[archiver]

Posted by Andy Baker.

Engineer on team #45, TechnoKats, from Kokomo High School and Delphi Automotive Systems.

Posted on 8/13/99 7:36 AM MST


In Reply to: Successful ingredients posted by mike aubry on 8/12/99 8:31 PM MST:



Good idea, Mike.

I'll go first. Here's my idea:

Robot Basketball (yeah, I'm from Indiana) !!!!!

(my comments are after the ---> )

: - fast paced (must encourage motion and movement)
--->YEP
: - pleasing to the eye (can see all the action from a specified vantage point)
--->YEP
: - colorful (color excites and is easier to market)
--->We could use the old ABA or the new WNBA ball (and the women of the WNBA to promote the competition!)
: - simple, clearly understandable objectives (a calculator is not req'd to keep score)
--->YEP
: - teamwork oriented (if alliances are used)
--->Two robots per side, and one HP located in a box at midcourt... only for passing
: - does not favor or penalize offensive or defensive strategies (one way can't always beat the other)
--->They'd have to play both
: - does not penalize a good team by aligning with a not so good team (if alliances are used)
--->Hmmm... maybe make it three teams per side
: - must encourage multiple solutions (isn't balancing the tradeoffs fun?)
--->Different plays and different strategies (just like regular hoop teams)
: - rewards teams that are creative in solving the problem (how to turn the kit into a functioning robot)
--->Especially solving a problem (or playing a game) that EVERYONE knows
: 2nd - Determine the number of robots that will be playing at one time
: - how many teams per alliance (2,3,4...)
--->4 or 6, with only 2 or 3 on the court at a time. Subs would be frequent
--->(overheating, breakages, strategy changes, foul outs, etc.)
: - how many alliances (2,3,4...)
--->2
: 3rd - Determine the size and shape of the playing field
--->a regulation basketball court
: - must be large enough to see easily from the stands at Disney
--->This requires a basketball stadium or arena for large contests, but we can do demonstrations
--->anywhere there is a hoop
: - colorful (red, white, blue, yellow, green) too light and too dark is bad
: - mass (weight) sensitive to human player strength limitations
: - size cannot be temperature sensitive
: - material must be robust enough to endure a battle between robots without being damaged
--->No problems there
: - must be easy to determine value of score by judges
--->Score just like a regular game
: 5th - Determine what and how the playing pieces should be manipulated to produce a score
: - where do the start from
: - where should they end up
: 6th - Determine the scoring value
: - base score
: - multipliers (if used)
--->There can be different point values from different locations (dunk = 1, 10 ft out = 3, etc.)
: 7th - Determine where the robots should start from (starting robot position and human positions)
: 8th - Determine if robots final position should add or subtract or multiply value of score

--->The referees can be out on the court with the 'bots, calling charges, fouls, etc.

--->This would almost be comical to watch. We can push the entertainment factor of this. What I'm focusing on is a game that would fit right into a halftime show of an NBA, college, or high school hoops game. We can have some hoops superstar as a spokesman (or woman). This thing would be simple to sell and publicize, and the media would fall in love with it!

---> So, whaddya say?.... let's HOOP IT UP!!!

Andy B.