Team Update 2-19 and FRC Blog - Week 0 Observations and Stop Build Day

[Mike Copioli]

Originally Posted by MooreteP

Mike, the successful shots from the Human Players were with a "hammer throw". It is different from a frisbee launched by a 5000 rpm spinning wheel in that it has a much higher translational velocity.

These hammer throws were traveling TWICE the distance of the field. Spectators on the ends of the field are already at a viewing disadvantage due to the goals this year, which really block the view of the gameplay.
They would not see it the disk coming at them and could easily suffer facial contusions. (the term that a lawyer would use when suing FIRST)
I was at the Suffield Shakedown and witnessed more than a few spectators sitting at the ends of the field "bonked" by a disk.

The public has not signed (nor electronically submitted ) a Consent and Release form. While an injury and attendant lawsuit at a FIRST Robotics Competition would increase our media presence, it is an unacceptable risk.

Placing more netting at the ends of the field is not impossible, but more problematic given the less than two weeks until the season begins and the variety of venues at which the events are held.

A better solution may have been to allow the human players to throw around the feeder stations and disallowing the hammer throw. Spectators and human players would be more familiar with that style.
The GDC does not have the luxury of assessing this adjustment, so they erred on the side of safety. (As we all try to.)

Nonetheless, "what's done cannot be undone" ~Shakespeare.

Or can it? ~Mooretep

Thank you for clearing up what the actual problem is. I was not aware that teams were "hammer throwing" discs. I can see how this could become hazardous. However, it seems to me that the ruling is equivalent to using a shotgun to swat a fly.

As you stated, why not just disallow humans from hammer throwing? This would have much less impact on game play.

Is there any proof of the value of a retrieving system in the last 30 seconds? Like a video simulating the conditions and performance.

[Libby K]

Bad timing? Yes. Teams have been planning on this and it's a little (or a lot) disappointing to have things changed so late in the game.

Necessary safety solution? Very yes. I'd much rather not see the 'blizzard' if it means my Grandmother won't be risking a black eye while she's watching the elimination rounds.