Q&A:612 Rock Wall Dimension Change

[AllenGregoryIV]

This will be coming out in Team update 4 Friday. HQ got the dimension of the Rock Wall wrong in both the team and field drawings and it's actually 5.5" wide instead of 4.5" (The height appears to have been correct).

Q&A612

Q. Team drawings show defense ramps 10 inches but real field is almost 12. Also at NH kickoff I measured the width of stone wall 5.5 but team and real field drawings show 4.5. My photos also show the width wider than tall. Are corrections for dimensions needed?
2016-01-19 by FRC0175
A. Regarding the discrepancy you describe in the first part of your question, we think the answer to Q573 answers your question. The second part, however, does show a discrepancy, the correct dimension is 5.5 inches. Both the Field Drawings and Team Version Drawings will be updated to show the revision in Team Update 04. (Edited to correct team update number)

I'm hoping they choose to change the fields and not change the drawings since so many teams have already been making decisions based on the published specs. We even already made a sheet metal rock wall to the originally published specs.

[notmattlythgoe]

Originally Posted by AllenGregoryIV

This will be coming out in Team update 4 Friday. HQ got the dimension of the Rock Wall wrong in both the team and field drawings and it's actually 5.5" wide instead of 4.5" (The height appears to have been correct).

Q&A612


I'm hoping they choose to change the fields and not change the drawings since so many teams have already been making decisions based on the published specs. We even already made a sheet metal rock wall to the originally published specs.

It is also wrong in the CAD files.

[RoboChair]

We too have had a bent steel plate for our rockwall made as per specs.

However, I think for most teams the extra inch of width will make driving over it easier, not harder.

[Chris is me]

Team Update 5: GDC reveals that they actually meant to send us 5" dodgeballs instead of 10" dodgeballs. Teams should design accordingly!

Team Update 6: Due to a typo the Frame Perimeter was actually meant to be 100", not 120". Whoops!

Come on GDC. Hundreds of teams have committed to drivetrains at this point! This is a colossal oversight and a huge change 20% of the way through build season.

[Karthik]

Originally Posted by Chris is me

Come on GDC. Hundreds of teams have committed to drivetrains at this point! This is a colossal oversight and a huge change 20% of the way through build season.

It's probably more than 20% for most teams since this isn't being conveyed in a Team Update until Friday, which is Day 14 of the build season.

This game is by far the most difficult for teams in terms of field construction. It's unfortunate that teams now have to remake this section of the field, especially for teams who went with metal version. Not to mention the impact on teams who have prototyped and designed drivetrains based on the original incorrect spec. The obviously isn't a deal breaker for anyone as teams can find ways to work around this, however it's still frustrating and disappointing. Over the past few years in FRC, the GDC has basically always made team/customer friendly decisions when it comes to changes like this; hopefully they'll reconsider this one to keep with that trend.

[aldaeron]

Originally Posted by Karthik

Over the past few years in FRC, the GDC has basically always made team/customer friendly decisions when it comes to changes like this; hopefully they'll reconsider this one to keep with that trend.

The other pertinent question is which is easier to fix and which does FIRST have more control over? 20 ish fields (best guess, there are probably less), each containing 2-3 rock wall defenses (assuming they are all built already). Or 3000 teams?

With the Team Update unreleased, but coming, do we start swapping our rock walls now? Or Friday? What if they reverse it?

Sigh.

I feel like they released that Q&A too quickly.

[aldaeron]

Originally Posted by RoboChair

However, I think for most teams the extra inch of width will make driving over it easier, not harder.

Unless you plan to straddle it ...

[notmattlythgoe]

FIRST should take the bath and update the fields on this one, not the other way around.

[Basel A]

Originally Posted by notmattlythgoe

FIRST should take the bath and update the fields on this one, not the other way around.

I agree 100%. This is not OK.

[AdamHeard]

It's a plate with 4 bends, FIRST should stick to the 4.5"

[BoilerMentor]

While, personally the 1" change in width doesn't much matter to me or my team for that matter, I almost hope that first doesn't change the fields. It's a good lesson for anyone going into engineering and technology fields. Customers do change their mind in the middle of aggressively scheduled projects, often more wildly than the change being discussed. Let's use some innovation and get over it, literally.

[notmattlythgoe]

Originally Posted by BoilerMentor

While, personally the 1" change in width doesn't much matter to me or my team for that matter, I almost hope that first doesn't change the fields. It's a good lesson for anyone going into engineering and technology fields. Customers do change their mind in the middle of aggressively scheduled projects, often more wildly than the change being discussed. Let's use some innovation and get over it, literally.

Those changes don't often hit the budgets of small town teams that have spent money on their designs and can't afford to change them. The lesson this would teach is not worth it.

[New Lightning]

lets be real here people, how does changing something 1" really effect how your drive train will function. I'm mean really. Any drive train that was meant to go over a variety of obstacles should handle a 1" difference easily. People are making this out to be way more of a big deal than it needs to be.

[Anupam Goli]

Originally Posted by BoilerMentor

While, personally the 1" change in width doesn't much matter to me or my team for that matter, I almost hope that first doesn't change the fields. It's a good lesson for anyone going into engineering and technology fields. Customers do change their mind in the middle of aggressively scheduled projects, often more wildly than the change being discussed. Let's use some innovation and get over it, literally.

By that logic, we should get an extra week of build season since the initial specifications desired were wrong.

[notmattlythgoe]

Originally Posted by Anupam Goli

By that logic, we should get an extra week of build season since the initial specifications desired were wrong.

And FIRST should refund some of the registration fees to make up for the added cost. The lesson doesn't translate.