Ideal FRC Game

[dellagd]

Originally Posted by Nemo

My wishes for good games:

No Kinect please.

~snip~

My #1 wish: a game that can be practiced in a room with a 9 foot ceiling!

While I really second the thing about the ceiling, I don't get why everyone is hating on the Kinect so much. They offered a fun way that you are able to control the robot. Nothing more than that. It's your choice whether or not you want to use it. Some teams did, some did not. Personally, even though I do not like the way the Kinect was used THIS year, I think the Kinect will be a very fun and interesting to use in FRC, both on the robot and with a human player. But even if I didn't, that doesn't mean that I WANT it not to be there, other teams may want it. I'm just not understanding all of the "get rid of the Kinect" stuff people are saying. No one said you had to use it.

[Nemo]

Originally Posted by dellagd

While I really second the thing about the ceiling, I don't get why everyone is hating on the Kinect so much. They offered a fun way that you are able to control the robot. Nothing more than that. It's your choice whether or not you want to use it. Some teams did, some did not. Personally, even though I do not like the way the Kinect was used THIS year, I think the Kinect will be a very fun and interesting to use in FRC, both on the robot and with a human player. But even if I didn't, that doesn't mean that I WANT it not to be there, other teams may want it. I'm just not understanding all of the "get rid of the Kinect" stuff people are saying. No one said you had to use it.

Last year it was harmless, and it won't bother me if that type of implementation sticks around. But I'm hoping Kinect doesn't become crucial for being competitive in the hybrid period, because I don't think it's the right tool for the job. If it's important this year, maybe we'll just use it as an elaborate switch.

[Koko Ed]

Originally Posted by dellagd

While I really second the thing about the ceiling, I don't get why everyone is hating on the Kinect so much. They offered a fun way that you are able to control the robot. Nothing more than that. It's your choice whether or not you want to use it. Some teams did, some did not. Personally, even though I do not like the way the Kinect was used THIS year, I think the Kinect will be a very fun and interesting to use in FRC, both on the robot and with a human player. But even if I didn't, that doesn't mean that I WANT it not to be there, other teams may want it. I'm just not understanding all of the "get rid of the Kinect" stuff people are saying. No one said you had to use it.

All Kinect was good for last year was to cause Replays at the events I worked at. We had to assign to people to guard it as if Obama was in the zone prancing around. If anyone set one foot in there during the autonomous period the match was a scratch and had to be redone.It was more trouble than it was worth.

[Jwingate3015]

I think it would be neat if the game field had multiple levels to it, and it would have stack-able game pieces that the robot would have to stack, then drive up to reach higher levels where it would then accomplish a second objective.

Or, perhaps if the game field or the drive team were completely concealed, having no physical view of the robot, requiring them to rely completely on cameras and sensors on the robot in order to maneuver around the game field.

[cmrnpizzo14]

Originally Posted by Koko Ed

All Kinect was good for last year was to cause Replays at the events I worked at. We had to assign to people to guard it as if Obama was in the zone prancing around. If anyone set one foot in there during the autonomous period the match was a scratch and had to be redone.It was more trouble than it was worth.

Not necessarily true. For hybrid, yes it caused replays and was not often utilized by teams (although we did benefit from one of those replays at CMP.... ). However, the teams that took advantage of the Kinect's vision capabilities for targeting were incredibly successful if their programmers spent some time on it.

I like the idea of having the kinect available in Hybrid/Auton. especially if that period were increased to say 30 seconds (?) This would help fulfill a 3 minute game like so many people are looking for, and allow more utilization of the kinect. For 15 seconds, it is not useful, but in 30 seconds a lot could happen. We would see a lot of dead robots on the field for the final 10 seconds of hybrid, but if a team could successfully utilize the kinect, even for a brief 10 seconds after a 20 second Auton program, I think it would be a real game changer and make for an interesting competition.

......but really, those field issues do need to be resolved......

[Gregor]

Originally Posted by cmrnpizzo14

However, the teams that took advantage of the Kinect's vision capabilities for targeting were incredibly successful if their programmers spent some time on it.

As far as I know, this should be team.

[Phyrxes]

My only real Kinect memory from last season is a team that used it help their bridge balancing. After successfully balancing the student became excited and celebrated by making a few "happy gestures" and as the match wasn't over yet, the bot reacted to the motion by driving off the bridge.

[MetalJacket]

The kinect last year did open up the opportunity for the human players to have a little extra fun during hybrid, as was seen in the Cheesy Poof's wonderful hybrid mode

[Gregor]

Originally Posted by Phyrxes

My only real Kinect memory from last season is a team that used it help their bridge balancing. After successfully balancing the student became excited and celebrated by making a few "happy gestures" and as the match wasn't over yet, the bot reacted to the motion by driving off the bridge.

Why would a team balance in hybrid?

[dellagd]

Originally Posted by cmrnpizzo14

I like the idea of having the kinect available in Hybrid/Auton. especially if that period were increased to say 30 seconds (?) This would help fulfill a 3 minute game like so many people are looking for, and allow more utilization of the kinect. For 15 seconds, it is not useful, but in 30 seconds a lot could happen. We would see a lot of dead robots on the field for the final 10 seconds of hybrid, but if a team could successfully utilize the kinect, even for a brief 10 seconds after a 20 second Auton program, I think it would be a real game changer and make for an interesting competition.

......but really, those field issues do need to be resolved......

My thoughts exactly. Oh and for a post above, there are three white papers listed from 3 different teams on having the kinect on the robot. ~teams~ is correct.

[JJackson]

I like how this started on the Official game hint thread, it was decided game ideas were "hijacking" that thread then there was the pre-season drive trains(got a new thread), and now the Kinect.....

On another note a game where we get to use six CIMs could be interesting....

[apalrd]

Originally Posted by JJackson

On another note a game where we get to use six CIMs could be interesting....

What do you gain in a CIM over a FP or 550 motor?

-A lot of Weight
-Thermal mass
-A bit of power


You currently have up to 8 550-sized motors which provide a lot of power. For reference:

CIM: ~340w
RS 550 (Banebots): ~250w
RS 775 (Banebots): ~265w @12v
FP 9015: ~185w
FP 0673: ~290w
Andyprice: ~185w

Under 2012 motor rules, the RS 550's and FP's are not too far off CIM spec, and many of the motors are significantly more power-dense than a CIM. If used as a 6-motor drivetrain, for example, you KNOW that the CIM will spin the output under high load (so the 550 will be cooled, at least somewhat), and under very high load 6 motors will take the battery voltage down so low it doesn't even matter.

As for mechanisms, stalling anything will burn it up eventually. Don't stall it. Even a CIM dosen't really like to be stalled forever.

You have 8 HIGH POWERED MOTORS. You don't need any more CIMs.