Team UPDATE - 2014-01-10

[Joe Ross]

The ARENA
The VISION TARGETS

There are four (4) VISION TARGETS on each end of the FIELD: two (2) dynamic VISION TARGETS and two (2) static VISION TARGETS. There is one (1) dynamic VISION TARGET located above each LOW GOAL. Each dynamic VISION TARGET is located behind the polycarbonate panel on the ALLIANCE WALL. The dynamic VISION TARGET is horizontal and begins 5 ft. 8 in. above the FIELD carpet, is centered over the LOW GOAL, and consists of a panel with one (1) 4 in. wide, 1 ft. 11 ½ in. long strip of retro-reflective material (3M 8830 Silver Marking Film) adhered horizontally along the length of the panel with a 2 in. black ABS plastic border surrounding the retro-reflective material. The dynamic VISION TARGET is actuated to show the retro-reflective material when its corresponding HIGH and LOW GOAL are HOT. It will rotate to hide the retro-reflective material (pointing it upwards) when its corresponding HIGH and LOW GOAL are not HOT. Both of these conditions are shown in Figure 2-9.

Before the MATCH starts and throughout TELEOP, both dynamic VISION TARGETS are positioned such that the the reflective material faces the FIELD.

The static VISION TARGET is mounted such that half is behind the polycarbonate sheet above the LOW GOAL and half is behind the acrylic panel of the PLAYER STATION. It uses vertical reflectors which are located above the inside edge of the LOW GOAL. The vertical reflector consists of a 4 in. wide, 2 ft. 8 in. tall stripe of retro-reflective material bordered by 2 in. wide black gaffers tape on the left and right sides. The vertical reflectors begin 3 ft. 1 ½ in. above the FIELD carpet.


Game Details
MATCH Logistics

Although an ALLIANCE may start a MATCH with up to three (3) BALLS, the PEDESTAL will only be illuminated when the last BALL that started the MATCH is SCORED, effectively reducing the number of BALLS in play per ALLIANCE to one (1).

BALLS that are ejected from gameplay during a MATCH will be delivered to the closest HUMAN PLAYER of that BALL’S ALLIANCE by event staff at the next safe opportunity. This includes BALLS that go in GOALS but don’t meet the criteria to be considered SCORED.

If a BALL becomes damaged or completely deflated, it will be replaced by a new BALL of the same color at the next safe opportunity. Once the new BALL enters the FIELD, the damaged BALL is invalidated, considered debris, and can no longer be used in MATCH play.

If an ALLIANCE’s BALL becomes stuck in an ALLIANCE’S ROBOT, the ALLIANCE may signal to the Head Referee that the BALL is “dead” (specifics regarding the signaling process are yet to be determined). At this point, the Head Referee will suspend the CYCLE (TRUSS and CATCH points are maintained, ASSIST accruals are voided) and re-illuminate the PEDESTAL, beginning another CYCLE for that ALLIANCE. If the dead BALL is freed, that BALL must be removed from the FIELD through one of the ALLIANCE’S GOALS or by passing to an ALLIANCE HUMAN PLAYER before the ALLIANCE can earn any more points. Each ALLIANCE is allowed to indicate one (1) BALL as “dead” per MATCH.

If an ALLIANCE’S BALL becomes stuck in an opposing ALLIANCE’S ROBOT, the Head Referee will signal an extended infraction of G12 (the assumption is that the ALLIANCE has already been penalized for the initial G12 infraction). At this point, the Head Referee will suspend the current CYCLE and re-illuminate the PEDESTAL, beginning another CYCLE for that ALLIANCE. If the stuck BALL is freed, that ball will be considered FIELD debris.

If a BALL becomes stuck on the TRUSS, the Head Referee will shake the TRUSS to free the BALL. In this situation, the ALLIANCE will not earn TRUSS points. While shaking the TRUSS, the Head Referee will take care not to impact gameplay of the other ALLIANCE.


root
Game Manual
General Updates

Windows 7 activation update:

If you've had trouble activating Windows on your Classmate, the procedure, 2014 Windows 7 Activation Procedure_Rev0, to activate the Windows 7 images posted on the Intel FRC Image Portal has been posted at http://www.usfirst.org/roboticsprogr...ical-resources.

In order to activate the copy of Windows 7, teams must download this tool and run the application.

Sounds like a reasonable resolution to the ball stuck issues. Glad to see an activation fix.

[Marc S.]

"If a BALL becomes stuck on the TRUSS, the Head Referee will shake the TRUSS to free the BALL. In this situation, the ALLIANCE will not earn TRUSS points. While shaking the TRUSS, the Head Referee will take care not to impact gameplay of the other ALLIANCE."

