First Official 2012 Game Hint

[pfreivald]

Originally Posted by IndySam

I love the tennis ball idea and I also agree that they are too small for a FRC robot.

I don't see why this would stop FIRST from using them... Any problems like that are just part of the challenge, yeah?

[thefro526]

Originally Posted by pfreivald

I don't see why this would stop FIRST from using them... Any problems like that are just part of the challenge, yeah?

Very simple reason for not using standard tennis balls.

Watch how many teams in FTC struggle to drive on a field littered with racquetballs and you'll understand why a field littered with tennis balls could lead to the most boring matches ever.

(Also, what is the relation between this year and tennis balls? Last year was FIRST's 20th Season. Wouldn't Tennis balls have made more sense then?)

[pandamonium]

Originally Posted by thefro526

Very simple reason for not using standard tennis balls.

Watch how many teams in FTC struggle to drive on a field littered with racquetballs and you'll understand why a field littered with tennis balls could lead to the most boring matches ever.

(Also, what is the relation between this year and tennis balls? Last year was FIRST's 20th Season. Wouldn't Tennis balls have made more sense then?)

This is the 20th FRC game

[thefro526]

Originally Posted by pandamonium

This is the 20th FRC game

No It's Not.

1992: Maize Craze (1)
1993: Rug Rage (2)
1994: Tower Power (3)
1995: Ramp n Roll (4)
1996: Hexagon Havoc (5)
1997: Toroid Terror (6)
1998: Ladder Logic (7)
1999: Double Trouble (8)
2000:Co-Operatition FIRST (9)
2001: Diabolical Dynamics (10)
2002: Zone Zeal (11)
2003: Stack Attack (12)
2004: Raising The Bar (13)
2005: Triple Play (14)
2006: Aim High (15)
2007: Rack n Roll (16)
2008: Overdrive (17)
2009: Lunacy (18)
2010: Breakaway (19)
2011: Logomotion (20)

This is the 21st game.

[Andrew Schreiber]

Originally Posted by thefro526

No It's Not.

1992: Maize Craze (1)
1993: Rug Rage (2)
1994: Tower Power (3)
1995: Ramp n Roll (4)
1996: Hexagon Havoc (5)
1997: Toroid Terror (6)
1998: Ladder Logic (7)
1999: Double Trouble (8)
2000:Co-Operatition FIRST (9)
2001: Diabolical Dynamics (10)
2002: Zone Zeal (11)
2003: Stack Attack (12)
2004: Raising The Bar (13)
2005: Triple Play (14)
2006: Aim High (15)
2007: Rack n Roll (16)
2008: Overdrive (17)
2010: Breakaway (19)
2011: Logomotion (20)

This is the 21st game.

I don't count 2009. I like to pretend it didn't happen.

[Joe G.]

Double check your math...Logomotion was the 20th.

[WATERGAMESPECULATION] But it is the 20th anniversary of rug rage, the only "Water game" in FRC history . [/WATERGAMESPECULATION]

[lemiant]

On the other hand it is the 20th anniversary of Maize craize

[thefro526]

Originally Posted by lemiant

On the other hand it is the 20th anniversary of Maize craize

Not according to FIRST?

FIRST® (For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology) announced today that it has selected St. Louis to host the worldwide robotics Championship beginning in 2011 and continuing through 2013, including the 20th Anniversary year of the organization’s inaugural competition.

Championship Documentation Referring to 2011 as the 20th Anniversary of FRC's inaugural competition. Didn't anyone see all of the 20th Anniversary stuff last year?

Anyway, at least now I know where everyone was getting tennis balls from.

[Brandon Zalinsky]

Originally Posted by pfreivald

I don't see why this would stop FIRST from using them... Any problems like that are just part of the challenge, yeah?

Yes, but it also takes away from the spectator aspect, as seeing tennis balls from the stands would be just as much of a challenge.

[CNettles11]

My team is currently in the process of over-analyzing the game hint. We've sent 2 rookies and 2 veteran team members (One being myself,) on a mission to find out what each donated part is.

[pfreivald]

Originally Posted by Flak-Bait

Yes, but it also takes away from the spectator aspect, as seeing tennis balls from the stands would be just as much of a challenge.

This is, at least, a solid counter-argument.

As far as driving issues, I figure FIRST would say, "make your robot so it's not a problem and it won't be a problem".

[the man]

I would never count out anything as a game piece... Especially tennis balls.

[Bjenks548]

Hardest rules for refs last year? Minibot deployment times. Could the photorecepters help with the equivaliant of launching something early and sending a signal to deactivate the new tower?

[Ninja_Bait]

Originally Posted by the man

I would never count out anything as a game piece... Especially tennis balls.

Well, based on some of the items in that list, it sounds like FIRST is planning to count out quite a few of the game pieces, and at high speed, too!

yeahhhhh!

[Bob Steele]

My short perusal would indicate the same thing... counting mechanisms...
high count -counting mechanisms which of course could be used for low counts too...

If high counts are needed it could either be large numbers of objects on the field OR the anticipation of large numbers of objects all at ONE time...say perhaps in the end game.

High speed would also probably mean round... spherical...because other types of objects don't move through a scoring position quickly...

tennis balls - probably not... real easy to get up to speeds above 100 mph.
this provides a danger for refs, staff and spectators.. unless the speeds are controlled...

Same issue (in SPADES) for golf balls...

If I were guessing... wiffle balls...high initial speeds possible but they quickly slow down... limited flight...
these have been used in other competitions (FTC-VEX)
Cheap, easily obtainable...pretty visible if you get the yellow ones..

size...probably the softball sized ones...

Or perhaps a return to poof balls (hmmm in honor of the 254's CMP alliance win last year?... just kidding)

Those are excellent projectiles of a relatively smaller size... fairly easy to obtain... terminal velocity characteristics are pretty good....we have precedent for their use...

just my ideas... what say you?