First Official 2012 Game Hint

[thefro526]

I don't believe anyone has posted the Technical Information of the Switch that was included in the BOM in this thread yet so here it is:



(Thanks to Chris Elston for posting a link to the PDF containing this info.)

The switch seems to be a little more heavy than what would be used for a minibot... (Requires about 4x the force as last year's tower, IIRC)

[MechEng83]

I've got it!

Rockwell -- Rock + Well

A well is something which contains a reservoir of liquid.

A liquid rock would be --- LAVA.

The field will be made of "liquid hot magma"!

[GlassPrison142]

At least football is better than when people were saying hockey. I'd see that working out to be a similar design as breakaway, which was not a fun game in my opinion.

But, people also call me crazy because Overdrive was my favorite so does my opinion even matter? ;p

[Kimmeh]

Originally Posted by MechEng83

I've got it!

Rockwell -- Rock + Well

A well is something from which contains a reservoir of liquid.

A liquid rock would be --- LAVA.

The field will be made of "liquid hot magma"!

Robots playing "The Floor is Lava" game! While playing the game, they can't touch the floor otherwise they get a penalty!

[Brandon_L]

Originally Posted by GlassPrison142

At least football is better than when people were saying hockey. I'd see that working out to be a similar design as breakaway, which was not a fun game in my opinion.

But, people also call me crazy because Overdrive was my favorite so does my opinion even matter? ;p

Nah, I loved overdrive. followed by breakaway. I also like to pretend 09 never happened.

[Eric Sakshaug]

Has anyone else noticed the correlation between the numbers for very high speed counter, and the photoelectric switches? The difference is two. I think that this might be where a minibot would come in, if anywhere. Minibots could be faster than normal robots (STEVE!) and with the possibility of six minibots breaking a beam, perhaps several times in a row, the speed on the counter may be necessary. (2)

That, or there might be no minibot, and the robots may have to manipulate several small things into a hopper (ping pong balls? No, too easy to find for FRC, especially near the start of the spring semester for most colleges(tennis balls in the middle of winter are a completely different story, however.)), breaking the beam several times in rapid succession, especially if a team has a hopper that can hold several items at once. A photoelectric sensor would also be required in this case, as a limit switch might not have time to reset, or may not even be able to trigger if the items are too lightweight. (1)

Or, a combination of the two: the robot might have to manipulate a swarm of minibots into a hopper, and they all fly over to a limit switch in the back of the hopper. Your score is reduced based on how many minibots you use. (3)

Of course, the sensors might also be able to detect if the water is overflowing from the game field. (4)

In conclusion, obviously it's a water game.

Kidding. The numbers after each paragraph denotes my perceived likelihood of each event happening, the lower, the more likely.

[the man]

Originally Posted by Brandon_L

Nah, I loved overdrive. followed by breakaway. I also like to pretend 09 never happened.

Why you hat'in on lunacy. That was my favorite game. High speed collisions little control. Great autonomous. Ahhh memories.

[holygrail]

I think that between the new pneumatic wheels from AndyMark and the "Rockwell" name, the field is going to be rather bumpy. That would also explain the heavy field situation. I have a feeling the GDC wants to mix up the drive trains from mecanum, swerve, and six wheel, and suspension would be an interesting challenge. Of course, nothing but speculation on my part.

[Hallry]

Originally Posted by holygrail

I think that between the new pneumatic wheels from AndyMark and the "Rockwell" name, the field is going to be rather bumpy.

Once again...

Originally Posted by Marc S.

For everyone, AndyMark's new pneumatic tire has Nothing to do with the 2012 game.
If it does then it would be by accident.

[pfreivald]

Originally Posted by Hallry

Once again...

I don't know that this can be stressed enough! AndyMark is a business. FIRST is a non-profit. Tailoring a FIRST game specifically to boost a particular company's sales would be

• unethical
• illegal
• waaaay outside of GP
• dangerous to FIRST's 501(c)3 status

I'm quite certain that Andy, Mark, and the folks at FIRST do not collude in such a manner. Leave that to Congress.

[thefro526]

Originally Posted by pfreivald

I don't know that this can be stressed enough! AndyMark is a business. FIRST is a non-profit. Tailoring a FIRST game specifically to boost a particular company's sales would be

• unethical
• illegal
• waaaay outside of GP
• dangerous to FIRST's 501(c)3 status

I'm quite certain that Andy, Mark, and the folks at FIRST do not collude in such a manner. Leave that to Congress.

Not that I'm debating your point, but there is some logic behind connecting AM's new Pneumatic wheel to the 2012 Game.

In 2009, when everyone was forced to use the same wheel, AM built a custom wheel and was the sole supplier for it.

That being said, there has been a market in FRC for Pneumatic wheels since the pre-alliance days. Coming out with a pre-hubbed easy to use Pneumatic Wheel is just good business.

Originally Posted by Kimmeh

Robots playing "The Floor is Lava" game! While playing the game, they can't touch the floor otherwise they get a penalty!

If my robot fell into lava, I'd much rather get a penalty than what would most likely happen! (For those unfamiliar with reactions involving robots and lava, it usually ends in a melt down, and no more robot.)

So if my robot somehow falls into lava, PLEASE give me all the penalties in the world! Just let my robot survive!

[Brandon_L]

Originally Posted by the man

Why you hat'in on lunacy. That was my favorite game. High speed collisions little control. Great autonomous. Ahhh memories.

It was our worst year to date, mix of bad luck and...well just about everything.

What I'd like to see is more of a terrain type of thing going on on the field. Breakaway was a good start, but every game I've experienced were pretty much flat.

[artK]

I would like to say that the goal of FIRST is to inspire innovators. To create a non-original game would be hypocritical of their mission, for originality is a keystone of innovation.
So why, I ask, would Dean Kamen and the other designers create a game based on sports, in an interview from The New Cool Kamen states that the amount of idolism of sports was a driving factor in the creation of FIRST. Additionally, why would he have games that were similar to previous games, which allow veteran teams to have small advantages for their knowledge of the elements. the goal is to create a game which requires a design challenge.

[Ninja_Bait]

Originally Posted by artK

I would like to say that the goal of FIRST is to inspire innovators. To create a non-original game would be hypocritical of their mission, for originality is a keystone of innovation.
So why, I ask, would Dean Kamen and the other designers create a game based on sports, in an interview from The New Cool Kamen states that the amount of idolism of sports was a driving factor in the creation of FIRST. Additionally, why would he have games that were similar to previous games, which allow veteran teams to have small advantages for their knowledge of the elements. the goal is to create a game which requires a design challenge.

FIRST has to achieve a balance between engaging future engineers and engaging audiences. Sports-themed games are usually easier to understand for the audience though they have a certain amount of predictability. A unique engineering challenge, like the Tetras in 2004, is interesting for FIRST, but confusing for everyone else.