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I think the biggest problem with water is not what it would do to the robots--the whole idea is to design one that handles the various challenges, and environmental variables are ones that FIRST has yet to deal with to my knowledge--but what it would do to competition logistics. It would not be easy to build a large playing field comprable to the sizes we've seen in recent years that would hold water, be economical, be quick to assemble and break down, and easy to transport. Plus it is time consuming to fill up a pool of that size, and a whole additional problem arrises when you consider that the water would have to be drained or pumped somewhere when they are finished. Even if FIRST were to come up with some idea to pull it off, I don't see how teams would be able to duplicate it. Besides, if you had a pool with water in it and the robots competed in it, water would get everywhere and then the robots would be wet when you pulled them out and would get the pits wet and the pits usually have a very rough electrical system...its just too much of a hassle.
Rather, I expect a more complex playing field with more moveable parts and things that need climbed. Also, I think time will play an integral role as everyone understands that and likes to watch competetors compete to beat a time limit.
What about a game in which there are alliances of two or three teams that compete to get the most objects, balls or whatever, in moveable goals, in the least amount of time, but where the objects are much harder to get to. Some could be under towers, others on them, and a few easy to reach. It would be beneficial for teams to be able to control and move their goals, so they could get their balls in them, but that would limit their mobility and agility. No team could do everything and there would even be room for defensive robots that get across the field and steal objects or guard goals. Scoring would be easy, as whoever has the most objects in their goals win, but the robots and game would still be very complex.
Just an idea, hope its intelligible as it is very late.
Eric
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