Event Predictions

[Nathan Streeter]

Originally Posted by PayneTrain

I've actually had a casual interest in FRC (I wasn't in FLL either) before I joined a team in 2008. I recall (can't cite the rule, that part of the game manual is lost in the FIRST website) there being a rule where the poof balls, the second most nonviolent game piece in the modern era (behind moon rocks) had a set velocity limit.

In a ranking of "lethalness" of FRC game pieces since 2003: 1st to 2008 trackballs and 2013 frisbees, 3rd to 2010 soccer balls, 4th to 2005 tetras, 5th to 2006 Poof balls and 2012 basketballs... taking into consideration the speeds produced by robots of that year during official matches...

I recall being hit several times by a bouncing/falling/flying trackball and being knocked aside or given severe whiplash from a hit to the head. That said, a nearly point-blank shot from our own shooter (or especially some of these ones capable of greater-than-full-court shots) could be exceptionally dangerous... Regardless, I consider either of these game pieces (or a fast-moving soccer ball or a falling tetra) to be far more harmful than the 2006 poof balls... which were the only ones that ever had a muzzle velocity cap!

I guess my point being that I think the GDC intentionally avoided muzzle velocity rules for these other more dangerous projectiles because of the situations in 2006.

Originally Posted by PayneTrain

It's all fun and games until we get blood spilt on the field or in the stands by a game piece. Seriously. It would not be fun after that. FIRST would quickly become not fun.

I whole-heartedly agree... the potential for legal ramifications and/or injuries (particularly to people new to FIRST) is a very significant concern. It seems though, with the netting already in place it will be extremely uncommon for a frisbee from a robot to leave the field at high velocity...

Between the nets and field boundary, the lowest areas are the >6' walls above the feed stations. The barage of human-thrown "hammers" during the final 30 seconds resulted in very-fast moving discs coming through these gaps in large quantities (and being very dangerous!), with others clearing the high goals or nets. However, the robots are almost exclusively shooting discs with horizontal-style throws... these slow down more quickly... and slow faster the steeper they're shot! This means that for shots to clear even these lowest points, they must be shot fairly steeply (and so slowing quickly) or are quite a distance from their fastest point. I expect robots to be accidentally shooting discs out of the field; however, I wouldn't expect these to present as significant a threat as some have been saying...

That said, shooting in the practice field or pits will be as dangerous as the teams shooting make it... Everyone in these areas needs to be very safe about if/how they shoot and bystanders should be aware.

I guess in summary, I don't think FIRST should apply a muzzle velocity requirement... partially to avoid any potential double-standards and partially because the in-match scenarious aren't the most dangerous ones. It seems to me that with the safety measures already in place the risks around the official field won't be excessive. Teams must be warned firmly, though, to be very careful with any shooting in the practice field (or pits... although it seems like requiring immediate arrest of shots would be sufficient for the pits).