[archiver]

Posted by Scott England at 04/27/2001 3:23 PM EST


College Student on team #401, The Hokie G.U.A.R.D, from Virginia Tech/MCPS and Virginia Tech/VBEP.


In Reply to: Did you guys hear this one?
Posted by Erin on 04/27/2001 10:52 AM EST:



sounds like it would be an interesting game, though I gotta ask what your source is, I'm not so sure that those fine people at FIRST would even have started designing next year's game. Though I do think just from what Dean said that it will involve again 4 or more teams vs the field. Here is a short list of what I would definitely expect in next year's game:

1) due to ever increasing numbers of teams at nationals and the limited number of fields, more robots playing at a time, to give teams more matches, at least 4, maybe 5,6 or 8 bots on the (slightly larger) field at once. I saw someone mention the idea of almost like football, two teams on the field at a time, with different goals, like offense vs defense, then switch, so you don't waste much time getting the extra round in, robots are already right there, just a quick reset.
2.) the timer will stick around. probably the best thing they've done since creating alliances, it also speeds ups the competition, most rounds get cut early, which really adds up when you're talking 30 seconds early, 100 times in a day.
3.) simpler scoring, more complex field, probably not balls. FIRST as far as I know had never used the same object 2 years in a row, I wasn't expecting them last year, and am definitely not expecting those kickballs to make a return to the field next year. probaly not inner tubes or floppies either. Bowling pins sound likely, plus they have the added benefit of being a rigid body, so not likely to run into a defective bowling pin.

and yes, disneyquest was very cool.
~Scott, who has no time at all on his hands since exams start monday.