New criteria for head referees, be very strong.

On the serious note, if the truss can be shaken enough so that a stuck ball will be freed, what precautions will be made to prevent the truss from falling down if a larger force was applied (ie. robot with ball extending above 62in)? Also, what happens if the ball stays stuck for an extended period of time or even the whole match?
(#trussfall)(#trussfail)

[cgmv123]

Originally Posted by Marc S.

what precautions will be made to prevent the truss from falling down if a larger force was applied (ie. robot with ball extending above 62in)?

Lots of weights on the truss bases.

[AdamHeard]

Originally Posted by Marc S.

"If a BALL becomes stuck on the TRUSS, the Head Referee will shake the TRUSS to free the BALL. In this situation, the ALLIANCE will not earn TRUSS points. While shaking the TRUSS, the Head Referee will take care not to impact gameplay of the other ALLIANCE."

New criteria for head referees, be very strong.

On the serious note, if the truss can be shaken enough so that a stuck ball will be freed, what precautions will be made to prevent the truss from falling down if a larger force was applied (ie. robot with ball extending above 62in)? Also, what happens if the ball stays stuck for an extended period of time or even the whole match?
(#trussfall)(#trussfail)

Look at what is the base of the truss... It aint falling over from shaking or a robot hitting it.

[DonRotolo]

I speculate that the truss is not so rigid that it will not vibrate, so a ball can be dislodged using that vibration, but it not so compliant that it will fall over.

[pfreivald]

Question: does this mean that teams will suspend work on their automatic ball eject systems?

[MooreteP]

Originally Posted by Marc S.

"If a BALL becomes stuck on the TRUSS, the Head Referee will shake the TRUSS to free the BALL. In this situation, the ALLIANCE will not earn TRUSS points. While shaking the TRUSS, the Head Referee will take care not to impact gameplay of the other ALLIANCE."

New criteria for head referees, be very strong.

On the serious note, if the truss can be shaken enough so that a stuck ball will be freed, what precautions will be made to prevent the truss from falling down if a larger force was applied (ie. robot with ball extending above 62in)? Also, what happens if the ball stays stuck for an extended period of time or even the whole match?
(#trussfall)(#trussfail)

I feel sorry for the refs.
This is a tough task and will require much interpretation.

Rather than shaking the truss, I'll bet that we see 12' PVC poles on each side of each field. They will become the nets of 2014.

[GaryVoshol]

Repeat in your best Boris and Natasha voice:

"Head referee strong like moose."

[Mr V]

Originally Posted by MooreteP

I feel sorry for the refs.
This is a tough task and will require much interpretation.

Rather than shaking the truss, I'll bet that we see 12' PVC poles on each side of each field. They will become the nets of 2014.

It does shake off, the GDC tested it before making that the official way to remove a stuck ball.

Personally I was expecting them to send a piece of pipe to knock it off.

[Zaque]

Does anyone know if the GDC reads CD? (fun with acronyms)
I have an idea for signaling a dead ball, which is apparently still being discussed. Basically, the alliance currently possesing the ball can give the signal as soon as they believe it is dead. Alternatively, if the team is holding on to it strategically (to tank rankings), both alliance partners can give the signal and overrule the team holding the ball. Possibly something different for Elims, to give alliance captain more power. You would hope this would never be the case in Elims, but you never know.

[EricH]

Originally Posted by Zaque

Does anyone know if the GDC reads CD? (fun with acronyms)

They read CD all right. They just don't necessarily say anything about it, and rarely if ever post anything here. (I'm not even sure they have logins, in most cases--though I'm pretty sure some of them have older ones if they really need to use them.)

[Steven Donow]

Good solution, the best way, to do this.

[DampRobot]

Originally Posted by DevenStonow

Good solution, the best way, to do this.

Agreed. This season is 2/2 in terms of good team updates so far!

[MikeE]

Great solution for a ball stuck during teleop.

However I'm not sure I understand what this means at the end of autonomous, likely for balls "stuck" in a non-moving robot.
More interestingly how about two balls stuck in multiple non-moving robots?

[PVCpirate]

Originally Posted by MikeE

Great solution for a ball stuck during teleop.

However I'm not sure I understand what this means at the end of autonomous, likely for balls "stuck" in a non-moving robot.
More interestingly how about two balls stuck in multiple non-moving robots?

I think FIRST has accounted for the occasional failure or communication error with this update. The teams now have to hold up their end of the bargain, and design their robots so this does not happen often.