TEST Einstein BEFORE the BIG-show... here's a proposed approach...

[Michael Blake]

As I understand, the Einstein field and equipment are new and unused... therefore, untested under competition conditions before the BIG-show is run...

NO MATTER what bullet-proof technical remedy FIRST comes up with to solve connection issues, I believe there's TOO MUCH at stake for teams that earn a spot on Einstein to go through what happened last week ever again...

SO, I have an idea for the CD community to throw-balls-at...

What if during the Division Eliminations, the 3 highest-seeded rookie teams (not picked for division elims) from each division are invited to compete on the Einstein field ("Rookie-stein") for the experience and bragging-rights... maybe a small award/trophy to the winning alliance.

A couple of large-screen monitors could be provided in the queue so that the participating rookies can catch their division elims while running through matches...

This would provide a THOROUGH vetting and shake-out of the Einstein field/equipment shortly _before_ the BIG-show takes place... and I'm sure the field would still look pristine after 4-6 total matches...

PLUS, the added bonus of giving 12 potentially future high-performing rookie teams a taste of "CMP-elims" and "Einstein"...

WHAT do you think? THANKS!

[techhelpbb]

As others have stated the field would have some wear and tear on it. So as a result they'd have to replace the pieces if they did this.

Also, the communications problems likely extend through out the entire competition this year and possibly before and pre-existing topics for it exist on ChiefDelphi.com.

Testing the field might make the field nearly as functional as the others, but even the Curie fields had problems. We also had communications problems at MAR Mount Olive in NJ prior to this.

[nikeairmancurry]

Originally Posted by techhelpbb

As others have stated the field would have some wear and tear on it. So as a result they'd have to replace the pieces if they did this.

Also, the communications problems likely extend through out the entire competition this year and possibly before and pre-existing topics for it exist on ChiefDelphi.com.

Testing the field might make the field nearly as functional as the others, but even the Curie fields had problems. We also had communications problems at MAR Mount Olive in NJ prior to this.

I don't see where you can get so much wear and tear after playing a few matches..

[techhelpbb]

Originally Posted by nikeairmancurry

I don't see where you can get so much wear and tear after playing a few matches..

The bridges would be the biggest place I would think.
They seem to get pretty worn looking pretty fast.

[IndySam]

90% of the crowd wouldn't even be able to see if there were scars on the bridge and I bet an even higher percentage would gladly live with the scars than see what happened this year.

[JohnSchneider]

Because we don't know what exactly caused the communication failures - and one hypothesis is "Sensor Overload" - I don't feel like this is a valid approach because - in all honesty - Rookies don't typically use sensor-high machines, and so we wouldn't really be testing anything.

Though your idea of a rookie playoff seems kinda neat!

[sgreco]

Originally Posted by nikeairmancurry

I don't see where you can get so much wear and tear after playing a few matches..

I agree, but if they don't want any wear on the field at all, they can test the field without playing matches.

In other words, what they really need to test is electronics and communications, and that can be tested without having physical robots beating up the field (whether that wear and tear is significant or not is up for debate, but if they wanted people to use the fields before the finals, they wouldn't make a whole new field just for Einstein, so they'd probably prefer if nobody used it before the finals.)

[billylo]

Love this idea... Rookies/somophore all-star game on Einstein... Can be run while people are moving from the divisional stands to the big stage.

Testing is not 100% foolproof, but will give us a much higher chance of a smooth Einstein competitions.

How can we bring this forward to the organizers?

[Undertones]

I like it. I like it a lot.
And it's really not that difficult to make a field look new again, just put new plexiglass on the bridges. I believe they're even fastened down with velcro. Perfect.

Your proposal would have worked with this year's game. Next year's game, who knows.

[Grim Tuesday]

Originally Posted by billylo

Love this idea... Rookies/somophore all-star game on Einstein... Can be run while people are moving from the divisional stands to the big stage.

Testing is not 100% foolproof, but will give us a much higher chance of a smooth Einstein competitions.

How can we bring this forward to the organizers?

Given the number of "water game" jokes in the FRC Live! presentation, I'm pretty sure that members of the GDC read Chief Delphi sporadically.

[Al Skierkiewicz]

Guys,
I have to say something here so that everyone can get on the same page. Every discussion about Einstein field issues have used the term "communication failures". While it is easy to jump to that conclusion depending on your viewpoint, it is not the sole problem with a robot losing control on the field. To prevent the casual readers from drawing conclusions can we agree to use a different term to describe the inability of robots to move.

I do like the suggestions that teams be given a chance to play on Einstein prior to the finals. (Many of us remember Epcot where this occurred.) I also feel strongly that FLL be given a chance to play in the dome and that adds some complexity to the layout of the fields. As I was fully engaged in FRC this past weekend, it was impossible for me to observe FLL. Did those teams perform well in the big space, were the younger students overwhelmed? Would the participants be more comfortable in a smaller venue? With that I would like to say that having all FRC fields in the dome made life in the pits a lot easier. Please do not put an FRC field in the pits in the future.

[akoscielski3]

I would like to make a Huge point about the Einstein problems that people are assuming never happened. Here is is... Everyone listening!?!

THE FIELD WAS TESTED BEFORE EVERY ROBOT GOT ON THE FIELD!

I was told by a person who I know is extremely reliable about the Field issues, however I will not release their name to anyone.

/END ALL EINSTEIN ISSUE DISCUSSIONS!

[JohnSchneider]

Originally Posted by akoscielski3

I would like to make a Huge point about the Einstein problems that people are assuming never happened. Here is is... Everyone listening!?!

THE FIELD WAS TESTED BEFORE EVERY ROBOT GOT ON THE FIELD!

I was told by a person who I know is extremely reliable about the Field issues, however I will not release their name to anyone.

/END ALL EINSTEIN ISSUE DISCUSSIONS!

I was told by a person who I know is extremely reliable and whose name I will not release that you made that up

[bduddy]

Originally Posted by akoscielski3

I would like to make a Huge point about the Einstein problems that people are assuming never happened. Here is is... Everyone listening!?!

THE FIELD WAS TESTED BEFORE EVERY ROBOT GOT ON THE FIELD!

I was told by a person who I know is extremely reliable about the Field issues, however I will not release their name to anyone.

/END ALL EINSTEIN ISSUE DISCUSSIONS!

Tested how? With 6 robots running around sending and receiving data? I doubt it...

[Dale]

I love the idea of somehow opening Einstein to the top seeded teams, rookie or otherwise, who weren't picked in their division. Maybe it's just the robots who would otherwise be on standby. Maybe leave the top ranked unpicked robot ready to roll at their home field and let the others play on Einstein. If the left behind robot is picked then you pull out the next one from the Einstein matches.

I know from experience that about the worst thing you can be is the 4th highest seed unpicked robot. You can't pack up but the chances of you playing are next to nil. This would give those teams a fun consolation prize.