First Official 2012 Game Hint

[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?

[Tetraman]

Alright. I'll get to work with what I did last year and design a game based on this hint. Give me a day or two though...this looks like a challenge.

[404'd]

I don't know if anyone has thought of this yet, but:
The Photo sensors they are using(RA 42SMR--7100) have an effective FOV of 8 degrees,
So if they are using these for sensing a goal being scored, it could be a small goal, the sensors could be spaced farther away inside the goal, or they would have multiple sensors per goal. Does this sound right?

Spec sheet: http://literature.rockwellautomation...a501_-en-p.pdf
page 110

[pfreivald]

Originally Posted by the man

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

Exactly. If the Orbit Ball passes muster, anything could pass muster.

*looks forward to the jello cube game*

[BrendanB]

I also highly doubt they will use tennis balls as they are so small, the 1992 robots were the size of modern day FTC robots. That would be a pretty low kitbot to eliminate the driving issues!