2003 playing field observations

For those at remote kickoffs or got to take a look at the field in Manchester, what observations about the surfaces can you make?


My observation: the skyway wheel has about as much traction on the top of the ramp as a sock on a freshly waxed floor....its that slick

[OneAngryDaisy]

I was amazed at the wire mesh- it sagged below my foot- and I was also amazed when I heard no part of the robot (wheels included) could protude through the mesh. Wheels/Treads are gonna have to be powerful and smooth all around.. (unless bumps are bigger than 1' by 1'

[Scorpion515]

I was there.

The wire mesh will support you quite well. It does sag, but I don't think it will be much of a problem.

The top, the white section is designed to have very little traction. It has enough that the robot does have control on top, however, pushing matches should be very interesting.

[Slyfox]

I noticed that the mesh has two layers, horizontal wires and vertical wires and the horizontal layer was put on top. It will be better for traction than if the vertical side was facing up. Maybe this year it will be better to have wider wheels.

Also, does anyone know the dimensions of the ramp?
I figured out that it is 2 feet high but I don't know what the other dimensions were.

[AJ Quick]

Originally posted by Slyfox
Also, does anyone know the dimensions of the ramp?
I figured out that it is 2 feet high but I don't know what the other dimensions were.

"The 4-foot wide by 12-foot long by 2-foot high game platform is located across the center of the playing field. The horizontal surface of the platform is High Density Polyethylene (HDPE). Both platform approach ramps are 8 feet long by 12 feet wide (three 4’ x 8’ sections). They are sloped approximately 14 degrees from horizontal and are surfaced with open 1” by 1” welded wire steel mesh. The top wires of the steel mesh will be oriented so that they will run parallel to the 12-foot dimension of the top platform. The approach ramps and ramp platform have a 2-foot-high, ½” thick, transparent polycarbonate wall along their outside edges. These walls extend down to the surface of the playing field."

[Jack]

Now, could a bump go into the mesh as long as it doesn't go though the bottem? Ex: a bump could be 1/4 inch?

[Bduggan04]

Originally posted by Jack
Now, could a bump go into the mesh as long as it doesn't go though the bottem? Ex: a bump could be 1/4 inch?

From what I gathered yes you could. They said protruding through which I would assume means more than .25".

[sanddrag]

1/4 inch would be too much. I would say no more than 1/8 inch.

Can someone clarify this for sure: At the edge where the mesh and HDPE meet, which is higher, the mesh or the HDPE or is it a perfect edge?

[Bduggan04]

Well it clearly wasn't a perfect edge and I'm assuming that the HDPE is higher just because of how you would probably mount it. And You're right the mesh is more like 3/16" thick not 1/4".

[Jeff Waegelin]

The HDPE is higher. As for the mesh size, each bar is 1/8", and the horizontal bars are laid across the vertical bars, so you have a total thickness of 1/4". Thus, any bumps under 1/4" would most likely be legal.

[aman]

Does anyone know how many containers are supposed to be in each column?

Our team thought when watching the NASA feed that it was 3-4-5-5-5-4-3 however the manual says something different. Can someone please clarify this. Thanks





Aman

[Alexander McGee]

wow, that top platform is very slick. we need suction cups or somethin.

[Bduggan04]

Originally posted by aman
Does anyone know how many containers are supposed to be in each column?

Our team thought when watching the NASA feed that it was 3-4-5-5-5-4-3 however the manual says something different. Can someone please clarify this. Thanks





Aman

3 across
5 across
7 across
7 across
7 across

[Dinush]

Originally posted by aman
Does anyone know how many containers are supposed to be in each column?

Our team thought when watching the NASA feed that it was 3-4-5-5-5-4-3 however the manual says something different. Can someone please clarify this. Thanks





Aman

you got it right. in the manual they list the 'tires' of boxws from bottom to top: 7-7-7-5-3. Which is just the same as from side to side 3-4-5-5-5-4-3.
Good Luck!!

[Jeff Waegelin]

Originally posted by Bduggan04
3 across
5 across
7 across
7 across
7 across

The above list is horizontal rows, which is how the setup is published in the rulebook. aman, you were probably thinking of the vertical columns (which would be 3-4-5-5-5-4-3)