a multiple of 12' across between opposite flat sides.

Bottom line prediction:

Given the current IFI and field hardware, I guess the SIMPLEST interpretation is a 3 vs 3 alliance game, on a standard 24' (or 36'?) wide rectangular field, or a hex as spec'd in (11). Auto Mode will be important, moving IR beacons may be there, something weird or missing will be the center of the field, running BETWEEN places will be required, and some kind of ritual or position must be performed at the end for more points, as before.

BTW... What HASN'T happened yet but IMHO would be COOL, would be to have an alliance with one or more of the robots predesignated as having to do something DIFFERENT than the other(s) so that handoffs, etc. between robots may be REQUIRED. Designating who does what tasks may be done by the alliances. If an alliance robot fails, one robot may do more tasks.

However, I see nothing other than the fact that John and George were "unusual" to hint at distinct tasking this year. <darn>

General Notes:
To Kit - George Burns the comedian/actor lived to be 100 years old, not 110.
To Swampdude - Why do you say we're getting less motors? Did you hear something? Please tell!

- Keith Mc.
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Keith McClary - Organizer/Mentor/Sponsor - Ann Arbor MI area FIRST teams
ACTI - Automation Computer Technologies, Inc. (Sponsoring FIRST teams since 2001!)
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Last edited by kmcclary : 30-12-2004 at 20:59.