Well the flags are on the robots so that your average non-participating spectator like grandparents for example, can watch the match and get an idea of who's playing who.
Lets look at the history of the "identifier" in FIRST:
- The Rotating Light
- Pros: Visible, just had to switch out the lens to signify color
- Cons: Bulky and Heavy
- Flashing Beacon
- Pros: Lightweight, alliance color controlled by field controls
- Cons: Small, not very visible from a distance, overall too small to signify alliances, since it's controlled by the field controls that leaves another place for matches to get delayed
- Flags
- Pros: Low Tech, just swap out a flag, always visible in full color
- Cons: Tendency to fall out and interfere with game play
Ok so lets see what we need, based on this quick pros and cons list:
- Low Tech
- Won't Interfere with Game Play
- Light Weight
- Minimalistic
- Always Visible
- Easy for teams to adapt into their designs
The bumpers are a good alternative to the flags right now, they only issue is I think they are only good to a team if all other robots on the field are using that system and all people watching the match know how alliances are signified.
Right now I have 2 possible solutions both are basic:
- Take the flag and move it further down the flag shaft, than use a piece of velcro similar this. It won't work for all teams but it'll work for some and anything can help.
- an alternative to this is you put a hole in the flag for the velcro the hook through but i'm not sure if the flags will hold up.
- Make one side of the flag have velcro on it, and have a piece of velcro on the robot and maybe the flags will stick on the robot better
There is no one size fits all solution right now, but I'm sure the GDC or some other Brilliant Mind will get an idea to Manchester for the 2008 kickoff.